Being in nature is highly valuable to the quality of life and challenges perceptions of our capabilities.
The home base of our hiking program is at Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver. This beautiful and peaceful location offers many different paths and trails to investigate. We explore Pacific Spirit Park using the TrailRider, an innovative wheelchair that supports access to remote and uneven terrain. With one wheel and a dedicated volunteer ‘Sherpa’ front and back, the TrailRider helps you cover any trail comfortably and safely. We also have a portable lift for convenient transfers.
Our equipment inventory now also includes the GRIT Freedom Chair. A cross between a mountain bike and a wheelchair, this lever-powered wheelchair (created by MIT engineers) allows you to independently navigate terrain that is inaccessible to typical wheelchairs.
Throughout the summer you can book sessions to take out the GRIT Freedom Chair (we have versions suitable for adults and children) and accompany someone who is using the TrailRider or you can do your own independent exploration of Pacific Spirit Park. People with limited upper body strength can be assisted as needed thanks to the GRIT’s push handles.
SCHEDULE:
Our summer season runs annually from June through August. Registration reopens in spring 2026.
Where to find us
Our hiking centre is located in the Pacific Spirit Regional Park (4915 W 16th Avenue).
The 1,885-acre park, on the University of BC Endowment Lands, is a beautiful, multi-purpose recreational area. To get there, head west along W 16th Ave. towards UBC. Look for a turn on the right, 400m after the Blanca St. intersection. (If you arrive at the UBC campus, you’ve missed it!) We are located alongside the Pacific Spirit Regional Park Centre. There are accessible washrooms and free parking.
If you are riding transit, the 25 Brentwood Stn/UBC and 33 29th Ave Stn/UBC stop within yards of the hiking centre.
Destination hikes – i.e. those to anywhere other than Pacific Spirit Park – begin from a suitable trailhead.
VOLUNTEER:
Can you help people with disabilities access beautiful British Columbia? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Share your love of beautiful British Columbia and get to meet like-minded volunteers and clients.
The Disability Foundation and its affiliated societies comply with COVID-19 protocols as determined by the provincial health authorities (e.g., BC: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19). Our workers and volunteers will follow such protocols and must be vaccinated to work with and within our organizations (offices, program locations, and home visits), unless a medical exemption is in place. To protect our workers and volunteers, we expect our clients and partners to comply with COVID-19 health and safety regulations which means fully vaccinated unless there is a medical exemption.
Thank you for making everyone’s health and safety the top priority.