The great outdoors offers a wealth of experiences that can be enjoyed by people of all abilities—including those on the autism spectrum. Check out these two special walking trails that combine sensory exploration and thoughtful support features to create an enriching environment that’s inviting and accessible to all.
The Autism Nature Trail in Letchworth State Park, New York
Letchworth State Park’s Autism Nature Trail (ANT) invites people with sensory challenges and their families to celebrate nature under a canopy of sugar maples and beeches. ANT is the first experience of its kind, with dedicated sensory stations amid the natural beauty of Western New York!
The path is made from ADA-compliant stone dust, so people with mobility challenges can still visit. And no need to worry about getting lost—at least one of the 38 stone markers along the trail is always in view.
Sensory Experiences Along the Trail
As you follow the one-mile trail, you’ll see ADA-compliant wood mulch paths to eight different stations. The stations offer sensory experiences and quiet areas to suit your comfort level.Â
First, stop at the Trailhead Pavilion, which is both the trail’s entrance and exit. Listen to water cascade down a rain chain and review the provided orientation information to get a clear sense of what to expect. Next, step into the two open gazebos at the Sensory Station. You’ll find items to touch, smell, organize, and consider, such as nuts, acorns, rocks, fossils, bark, leaves, and moss.Â
Then visit the Sunshine Slope. Follow the simple maze to a viewing platform where you can look further into the woods. This station also has three “cuddle cocoons”—mini tents suspended from trees where you can take a break from the visual and sensory stimulation and be soothed by gentle swaying.
The next stop is the Music Circle. Touch, thump, and brush three nature-inspired instruments to create soothing wind chime-like sounds—nothing shrill or jarring. There are also two Alone Zones here where you can get away from the sounds and take a rest on a nearby bench.
At the Reflection Knoll, a quiet stone circle sits in the dappled light of overhead trees. Search for the seven carved creatures in the stones, or just take a break from the bright sun and enjoy the sounds of nature. The Meadow Run & Climb is the place to get the wiggles out. Run up a grassy hill, climb a log stairway, and play on equipment like curving beams and an obstacle course to build coordination and confidence.
Builders will love the Design Zone, where they can use branches and sticks to create play structures like forts and houses in a shady knoll. The Playful Path is a collection of short loops off the main trail made with textured materials like river stones, slate, log rounds, and sand.Â
Finally, visit the Celebration Station back at the Trailhead Pavilion to record your feelings about your visit or sign your name on the two chalkboards.
Preparing to Visit The Autism Nature Trail
Knowing what to expect can help people with sensory challenges to better process new experiences. Prepare for your visit with some of the ANT’s useful resources.
Take a video tour of the trail, to “visit” each station online before visiting in person. There are also social stories on their website that explain what visitors will see and do when they arrive. Read through each story to get acquainted with the experience, and get suggestions for coping with challenges like where to rest or how to step away to prevent overstimulation.Â
Throughout the trail, you’ll see that fallen trees and prickly bushes have been left around the perimeter. This is to prevent elopement—wandering or running away from caregivers—out into the larger natural area.
Jupiter Flatwoods Trail, Florida
Take a relaxing walk through Florida’s forest and marshland at the state’s first autism-friendly natural area. Tucked inside the 160-acre North Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area, the half-mile Jupiter Flatwoods Trail is a Certified Autism-Friendly Site by the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.Â
A calming atmosphere, sensory experiences, and a fully paved pathway make it accessible for children and adults, wheelchairs and strollers. Plus, it’s free to enter! Â
Sensory Experiences Along the Trail
The experiences at this trail will draw your focus to the natural beauty all around. Your walk starts with a short bridge crossing a pond. High sides of closely placed slats keep the crossing safe while you peek into the water below to look for fish and turtles.Â
After the bridge, the concrete path wanders through slash pines and cypress trees. As you walk, two nature scavenger hunts provide both fun and focus, giving visitors some helpful structure. Search for birds, bugs, and flowers on the visual scavenger hunt. Or get your nose, ears, and hands involved with a sensory scavenger hunt—listen for a woodpecker tapping, smell a sweet flower, and touch the edges of a pine cone.Â
A wooden boardwalk over a cypress swamp is a high point for many visitors. The boardwalk is built with high sides so walkers feel safe and secure as they try this new experience.
Along the way, stop at two sensory stations to feel different natural textures like moss, stones, and wood. And take a break on a swinging bench to enjoy the scenery and self-soothe with the gentle back-and-forth.
Preparing to Visit the Jupiter Flatwoods Trail
The Jupiter Flatwoods Trail offers several resources to prepare for your visit. The Nature Trail Social Narrative provides visual and verbal cues indicating what to expect. You can also explore a 360° interactive map so you can “walk the trail” before leaving home.
The walk itself can be completed in as little as 10 minutes as an easy introduction to the great outdoors. Or extend your stay with the scavenger hunts and a short walk down to the nearby fishing pier on the pond.
More Autism and Sensory-Friendly Outdoor Experiences
Did you know that people with permanent disabilities like autism can get a free “America the Beautiful” pass for lifetime access to all national parks, including these two?Â
Death Valley National Park, Nevada
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the continental United States, but many of its beloved sites can be reached by car. Walk onto the salt flats of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, surrounded by black mountain peaks. Follow a short trail to Zabriskie Point for the best views of the sculptural ranges and ancient lake bed of the badlands.Â
The park offers free sensory kit loans, including polarized sunglasses, noise-canceling headphones, cooling towels, squirt bottles, and more. Plus, a thorough Sensory Guide shares the best spots in the park to dial up or dial down external stimuli. Â
Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas
The nine different ecosystems at Big Thicket National Preserve allow you to explore a range of habitats in one beautiful park. Hike an easy one-mile trail through the shady longleaf pine forest or kayak under the cypress trees in a green bayou.Â
Pick up a sensory kit at the Visitor’s Center with noise-reducing headphones, antibacterial hand wipes, and a Velcro task board where you can organize pictures of the park in the order you plan to visit them for a customized agenda.
