Outdoor Recreation for Persons With Disabilities
Montana strives to ensure that disabled visitors feel welcome here. We know how restorative the outdoors and fresh mountain air can be, and our partners continue to make trails and recreation opportunities accessible. Our state parks, national wildlife refuges and rails-to-trails areas can be enjoyed by everyone, and work continues in order to improve accessibility outdoors.
Here's a list of accessible recreation opportunities throughout Glacier Country.
BITTERROOT + MISSOULA CORRIDOR
The Bitterroot Trail
The Bitterroot Trail is a 50-mile-long accessible paved path from Missoula to Hamilton, following the Bitterroot River, Bitterroot Mountains and Sapphire Range. Take the trail as far as you want, exploring the towns along the way, before turning around.
Travelers' Rest State Park Trail
At Travelers' Rest State Park visitors can explore the centuries-old gathering place of the Bitterroot Salish Tribe and an archeologically verified campsite where Lewis and Clark rested. A compacted gravel half-mile loop circles the archeological site, with a gentle slope approaching and crossing Lolo Creek. From the Visitor Center, a short, paved trail leads to the Crossroads Plaza, and features interpretive signs. For those with low vision, the Visitor Center offers braille resources and hands-on displays. Nature trails through the cottonwood forest are also available, though they are not fully accessible.
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Located near Stevensville, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 240 species of birds plus large mammals such as white-tailed deer, yellow-bellied marmots, porcupines and beavers. A half-mile, paved, accessible trail begins at the parking lot, leading to a picnic area. Additionally, Wildfowl Lane is a 3-mile county road through the southern half of the refuge that provides a close look at ponds packed with waterfowl.
Woodside Bridge Fishing Access Site
Located in Corvallis along the Bitterroot River, the Woodside Bridge Fishing Access Site features an ADA-accessible fishing platform.
Missoula Trails
The city of Missoula has many accessible parks, trails and recreation areas. Explore the paved 7 miles of trails at Fort Missoula Regional Park, the Missoula Riverfront Trail System through downtown and the university area, Greenough Park Trail along the Rattlesnake Creek and McClay Flat Nature Trail—a flat, compacted dirt loop with 12 interpretive signs leading to the Bitterroot River. Mission to MARS at Marshall Mountain is a downhill mountain bike trail designed for adaptive riders. See a full list of Missoula’s accessible trails here.
The Missoula Marathon
The Missoula Marathon has wheelchair and handcycle divisions in the full and half marathon. Please visit the Marathon's Wheelchair & Handcycle page for details.
BLACKFOOT CORRIDOR
Milltown State Park
Find jaw-dropping views of the Missoula Valley and Blackfoot River at the end of the Milltown State Park Overlook Trail in Milltown State Park. There are two park entrances connected by a paved trail that follows the Blackfoot River.
Beavertail Pond Fishing Access Site
Located in Clinton, Beavertail Pond Fishing Access Site includes an ADA-accessible fishing platform for improved access to fishing and outdoor recreation.
Harpers Lake Fishing Access Site
Near Clearwater Junction, Harpers Lake Fishing Access Site offers an ADA-accessible fishing platform with peaceful lake views.
CLARK FORK CORRIDOR
Ross Creek Cedar Grove
Ross Creek Cedar Grove trail is a 1-mile-long interpretive walking trail among some of the country's largest cedar trees that can grow up to 8 feet in diameter.
Thompson Falls State Park
Located along the Clark Fork River, Thompson Falls State Park features an accessible fishing pier and easy river access in a scenic forested setting.
Paradise Crossing Fishing Access Site
Paradise Crossing Fishing Access Site, located east of Paradise on the Clark Fork River, offers accessible fishing access, an accessible parking area and access to a latrine.
FLATHEAD CORRIDOR + WHITEFISH + KALISPELL
Krause Basin and Tally Lake
The Krause Basin Interpretive Trail is a 0.25-mile compacted gravel loop with 12 stations that provide information about the old-growth hemlock forest. The gravel Tally Lake Campground Trail weaves 0.4 miles through the campground, over a creek, and connects a picnic area to an open-air pavilion.
Whitefish River Path
Explore Whitefish on the paved Whitefish River Path. Maintained all year round, the path travels 15 miles through town, along the Whitefish River and part of Whitefish Lake.
Great Northern Rail Trail
The Great Northern Rail Trail is built on a former Great Northern Railroad route. Twenty-two miles of paved trail connect Somers, Kalispell and Kila. Parking is available, so you can choose your own starting and ending points.
Lone Pine State Park
Overlooking the Flathead Valley, Lone Pine State Park offers an Action Trackchair—an all-terrain wheelchair available free of charge for use on the primary Lone Pine trail system and the ADA accessible overlook. (Call the Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center at 406.755.2706 for a reservation.) The White Memorial Loop is a 0.3-mile loop offering views of Flathead Lake, Big Mountain and Glacier National Park.
Polson Interpretive Trail
The Polson Interpretive Trail is a paved 1.1-mile out-and-back trail along the shore of Flathead Lake.
Ninepipe Family Fishing Ponds
Located within the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area, the Ninepipe Family Fishing Ponds include an ADA-accessible fishing pier, parking area, access trail and latrine access.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Apgar
Apgar Visitor Center has a 0.25-mile paved path to Apgar Village, Apgar Campground and Lake McDonald. The Apgar Bike Trail is a longer option and is a compacted dirt path that travels 4+ miles to the Old Belton Bridge.
Trail of the Cedars
The Trail of the Cedars is a popular 1-mile loop featuring a wooden boardwalk through a stunning cedar and hemlock forest.
Running Eagle Falls
Running Eagle Falls Trail is a 0.6-mile hard-packed soil loop that leads to a beautiful rock formation waterfall at the end of the trail.
Glacier National Park Accessibility Information and Physical/Mobility Information.
I-90 CORRIDOR
Route of the Hiawatha
The Route of the Hiawatha is 15 miles one way on a high-quality dirt/gravel path with a gradual, downhill grade the entire way. There are 10 train tunnels, with the longest being 1.6 miles, and seven sky-high trestles. There is a shuttle at the end, and adaptive equipment (such as wheelchairs) can be used on the trail.
Frenchtown Pond State Park
Take the 1.3 mile Frenchtown Pond Loop around the pond at Frenchtown State Park. A popular place for family gatherings, the park includes an accessible fishing pier, two small shelters, picnic areas, barbecue pits, a playground and restrooms.
NORTHWEST CORRIDOR
Kootenai National Forest
The Little North Fork Falls is a 0.8-mile out-and-back trail to a waterfall near Lake Koocanusa. The Little Therriault Lake campground has an accessible trail on compacted gravel that loops 0.9 miles around the lake.
LOCAL SERVICES PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE ADVENTURES
Faith Therapeutic Riding Service
Dream Adaptive Recreation
Hydrologistics Montana
