An accessible trail to Brandywine Falls in Ohio
For those with legs that work for walking, hikes in National Parks allow views of some of nature’s greatest showpieces.
It seems people who use wheelchairs and walkers might miss out on what the parks offer. And that’s true, to a degree.
There are bright spots, however – trails and lookouts adapted for more accessibility. One of these gets people in wheelchairs up close to Brandywine Falls, a beautiful cascade at Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, Ohio. It has a “back door” that’s accessible to all for a great view of the falls.
For those who have Parkinson’s and are able to walk without help – as I and other unshakable hikers still can (and I say that with loads of gratitude) – taking the 70+ stairs is the best way to get to the falls.
I say that because it’ll get the heart rate up.
Choose to exercise!
With gusto.
It’s the only way to slow down Parkinson’s, which wants to own your life.
But for people who roll places instead of walk, there’s a .4-mile, out-and-back “trail” to get to the Brandywine Falls lookout.
How to get there
Parking is available at the Brandywine Falls trailhead, which is also where you park for the picnic area. The accessible parking spots are closest to the trailhead.
Look for the paved path leading from the lot. After a short distance, a sign will point either to the stairs or the ramp.
Once on the route to the ramp, you’ll come to a wooden boardwalk with railings that begins to go up. At 3% or less grade, the accessible trail is not a steep slope.
It typically takes 10-12 minutes to get to the lookout. Shade from the sun is brought to you by the local deciduous trees.
The viewing platform actually sits a bit higher than the viewing area for those who take the stairs.
Here’s the lower view.
Enjoy the falls!
They are 60 feet high and served as a landmark for settlers in the early 1800s. A sawmill was built using the power of the waterfall, and a small village was formed.
Here is a map of the area today. A portion of it is below.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park also includes the Towpath Trail, once used for mules pulling barges up the canal to Lake Erie. Today the Towpath Trail is filled with walkers and bikers.
It’s worth checking out. Wheelchairs and strollers would do fine on portions of the 100-mile mile trail. This is my post about biking part of the trail one way and returning by train. So fun.
NPS and accessibility
The National Park Service has been working for years to boost accessibility. This includes adding shuttles and facilities that comply with ADA rules as well as paved trails and OPDMDs.
That 3-mile-long acronym stands for Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices. Think “track chairs.”
I posted about these amazing mobility machines, which are being acquired by state and national parks and let people who use wheelchairs explore off the paved path.
If you’re planning a trip and have accessibility concerns, the NPS wants you to call ahead to request reasonable modifications. Many park visitor centers have wheelchairs that you can use for free.
There’s even an online “suggestion box” here for people who have a negative experience with accessibility.
Of course, to define accessible depends on whom you ask. It’s difficult for walkers to truly understand what it’s like to do everything from a wheelchair.
Awareness, advocacy, and speaking out are what’s still needed.
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Easiest
Distance: .4 miles roundtrip
Parking lot location: 8176 Brandywine Road in Sagamore Hills Township, Ohio. There are several accessible parking spaces.
Cell phone service: yes
Bathrooms: at parking area
Emergency medical support: within 5 miles
Cost: none. Cuyahoga is a fee-free park.
Insider tip: The park can get crowded on warm summer days. If you don’t want lots of people around, try going early, when the park opens, or later in the day.
