Garriotts on The Go

12 Scenic Wheelchair Accessible Trails in Illinois: Nature for Every Ability

Rare Disease & Natures Healing

I am a firm believer in natures ability to promote health both physically and mentally. Unfortunately getting outside and benefiting from nature is not always easy especially for those who need it the most. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, you should be able to get outside and enjoy the healing powers of nature. Here you will find 12 wheelchair accessible trails that make it easier to enjoy freedom, fresh air, and beautiful views.

Severe Combined Immune Deficiency

I’m going to make a really long story short here. In 2015 I was catapulted into motherhood, the rare disease world, and a bone marrow transplant all within 1 month. At 10 days old my son was flagged on the newborn screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency(SCID). He was rushed to St. Louis Children’s Hospital where their team confirmed the diagnosis. We were told, in many more scientific words, that he was born without an immune system. Without treatment, he would die from infection, likely before his first birthday.
It was very much like trying to drink from a fire hose in those first few weeks. Not only had I just became a mom, but now I was learning about this incredibly rare disease, and along with the doctors trying to figure out how best to save my son’s life.

At three weeks old my son underwent a bone marrow transplant with me as his donor. We spent many weeks in and out of the hospital. When we weren’t in the hospital, we were confined to the Ronald McDonald house on isolation while we waited for his new immune system to begin to grow.

During this time, it was extremely important that I, as his sole caregiver stayed mentally and physically healthy. The best way I knew how to do this was getting outside and walking; clearing my head and moving my body. Thankfully, his transplant team said he could be outside as long as he was away from construction areas. For the first six months of his life we couldn’t be around many people, but we could be outside and enjoy nature.

Thriving outside

As he got older, we still had to be careful of infections. Nature had already become a place that we could escape to safely. I write more in depth about Getting Outside With Medically Complex Children in this article.


Mentally it was freeing to be outside and away from the four walls of the hospital. The trails are a place where we were in control of our bodies, unlike at hospital and doctor appointments where we were getting poked and prodded. Physically, being outside playing or hiking trails keeps our bodies moving and away from people who may spread germs.



It started with him in a carrier, then we gradually moved to him walking or hiking on his own. We began with these short, wide and clear trails to avoid any scrapes or abrasions that could get infected. As he continued to grow, and we learned his boundaries, we’ve been able to explore many wonderful places. The outdoors and nature continues to be a place where he learns, grows, and thrives.

1. Allerton Park

  • Address: 515 Old Timber Road Monticello, Illinois 61856
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: Formal Gardens, multiple accessible parking lots
  • Scenic features: Beautiful gardens featuring thousands of different flowers, foliage, trees, and sculptures.
  • Map

2. Eldon Hazlet State Park

  • Address: 20100 Hazlet Park Road Carlyle, Illinois 62231
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trails: Illini trail 1.5miles , Wetland Educational Trail 0.5miles, Bluestem Trail 0.5miles
  • Scenic features: the Illini trail has accessible docks just off the paved trail allowing fishing or viewing of the pond. This pond is covered with large flowering Lilly pads that bloom early summer!
  • Map

3. Ferne Clyffe State Park

  • Address: 90 Goreville rd, Goreville, Illinois 62939
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: Big Rocky Hollow Trail 0.75 miles, this trail is wide and flat BUT can be muddy right after a rain.
  • Scenic features: A beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail.
  • Map
  • More info on Ferne Clyffe

4. The Morton Arboretum

  • Address: 4100 IL-53 Lisle, Illinois 60532
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: There are many accessible trails and areas at the arboretum. The East side is the most accessible with access to the Medow Lake Path 0.6 miles, Visitors Center, and Children’s Garden. The Children’s Garden is 4 acres of concrete and paved asphalt.
  • Scenic features: 1700 acres of beautiful tree, plant and garden landscapes with woodlands, prairies, lakes, and streams.
  • East Side Map, West Side Map

5. Kickapoo Rail Trail

  • Address: to access Near the scenic trussel bridge parking is at 17037 Pollock Ln, Oakwood Township, Illinois 61858
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: this rail trail spans 24.5 miles from Urbana Illinois to Kickapoo State Park. At this time only certain sections are completed. The completed portions are a fine gravel with wooden bridges.
  • Scenic features: countryside, trail side wildflowers, the trussel bridge over the Middle Fork Vermillion River
  • Map

6. Moraine View State Park

  • Address: 27374 Moraine View Park Road LeRoy, Illinois 61752
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: Timber point picnic area has a 0.5 mile accessible trail. There are also 3 wheelchair accessible fishing docks.
  • Scenic features: Beautiful lake views and marshland
  • Map

7. Garden Of The Gods

  • Address: Herod, Illinois
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: Observation trail is a .25 mile loop. It is wheelchair accessible when done clockwise to the overlook area, you will then have to go back the way you came instead of finishing the loop to avoid stairs and tight spaces.
  • Scenic features: the overlook area shows off beautiful rock formations from a high point. This is one of the most photographed areas in Illinois!
  • Map

8. Weldon Springs State Park

  • Address: 4734 Weldon Springs Rd Clinton, Illinois 61727
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: The Veterans Point portion of the Lakeside Trail which includes a wheelchair accessible fishing pier.
  • Scenic features: Lake views, fishing, birding
  • Map

9. Fort Massac State Park

  • Address: 1308 E 5Th St, Metropolis, Illinois 62960
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trails: 4.0 miles of the George Rogers Discovery Trail and sidewalks to the Visitor center and around the fort!
  • Scenic features: Ohio River views, history of the land and fort!
  • Map

10. Tunnel Hill State Trail

  • Address: 302 E Vine St, Vienna, Illinois 62995
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: this 45 mile trail has many access points but the Vienna access point will bring you through the namesake tunnel about a half mile from the parking lot
  • Scenic features: tunnels, and trestle bridges
  • Map

11. Rock Springs Conservation Area

  • Address: 3939 Nearing lane Decatur, Illinois
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: The Rock Springs Bike trail is a wheelchair accessible trail linking Rock Springs conservation area to Fairview Park. The trail is 3.75 miles from start to finish starting at rock Springs.
  • Scenic features: pine forest, reconstructed prairies, river bottom
  • Map

12. Cache River State Natural Area

  • Address: 8885 State Route 37 south Cypress, Illinois 62923
  • Wheelchair Accessible Trail: Section 8 Woods boardwalk and around The Wetlands Center
  • Scenic features: Cypress swamp
  • Map

Get Outside And Thrive

I hope you find this helpful and are able to get outside and enjoy nature no matter what your physical ability level is!

meghangarriott

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