Located in sleepy little Guerneville, the Creekside Inn (creeksideinn.com) is nestled in the redwoods just a stones throw away from the Russian River. Built on stilts to withstand potential flooding, the majority of the rooms in this Sonoma County Inn are on eye-level with the avian population that inhabits the surrounding forest. And if you listen closely you’ll also hear the familiar “Chicago” call of the resident ground dwelling quail. Truly you are surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature at this rural property. And the good news is, the Creekside Inn boasts both ambiance and accessibility, with a nice wheelchair-accessible cottage.
The Lark Cottage
The inn itself is divided into two sections — the main house, where the office and six bed-and-breakfast rooms are located; and the surrounding buildings, which house a collection of second-floor cottages, suites and cabins. The accessible Lark Cottage is located in the latter section, with accessible parking near the office and elevator access up to the barrier-free elevated walkway on the top floor.
Access features in the cottage include wide doorways, barrier-free pathways, and plenty of room to navigate a wheelchair. The spacious bathroom is equipped with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower seat. The toilet is located in a separate alcove with grab bars on both sides; and the bathroom also includes a roll-under sink.
The cottage is furnished with a 23-inch high queen-sized bed, and includes a roomy kitchen with a stove, sink, coffeemaker, refrigerator and even roll-out shelves. There’s also level access to the small deck area just outside the cottage.
The Little Extras
And let’s not forget the little extras, like fresh fruit on the counter and half-and-half in the refrigerator for your morning coffee. There’s also a gas fireplace for those nippy evenings.
Access to the public areas is good too at the Creekside Inn, with a lift available for the pool and hot tub. There’s also a barbecue area with level access and an accessible picnic table. And with the Russian River flowing in the background, it’s the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and enjoy the natural beauty of Sonoma County.
Top it off with a very welcoming and knowledgeable owner — Lynn Crescione — and you have all the key ingredients for a relaxing getaway. Not only is Lynn a first-rate hostess but she’s also very proactive as far as access is concerned. For example, she had a pool lift long before it was ever required. She just saw the need, and as a conscientious owner, she filled it. And that makes for good access.
In short, you just can’t go wrong with the Creekside Inn. Not only is it wheelchair-accessible, but it’s just what the doctor ordered for some serious R&R.
(click for larger image)
Bedroom in the Lark Cabin
Kitchen in the Lark Cabin
Shower and Toilet in the Lark Cabin
Vanity in the Lark Cabin
Barrier-Free Travel Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
Located about 20 miles southeast of Salem, Silver Falls State Park is the crown jewel of the Oregon State Park system. There’s no shortage of majestic waterfall views, and if you’d like to get a closer look, there are also several wheelchair-accessible trails to explore. Add in accessible picnic areas, restrooms, food service and visitor facilities, and you have the complete package. And if you’d like to spend a few nights, there’s a nice selection of wheelchair-accessible cabins nears the rivers edge. So pack the car and get ready to experience a cornucopia of natural beauty at Silver Falls State Park.
South Falls District
South Silver Falls
The South Falls District is the most developed area of the park. It features accessible parking in the main lot, near the accessible restrooms and the information board. A wide paved trail leads to the left past the South Falls Café to the stone circle. From there bear left and continue along past the Nature Store. Take the next left and follow the trail out to the viewpoint. This is the closest view of the South Falls, and it’s about .25 from the parking lot. There is a small wall along the rim, and depending on the season some foliage may obstruct your view, so continue along the paved trail for a better vantage point.
After you return to the main trail, take the next left for a better falls view. This viewpoint is about .3 from the parking lot, and a bit downhill, but there’s a bench and a clear view at the end.
The trail past this point is not accessible, but if you head back towards the parking lot you can see the other side of the area. This time, take the right trail from the parking area and wind around the back of the South Falls Cafe and past the second set of restrooms to the Stone Kitchen Shelter on the right. Constructed by the CCC in 1936, this community kitchen was renovated in 2005. There’s an accessible pathway that leads past a picnic area to the right and up to the kitchen, and bypasses the steps in front.
