Inclusive Experiences
Adventures Out West Jeep Tour
Adventures Out West, a local adventure outfitter and guide company, now offers a wheelchair-accessible Jeep. Guests can experience tours through Garden of the Gods without mobility barriers. The Jeep is equipped with state-of-the-art suspension and ergonomic seating, as well as a lift. Booking is available by request.
Colorado Jeep Tours
Colorado Jeep Tours prioritizes accessibility to ensure the full experience — everything from navigating the website to embarking on tours — is inclusive of all individuals. The Jeeps are engineered to facilitate entry and exit with minimal assistance, requiring only lateral support for navigating three steps. There are provisions in place to assist clients with mobility impairments, including those who are paraplegic or quadriplegic, provided they can be safely lifted into the front seats. It’s important to note that, at present, they are unable to accommodate clients confined to wheelchairs who cannot be lifted due to weight constraints. In an effort to make tours accessible to all, Colorado Jeep Tours has collaborated with deaf travel blogger, Calvin Young, to create ASL videos for all Jeep tours and rafting safety talks, ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors receive the same information as all other participants. For further assistance or inquiries, please contact the staff at Colorado Jeep Tours.
The Summit of Pikes Peak – America's Mountain
Pikes Peak is often referred to as the most accessible fourteener (14,000-foot mountain). Not only can the summit be reached by hikers, but also by car, bike or The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The Summit Visitor Center at the top of America’s Mountain is universally accessible, equipped with paved walkways and an elevator inside. Visitors can traverse around the entire summit of the mountain on paved walkways and overlooks.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Built with inclusivity at the forefront, the museum has won countless awards for its inclusive and universally accessible design. Upon arrival, guests create a profile using their lanyard where they can pick their favorite sports, athletes and any accessibility needs. Exhibits throughout the museum will then rely on the lanyard to adapt for each guest. Media exhibits can include audio-described video, text-to-speech screen readers, high-contrast display and larger font sizes. For guests who select audio descriptions during registration, a tactile floor strip triggers automatic audio descriptions upon entering each gallery. The entirety of the museum is wheelchair accessible and features gentle-grade ramps throughout. Upon request, museum staff can provide low-sensory experiences, transport chairs and more.
Universally Accessible Playgrounds
Colorado Springs is home to multiple universally accessible playgrounds. Each was built with intentional consideration of children of all abilities.
Swing High Playground at Memorial Park
Located just east of downtown Colorado Springs, Swing High is also outfitted with universally accessible equipment. Some highlights include wheelchair-accessible pathways throughout the playset, as well as a wheelchair-friendly rolling bar slide and harness swings with back supports. The most popular aspect of this playground is the We-Go-Round, a merry-go-round and seesaw set that can be used by disabled and non-disabled kids alike.
Panorama Park
Located in southeast Colorado Springs, Panorama Park features accessible swings, slides and a We-Go-Round. The playground also features a cozy corner, designed for children with autism or other sensory sensitivities and allows them a place to take a break from the noise. A large hollow turtle shell creates a space for quiet alone time.
The Corral at John Venezia Park
Located in the Briargate neighborhood, The Corral features accessible swings, elevated pathways, accessible slides and rubber surfacing.
Acacia Park
In the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, you can find Acacia Park. The park reopened in 2022 as part of the Downtown Historic Parks Improvement Project. The playground has a unique climbing structure built to allow children with mobility aids to play underneath the net system.
Adaptive Groups & Programs
Bear Creek’s Visually Impaired Persons Trail
Bear Creek Nature Center is also home to a V.I.P. (visually impaired persons) Trail that was unveiled in 2023. Visitors with varying visual impairments can now better experience nature and the existing Songbird Trail. The trail section is a flat, wide boardwalk with interpretive signs along the way with information about flora and fauna found along the trail. A braided rope guides users to interactive signs, prompting the use of a Pen Friend audio device that reads signs aloud to users. The V.I.P. Trail is open to the public during park hours, is free and does not require reservations. However, the Pen Friends are only available during Bear Creek Nature Center hours.
CityROCK Adaptive Climbing Team
CityROCK, an indoor rock-climbing gym in downtown Colorado Springs, has an adaptive climbing team. The team is for people with physical, emotional, social and/or cognitive disabilities who are eager to try something new. Volunteers and coaches provide climbers with one-on-one time to promote skill development. This program requires registration in advance. You can find additional information, including costs and dates.
City of COS Parks Track Chair Program
In spring 2024, Colorado Springs is expanding its accessible trail offerings with the addition of two trackchairs. The off-road wheelchairs will help people get outside who otherwise would miss out due to mobility challenges. Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services will make the electric trackchairs free to reserve. The city will provide free training on how to operate the chairs, and park rangers will be around to assist during the reservation period. The program’s offering will start at Red Rock Canyon Open Space and hopes to expand into other parks.
El Paso County’s Trailability Program
Currently two of El Paso County’s Nature Centers (Bear Creek and Fountain Creek) offer free reservations for a TerrainHopper. These off-road mobility devices allow wheelchair users to traverse the park trails accompanied by a trained volunteer. From 1 mile to 3 miles, the trails will take participants through the varying foothills and wetland habitats. Participation is entirely free, and reservations for 2024 will be offered May 1–October 31 at both nature centers.
iFLY Colorado Springs
iFLY's All Abilities Program offers those with physical or cognitive disabilities the opportunity to indoor skydive. They offer proper accommodations for specific disabilities with a highly-trained, world-class iFLY instructor.
Sunflower Program at the Colorado Springs Airport
The Colorado Springs Airport is a proud participant in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. This international program helps individuals with hidden disabilities discreetly inform others through the display of a Sunflower printed lanyard. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower indicates to airport employees and patrons that a person may need additional time, assistance or patience. There are no prerequisites or costs for asking for a lanyard.
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A version of this article appears on VisitCOS.com.
