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The State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites program is working across New Jersey to make the outdoors accessible to visitors of all abilities. This page highlights a selection of amenities throughout the state park system designed with accessibility in mind. 

Many facilities, including park offices and restrooms, are accessible to visitors with disabilities. For more information on if a site can accommodate your individual accessibility needs, contact the park office of your choice or call the Trenton office at (609) 984-0370 or parks@deptest.nj.gov.

Beach Wheelchairs and Mats

State Park Service lifeguarded beaches are equipped with beach mats and wheelchairs to help visitors with mobility disabilities navigate sandy areas. 

For assistance with a beach wheelchair, contact the park office of your choice or our Trenton office at (609) 984-0370 or  parks@deptest.nj.gov. 

Beaches are available at the following state parks and forests: Atsion Recreation Area (Wharton State Forest), Bass River State Forest, Belleplain State Forest, Cheesequake State Park, High Point State Park, Hopatcong State Park, Island Beach State Park, Parvin State Park, Round Valley Recreation Area, Swartswood State Park and Wawayanda State Park.

Inclusive Playgrounds

Inclusive playgrounds for children with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities are available at Wawayanda State Park in Sussex County, Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County and Wharton State Forest in Burlington County. 

The playgrounds feature solid rubber surfacing and equipment designed to enhance the play experience for people of all abilities, providing maximum accessibility for those with a wide range of needs. 

Ground-level activities include musical instruments to encourage auditory and cognitive stimulation, as well as hand cyclers to promote upper-body strength. Each playground also offers adaptive swings for children unable to use a belt swing and slide transfer decks to allow easier movement from a mobility device onto a slide.

Sensory Awareness Trail – Forest Resource Education Center

The Sensory Awareness Trail at the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson Township, Ocean County, is a quarter-mile out-and-back trail accessible to visitors of all abilities, with a focus on those with mobility and visual impairments. 

The trail encourages visitors to engage all their senses while exploring diverse forest habitats. It features a wide, obstacle-free, permeable surface that accommodates wheelchairs. 

A trailhead kiosk includes interpretive panels in large print and Braille, a 3D topographical map, and a hand-crank audio player with commentary from natural resource experts.

Along the trail, a guide rope with tactile markers helps visitors with visual impairments navigate interpretive exhibits. Benches are available at regular intervals along the trail for breaks.

Six of the trail’s 20 exhibits feature 3D tactile models, allowing visitors to feel the shapes of plants and animals they represent.

Trackchair – Wharton State Forest

Visitors with mobility impairments to Wharton State Forest may explore select trails using a reservable Trackchair, an all-terrain, electric-powered wheelchair capable of navigating areas inaccessible to standard wheelchairs. 

To reserve the track chair, call Wharton State Forest’s Batsto office at (609) 561-0024.

Accessible Canoe & Kayak Launch

Accessible canoe and kayak launch is available at both Atsion Lake located within the Atsion Recreation Area in Wharton State Forest and Wawayanda State Park which are designed to help individuals with mobility disabilities to safely and independently launch and board kayaks and canoes.

Adaptive Mountain Bike Trail – Long Pond Ironworks State Park

The Stags Adaptive Mountain Biking Trail, located within the Long Pond Ironworks State Park in West Milford, is the state’s first trail specifically designed for adaptive mountain biking. Constructed in 2022, this 3,950-foot route caters to beginner and intermediate adaptive riders, mountain bikers, and hikers. 

Trail Features: 

  • Accessibility: The trail is designed with a consistent width of 4 to 6 feet and an overall grade of 7%, ensuring accessibility for adaptive riders. 
  • Terrain: Built from native materials to USFS Class 4 standards, the trail offers a flat and stable surface with no obstacles over 5 inches, making it suitable for adaptive mountain bikes. 
  • Access Considerations: Accessing the trail via Airport Road or Safari 1 involves sections with steep gradients that may challenge certain adaptive devices. It’s recommended to use battery-assisted bikes for these sections. 

Trail Accessibility Assessments

Sixty miles of trails underwent accessibility assessments in May 2025 at Allaire State Park in Monmouth County, Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County, the Forest Resource Education Center in Ocean County, and Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Monmouth County. 

The assessments gathered data such as slope, cross slope, surface type, trail width and length, and available trailhead facilities, which are important details that help visitors determine if a trail meets their needs. 

These data are used to create new trail maps and informational materials, as well as to identify improvements that would enhance accessibility for all users. 

Additional trail assessments at other areas across the state are planned for the future.

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