Finding an outdoor adventure that is accessible for everyone in your crew is easier than you might think in New York State! From sandy shores of inclusion to skiing and adaptive hiking with all-terrain wheelchairs, there’s something for every interest and every ability in every season. Best of all, many of these activities are either free or available at a relatively low cost. Photo credit: Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
Beaches | Hiking | Elevated Walkways | Water Sports | Skiing | Additional Resources
NYC
Think NYC is all concrete jungle? Think again! Your urban beach break awaits with features like ramps, blue mobi mats to help get on the sand, and state-of-the-art floating beach wheelchairs at various NYC Parks locations. Take the extremely accessible NYC Ferry to trendy Rockaway Beach or combine sun and amusement park fun at Coney Island. Brighton Beach, just 20 minutes up the boardwalk from Coney Island, offers a quieter beach experience with proximity to the city’s bustling Little Odessa neighborhood. Be sure to contact the beach operations office ahead of your arrival to secure a beach wheelchair.
Long Island
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The country’s top beach experts agree: Long Island has some of the best coastlines in the U.S., several of which offer accessible options. Discover the lively shores of Long Beach (pictured), just an hour from NYC by LIRR, with all-terrain beach wheelchairs (call 516-431-1810 to reserve) and mobi mats located about halfway down the beach at Edwards Blvd, Lafayette Ave, Riverside Blvd, Neptune Blvd, and Minnesota Ave. Take a scenic ferry ride over to the tranquil expanse of Fire Island National Seashore with its mix of accessible and rustic boardwalks at Sailors Haven and Watch Hill, or pair your beach getaway with a concert by the sea at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater located in Jones Beach State Park. Both Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Park (fields 2, 3, and 5) provide state-of-the-art accessibility with mobimats and floating beach wheelchairs, and amphitheater entertainment, ensuring every visitor enjoys a day of seaside bliss.
For those seeking a more secluded retreat, Ponquogue Beach and Foster Memorial Beach offer picturesque settings with lifeguard protection, beach wheelchairs, and ample amenities for a memorable coastal escape. East Hampton town beaches offer beach wheelchairs to help explore what is considered some of the best beachfronts in the country. Head out to Montauk to see the surfers at Ditch Plains, where you can borrow a beach wheelchair while lifeguards are on duty.
Hudson Valley
Find accessible lake beach fun just east of Rhinebeck at Wilcox Memorial Park. The park features beach mat access paths and a WaterWheels® floating wheelchair and PVC beach wheelchair that can be borrowed free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis Thursdays-Mondays.
Adirondacks
The Lake George Beach day use area offers beach mat access and a beach wheelchair available first come, first serve when lifeguards are on duty.
Finger Lakes
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DYK that the largest white sand beach in New York is on a Great Lake? Ontario Beach Park (pictured) in Rochester boasts an accessible boardwalk and beach wheelchairs that can be borrowed free of charge from the lifeguard station connected to the Rohrbach Community Center (ID required as a deposit). Closer to Syracuse, Green Lakes State Park offers a Hippocampe beach/all-terrain wheelchair to help explore the beach and park trails.
Greater Niagara
Just a few miles from downtown Buffalo, the expansive Woodlawn Beach State Park is a popular city escape. A wheelchair charging station and beach wheelchair rentals make this one of the more accessible options in the area.
Central New York
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Glimmerglass State Park has a manual Hippocampe beach/all-terrain wheelchair available between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as an accessible kayak boat launch. A Hippocampe is also available to help access the beach and trails at Delta Lake State Park and Gilbert Lakes State Park.
Statewide
Credit: Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
If you’re particularly ambitious, you can hike or bike all 750 miles of the Empire State Trail connecting people and landscapes from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks. Opened in 2017, all off-road sections of the trail are 8 to 10-feet wide with gentle grades and conform with ADA standards.
Catskills
Head to Ellenville, NY to experience the NORA Adaptive Hiking Program (pictured). Using all-terrain Trackchairs, which are best described as a hybrid between a power wheelchair and a tank, explore a beautifully rugged forest landscape. If you’re using your own set of wheels, head to the Hurleyville Rail Trail, where you’ll find two miles of smooth-surface, paved trails. Accessible trails are also available outside the Catskills Visitors Center and at the Kenneth L. Wilson Campground Day Use Area. Kaaterskill Falls, the highest cascading two-tier waterfall in New York State, has an accessible viewing platform that can be accessed via an easy 0.6-mile roundtrip hike.
Hudson Valley
Westchester Parks Foundation offers another opportunity to go off-roading in a powerful all-terrain Trackchair with their “Trails Without Limits” program. The program allows people with mobility disabilities to hike or bike Westchester County Parks trails at no cost with one of the foundation’s Trackchairs or hand cycles. Explore the carriage roads or the Visitor Center’s .25-mile Grafton Sensory Trail at the Mohonk Preserve with an all-terrain wheelchair. You can borrow the chair by calling 845-255-0919 ext. 1221 to make an advance reservation. Note: to use the loaner chair, you have to be able to self-transfer and must not exceed a 250-pound weight limit.
