New Trailhead Signage Helps Trail Access

A sign next to a trail at Harold Parker State Forest.

          The Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is introducing new trailhead signage on selected trails statewide this fall. Trails that are considered reasonably accessible for people using mobility devices will have Trail Access Information signs at the starting point. 

          Trail Access Information (TAI) signs follow U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines to provide a quick reference to the elements of the trail experience, such as length, slope, cross slope, trail width, surface, and obstacles. The new TAI signs should help people preview the trail to determine if they can or want to use the trail.

A portion of a TAI sign showing trail surface info.

          DCR's Universal Access Program developed TAI signs, as well as directional and trailside signage, to improve everyone's ability to locate designated trails in a park, understand and follow them successfully.         

Six icons show different trail surfaces.

          A MassTrails grant funded the design of a signage system to explain the details of the trail. A QR code on the trailhead signs offers an online legend to help people understand the information. The wayfinding system was designed with input from people with a wide variety of disabilities. It is primarily oriented for visual reading and includes some iconography pertaining to the needs of people with vision impairments. Online text descriptions will help people with vision impairments determine best trail experience matches.

A directional sign with an arrow
points to the trailhead
 with a TAI sign
 at Dunn State Park.

          The following parks and forests have the new signs in place:

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, E. Boston (1/2 mile)

Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield (1/2 mile)

DAR State Forest, Goshen (1/2 mile)

Dunn State Park, Gardner (3/4 mile)

Riverbend Farm, Uxbridge (2 miles)

Walden State Reservation, Concord (1/2 mile)

Woerd Ave. Boat Launch, Waltham (1/8 mile)          

A small trailside sign warns of "more rugged trail ahead".
Other trailside signs help with navigation and 
offer cautions where useful.

          Additional parks and forests will have TAI signs by spring, including Pittsfield State Forest (1/2 mile), Savoy Mountain State Forest (1/2 mile), and J. Harry Rich State Forest (1/2 mile). 

Two people, one using walking sticks, approach
a Trail Access Information sign at the start of a trail.

          The project was inspired during the pandemic, when there was a rush of people looking for trail experiences and it was noted that "accessible" trails are hard to find. 

          

          The Universal Access Program plans to assess more trails that have good potential to serve people using mobility devices. More signage will be added to Massachusetts State Parks over time. Webpages and trail specific maps will become available online in the next year to provide additional detail, including text descriptions. 

          If you would like to recommend a trail for accessibility signage, contact Marcy Marchello at marcy.marchello@mass.gov.