El Paso County expands access at Bear Creek: Trailability terrain hoppers and an audio 'pen friend' for visually impaired visitors

On Beyond the Deis, Mary Joe Lewis and Kylie Taylor of El Paso County Parks described two accessibility initiatives at Bear Creek Nature Center: the Trailability program, which uses terrain hoppers and trained volunteers to escort people with disabilities on trails, and the VIP trail, a visually impaired persons route that uses rope guidance and audio 'pen friend' devices for interpretive signs.

Taylor said Trailability began in 2022 and was created so "everyone has access to the outdoors," including people with disabilities who might not otherwise access the trails. The program provides terrain hoppers and trained volunteer guides; it started as a three-month season and has expanded to six months at Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers. Staff said they are trialing hikes at Fox Run Regional Park this summer.

Taylor described an anecdote highlighting the program’s impact: participants who had not been able to walk trails for years were able to rejoin weekly walks, creating emotional and social benefits. "We've cried countless times reading folks evaluations after they've done the Trailability program," she said.

For visitors who are blind or have low vision, staff developed a VIP trail on an existing flat boardwalk (the Songbird trail). The trail includes rope with knots to provide tactile navigation and uses a pen friend audio device visitors can borrow free from the center; when the device is placed on interpretive signs it reads the content aloud. The center consulted a legally blind volunteer, Monica, and worked with the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind to design the project.

Taylor noted that Trailability participants register online, enabling email surveys and formal feedback; VIP trail users typically provide verbal feedback in person, which staff use to refine signage and device placement. Both programs are offered free to the public, and staff said participant suggestions have led to small but meaningful improvements.

Officials said the programs are intended to expand inclusivity across their nature centers and look to broaden offerings when resources and partnership opportunities allow.

For more information or to register for Trailability hikes, staff directed listeners to elpasoco.com/naturecenters.