Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails

Short Hikes and Interesting Features

Sometimes it makes sense to provide a short section of trail meeting the technical requirements for accessibility on a trail that would otherwise be totally exempted from the technical requirements under General Exception 2. Even if visitors can't hike the entire trail, a short hike may be enjoyable (figure 127). If there are no uncorrectable environmental barriers and few or no significant conditions requiring exceptions between the trailhead and the first extreme environmental barrier, and that trail segment is at least 500 feet (152 meters) long, consider constructing that section of trail to meet the technical requirements even though the rest of the trail is not accessible.

A short section of trail is especially enjoyable if an interesting natural, cultural, or historic feature is located between the trailhead and the first extreme environmental barrier. The feature might be the focal point, main attraction, or destination of the trail or it may simply be an interesting secondary feature, such as a boulder outcrop, a waterfall, a grouping of old or unique trees, a cultural or historic structure, a wildflower meadow, an area popular for wildlife viewing, or a vista. In such cases, hikers would appreciate you constructing the section of the trail leading to the prominent feature in compliance with the technical accessibility requirements.

Here's an example of how the guidance on General Exception 2 can be used. Consider the design for a new 1-mile (1,600-meter) -long trail with a waterfall (an interesting feature) about 300 feet (91 meters) from the trailhead. Fifteen percent of 1 mile (1,600 meters) is 792 feet (240 meters). Add together all the lengths of trail where technical requirements can't be met because of conditions for an exception. If the total length is more than 792 feet (240 meters), the trail would be eligible for a total exemption from the technical requirements of FSTAG. However, if there are no uncorrectable environmental barriers and few or no significant conditions requiring exceptions between the trailhead and the waterfall, that section of trail should, in most cases, comply with the technical requirements even though the rest of the trail does not.