Finger Lakes
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Yes, you can wheel on the popular Gorge Trail to the base of the spectacular waterfall at the heart of Taughannock Falls State Park! You can also enjoy a view of the top of the falls from an observation platform a short drive away.
Greater Niagara
Credit: New York State Parks
Spectacular views of two of the three waterfalls at the stunning Letchworth State Park are reachable by wheelchair. The park also boasts a first-of-its-kind Autism Nature Trail (ANT) (pictured), with eight sensory-friendly planned-interaction stations. The ANT was created with the autistic community in mind every step of the way – world-renowned advocate Temple Grandin even consulted on the project.
NYC
While steep in parts, the woods of Central Park’s Ramble will make you forget you’re surrounded by skyscrapers as you explore the many step-free paths. The area also happens to be a favorite for birding enthusiasts. Head to Outlook Hill on Governors Island (pictured) via a gently sloping ramp for sweeping views of the island, Statue of Liberty, and Manhattan skyline. Inwood Hill Park, one of the city’s best hidden gems, offers a step-free trail through the woods that is especially spectacular at peak fall foliage season.
NYC
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Stroll NYC’s famous Highline, which runs parallel to the Hudson River. You’ll be surrounded by public art exhibits and can marvel at the surrounding architecture. Multiple elevators along the way allow for “hop on hop off” sightseeing of the Chelsea, Meatpacking, and Hudson Yards neighborhoods below, while plenty of benches and loungers allow for a quick rest if you’re not in a BYOC (bring your own chair) situation. Best of all, it’s totally free!
Hudson Valley
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Just a short walk from the Amtrak/Metro North train station in Poughkeepsie, the Walkway Over The Hudson is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Walk or roll through for sweeping views of the Hudson River and the surrounding landscape. Gentle sloping entry from the 61 Parker Avenue entry point means that you don’t have to rely on elevators, but there’s also access from Poughkeepsie’s Upper Landing Park via an elevator if you prefer that route.
Adirondacks
Take a walk or roll on the wild side at the Wild Walk at the Wild Center! This unique walkway gives you a perch among the treetops of the “Forever Wild” Adirondack Forest. The price of admission includes a whole museum to explore.
NYC
Join “Play It Forward,” an initiative of the non-profit organization Wheel It Forward, for adaptive surfing, waterskiing & fishing workshops.
Finger Lakes
Want to get paddling? Rochester Accessible Adventures offers hoist-equipped adaptive kayaking opportunities to people with almost any type of disability.
Adirondacks
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Go adaptive sailing on Lake George and take in the mountain views on an accessible sailboat run by Y’Knot Sailing. No experience needed – just bring your sense of adventure and your sunscreen!
Catskills
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Just 2.5 hours from NYC, Windham Mountain Club boasts a whole Adaptive Sports Center. People of all abilities and almost all ages (students must be 5 and up) can sign up for half- and full-day ski and snowboarding lessons with experienced instructors using a variety of adaptive equipment, including sit skis. Fun fact: Windham has been offering adaptive lessons since before the ADA was codified as law!
Hudson Valley
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The family-friendly Catamount Mountain Resort offers adaptive ski and snowboard lessons through STRIDE Adaptive Sports, a nonprofit adaptive skiing and recreation organization for individuals with disabilities.
Adirondacks
Credit: Olympic Regional Development Authority
Whiteface Mountain isn’t just for those looking to show off their moves on a black diamond. The Adaptive Snowsports Program provides lessons for adults and children with disabilities who want to learn how to ski and snowboard.
Gore Mountain offers private, one-on-one lessons to skiers and snowboarders of all levels and abilities. Trained staff can work with those who are hearing or visually impaired, those with developmental disabilities, and/or those with physical disabilities. There are two different style bi-skis available, as well as outriggers for those needing to use this type of equipment.
The Double H Ranch Adaptive Winter Sports Program offers kids age 6-16 who are dealing with chronic and life-threatening illnesses the opportunity to participate in skiing and other winter sports completely free of charge, including equipment loaners.
Chautauqua-Allegheny
The family-friendly Holiday Valley Resort (pictured) offers adaptive skiing through the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program. Not only are lessons a good deal as far as skiing is concerned ($100 for two hours including equipment and lift access), but scholarships are also available for those with financial need.
The Swain Resort, the oldest continuously operated ski area in New York, offers an adaptive learn-to-ski and snowboard program serving both adults and children with disabilities.
Finger Lakes
Head to Greek Peak Mountain Resort for the Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports (GPAS) program for adaptive ski lessons that include all necessary equipment and lift tickets. If you’re a military vet, you can hit the slopes with the Outdoor Adventures for Sacrifice in Service (OASIS Group) program at Bristol Mountain.
Greater Niagara
Adaptive skiing experiences are available for children (4+) and adults with a variety of disabilities at Kissing Bridge, ranging from first-time skiers to experienced pros. Call 716-868-0896 for more information.
For even more accessible outdoor adventures, see accessibility resources from our partners at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Parks (in addition to the accessibility page, there’s an excellent blog on select accessible outdoor recreation experiences). New York State residents with disabilities can get an Access Pass to enjoy free and/or discounted use of NYS Parks and DEC facilities.
