The Best Handicap-Accessible Hiking Trails in Southwest Michigan
Paved Paths & Wide, Flat Trails for Strollers, Rollators, and Off-Road Wheelchairs in Southwest Michigan
Exploring nature should be something everyone can experience—and thankfully, Southwest Michigan offers a growing list of trails designed with accessibility in mind. Getting outside and exploring nature is something many of us crave—but it isn’t always easy when you or someone in your family has limited mobility. Maybe you use a rollator, a wheelchair, a cane, or simply prefer smoother, flatter trails. Or perhaps you’re planning an outing with young children in strollers, aging parents, or a family member recovering from an injury. Whatever the reason, you still want to hike, breathe fresh air, and enjoy Michigan’s beautiful landscapes without worrying about steep hills, roots, or uneven terrain.
Fortunately, Southwest Michigan offers an impressive collection of paved paths, boardwalks, and wide packed-dirt trails that allow everyone to explore at their own pace. The trails below are thoughtfully chosen for accessibility, scenery, and family-friendliness—so you can enjoy nature with confidence and comfort. Whether you're using a rollator, pushing a stroller, or navigating with an all-terrain wheelchair, these paved or wide, packed-dirt paths make it easy to enjoy fresh air, wildlife, and beautiful scenery.
Below is a curated guide to some of the best accessible trails in the region, grouped by paved paths and accessible natural-surface trails.
Category 1: Paved, Wheelchair-Friendly Trails
These trails offer smooth surfaces perfect for standard wheelchairs, scooters, rollators, and strollers.
1. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Grand Rapids
Surface: Fully paved pathways
Accessibility: Excellent—ramps, elevators, mobility device rentals, boardwalks
Why It’s Great:
This world-class garden and sculpture park offers miles of paved pathways winding through themed gardens, peaceful wetlands, and stunning outdoor sculptures. The terrain is relatively flat, and the accessible trams (seasonal) provide another way to explore the grounds. Our favorite spot is the Japanese Gardens.
Highlights:
Japanese Garden with paved loops
Tropical Conservatory
Accessible restrooms and dining
Scenic boardwalk sections
2. Celery Flats | Portage
Surface: Paved + boardwalk sections
Why It’s Great:
Celery Flats is one of Portage’s most accessible outdoor spaces with smooth paved paths, historical buildings, picnic areas, and access to the Portage Bikeway network.
Perfect for:
Families, mobility devices, slow nature walks, outings with seniors
Celery Flats
3. Portage Creek Bicentennial Trail | Portage
Surface: Mostly paved, linking scenic parks and wetlands.
Why It’s Great:
A smooth, scenic paved pathway that winds through wetlands, forests, and parks across Portage. Perfect for wheelchairs, rollators, and strollers, with plenty of trailheads and benches along the way. This is one of the most accessible multi-use trails in Southwest Michigan.
4. Kal-Haven Trail | Kalamazo -South Haven Trailhead Area
Surface: Paved for the first ~1.5 miles from South Haven
Why It’s Great:
While the bulk of the Kal-Haven is packed limestone, the paved section near South Haven is ideal for wheelchairs and strollers. It includes wide shoulders, flat terrain, and shaded stretches.
Highlights:
Easy out-and-back
Trailhead parking
Access to nearby parks and town amenities
5. Thornapple Valley River Trail | Hastings - Middleville Area
Surface: Paved, Packed Gravel
Distance: ~11 miles (segments)
Why It’s Great:
This paved rail-trail runs along the Thornapple River and through forested sections. While long, it's easy to choose shorter, manageable sections with smooth pavement and gentle grades.
Best for:
Leisurely rolling, riverside views, birdwatching
Category 2: Wide, Flat, Packed-Dirt or Gravel Trails
These trails are generally accessible for outdoor wheelchairs, rugged rollators, jogging strollers, and those who prefer firm natural surfaces.
6. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary | Augusta
Surface: Packed gravel + some paved areas
Why It’s Great:
The main loop around Wintergreen Lake is wide, relatively flat, and well-maintained. Great for viewing swans & waterfowl, surrounded by peaceful wooded scenery. Also enjoy birds of prey exhibits along paved paths.
Accessibility Notes:
Wheelchairs and strollers commonly used here
Benches along the route
Visitor center has accessible restrooms
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
7. Lillian Anderson Arboretum | Kalamazoo (Select Trails)
Surface: Natural packed-earth trails (choose wisely)
Recommended Accessible Trails:
Lillian Anderson Arboretum
Lake Trail (easier sections)
Prairie Path
Why It’s Great:
Some areas of the arboretum include flatter, wider trails that work well for rollators and all-terrain wheelchairs—especially the open meadows and low-elevation forested loops.