And just past the Stone Kitchen Shelter, there’s a nice accessible boardwalk that winds through the forest. The access ends after the boardwalk, but it’s still a nice little jog through the forest. And a pleasant place to have a picnic lunch.
North Falls District
The North Rim Trail in the North Canyon District
The North Canyon District also has some accessible features, as this area recently underwent a major renovation. It’s located just past the north entrance to the park, and it should not be confused with the North Falls parking area, which is located further south along the road.
There’s accessible parking in the large lot with level access to the accessible restrooms and picnic area. There are a number of tables on the grass under the trees, plus one accessible table near the parking lot with an accessible drop-off are nearby. There’s no shortage of picnic choices here.
The North Rim Trail begins just to the left of the restrooms. This wide hard-packed dirt trail is covered with crushed rock in the beginning, and then transitions to a dirt trail. It winds through the forest and passes the North Canyon Nature Play Area, where kids can play on nature-themed play equipment. There’s also another picnic area along the route, which is in a level dirt area and has room at the end of the tables for wheelchairs. It’s a more secluded option than the main picnic area.
The trail continues along through the forest, crosses a bridge and has a minimal elevation gain. At about the .6-mile point, there’s an accessible viewpoint with an interpretive plaque and a nice view of the North Falls. After that the trail loses its access, as there are steps, ruts, and elevation gains. Still it makes for a nice 1.2-mile out-and-back hike through the forest, and it offers a great view at the end.
A Taste of Mother Nature
South Falls Trail
The South Falls Campground also boasts a doable trail for many folks. You can access the trail in two places — near the campground entrance and campsite 2, or near the amphitheater and campsite 41. The entrance near campsite 2 has a bridge with about a three-inch step, but there is also an alternate entrance from the campground road.
The whole trail is about 1.25 miles long, but only the end sections are doable, as the middle has narrow pathways, rocks and other obstacles, steep sections and some overgrown foliage. From each entrance the trail is doable for about .4 mile. These sections boast a wide trail in good repair, that meanders along a stream and through the forest with a minimal elevation gain. It’s a good trail for birders, as there’s no shortage of wildlife along the way. Best bet is to take the trail as far as you can manage, and then double back. It’s a beautiful taste of nature.
And if you’d like to spend the night in the campground, accessible campsites 58, 60, 86 and 91 feature a paved driveway, a raised grill, an accessible picnic table and are near the accessible restrooms. As an added bonus, campsite 91 also has a covered picnic table. If you want to bring your rig, campsites 2, 3 and 4 are accessible sites with power. To be honest, this is a pretty level campground and most of the campsites are doable for wheelchair-users — the big difference is the distance from the bathrooms.
If you want to overnight in the park, but don’t really want to pitch a tent, then consider one of these wheelchair-accessible camping cabins. Located in the cabin village, Cabin 1 is the most private. It features a wide paved driveway and ramped access up to the front porch.
This two-room cabin features electricity, lights, a heater, and plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair. The front room is furnished with a table with four chairs and a 19-inch high futon; while the other room includes a bunk bed (20-inch high bottom bunk) and a 24-inch high double bed. And outside there’s an accessible picnic table, a raised grill and plenty of room to roll around the level site. This cabin can sleep six, and does not allow pets.
The shower house is about 120 feet away, and it includes a private room with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a fold down shower seat and a hand-held showerhead. It also has a small changing area and a roll-under sink with a lowered mirror. The bathroom is next door and includes a toilet with grab bars on the back and left walls (as seated), a urinal and a roll-under sink.
Cabin 1
Inside Cabin 1
Bedroom in Cabin 1
Toilet and sink in Showerhouse
Shower Room in Showerhouse
Cabins 3,4 and 7 are also accessible choices in the cabin village. They have the same access features as cabin 1, and they all sleep six and don’t allow pets. Cabin 3 has a large accessible deck, cabin 4 has a side ramp and a large porch, and cabin 7 is the closest to the bathroom.
Additionally, there’s an accessible cabin in the campground (19) which sleeps four people and accepts pets. It’s not as private as those in the cabin village but it’s still a nice accessible place to overnight in Silver Falls State Park.
Cabin 2
Cabin 4
Cabin 7
Barrier-Free Travel California National Park Road Trips for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