8. Dorr Bysterveld Park | Dorr
Surface: Grass + packed dirt
Why It’s Great:
The wider nature trails are relatively flat, making them accessible for outdoor wheelchairs and sturdy rollators. The park also offers quiet picnic spots, a playground, and open natural spaces.
9. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute | Hastings
Surface: Mix of packed dirt and gravel
Recommended Trails:
Cedars Trail (portions)
Meadow Trails
Why It’s Great:
This nature preserve features broad trails winding through prairie and woodland habitats. Certain loops offer stable surfaces with minimal elevation changes, making them suitable for those using off-road mobility devices.
10. Galien River County Park | New Buffalo
Surface: Accessible boardwalks + elevated walkway
Why It’s Great:
Galien River County Park offers one of the most accessible nature experiences in Southwest Michigan, with a long ADA-accessible boardwalk winding over wetlands, river overlooks, and marsh habitats. The highlight is the 600-ft elevated canopy walk, which is fully accessible and offers stunning views without steep climbs.
Perfect For:
Wheelchairs, rollators, strollers, nature viewing, birding.
11. Van Raalte Farm Park | Holland
Surface: Hard-packed dirt trails (well groomed), boardwalk, paved segments
Why It’s Great:
This large nature park features well-maintained, wide, and flat trails with benches placed throughout for rest. Much of the system is very accessible to rollators, all-terrain wheelchairs, and strollers—but avoid visiting right after rain, as the natural surfaces can become muddy.
Highlights:
Peaceful forest and meadow loops
Benches every few hundred yards
Paved paths near historic farmhouse area
12. Woodland Park Nature Preserve – Battle Creek
Surface: Packed dirt
Why It’s Great:
Woodland Park provides quiet, wide, mostly flat nature trails shaded by old-growth trees. Trails are firm and accessible under dry conditions, making them a great option.
Best For:
Short, easy loops in a peaceful forest setting.
13. Dr. T.K. Lawless Park | Vandalia
Surface: Wide, packed-dirt and gravel trails
Why It’s Great:
This Cass County gem includes miles of wide, mostly level natural-surface trails around a scenic lake and forests. Great for dry days. The park also features accessible restrooms and picnic areas.
Bonus:
This is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, perfect for an evening visit.
14. Russ Forest | Marcellus
Surface: Level, wide forest trails
Why It’s Great:
Russ Forest offers surprisingly accessible wooded trails with broad pathways, gentle grades, and mostly firm terrain. A great location for anyone using an off-road mobility device or pushing a jogging stroller.
Perfect For:
Shaded walks, forest immersion, birding.
15. Ott Biological Preserve | Battle Creek
Surface: Hard-packed gravel + long boardwalk sections
Why It’s Great:
This nature preserve offers a very accessible combination of gravel pathways and elevated decking, making it suitable for wheelchairs, rollators, and strollers. Trails loop around marshes, wooded areas, and ponds with minimal elevation changes.
Highlights:
Scenic lake views
Firm surfaces
Great wildlife viewing
16. Kimball Pines Trail | Battle Creek
Surface: Packed dirt and gravel
Why It’s Great:
Located directly across the street from the Ott Preserve, Kimball Pines features wide, easy trails through quiet pine forest areas. This is a good choice for all-terrain wheelchairs, adaptive hiking equipment, and rollators on dry days.
Perfect Add-On:
Pair with Ott Preserve for a longer accessible outing.
Additional Accessible Trail Suggestions
These bonus spots also offer user-friendly natural-surface or paved sections:
Leila Arboretum | Battle Creek
Wide grassy paths and paved garden walks.
Allegan County’s Ely Lake Area
Some forest trails are wide and flat enough for outdoor wheelchairs.
Waterloo Recreation Area – Discovery Center TRACK Trail | Chelsea
Wide, packed-dirt nature trail with family-friendly TRACK Trail begins at the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center and offers an easy, mostly flat loop through forest and wetland habitats. While natural-surface, the trail is well-maintained and broad enough off-road wheelchairs.
Muskegon State Park – TRACK Trail | Muskegon
A firm, packed-sand and dirt sections- The TRACK Trail at Muskegon State Park is a gentle nature walk featuring dunes, woods, and lake views—not steep, with plenty of level areas ideal for outdoor mobility devices.
Tips for Accessible Hiking in Southwest Michigan
Check trail conditions after rain — packed-dirt trails may become soft.
Use an all-terrain or outdoor wheelchair when possible for unpaved routes.
Look for trailhead maps—many parks mark easier routes.
Visit on weekdays for less crowding and easier maneuvering.
Bring trekking poles for uneven surfaces for extra stability.
Final Thoughts
Southwest Michigan offers a surprisingly rich variety of accessible trails—from peaceful gardens and river-side paved paths to wide, natural-surface routes ideal for off-road mobility devices. Whether you're looking for a quick paved stroll or a quiet nature experience on a firm dirt trail, these locations provide inclusive opportunities for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.
