Being in nature is highly valuable to 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 Hiking Centre is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, May 22nd through August 29th.
Throughout the summer, we also offer hikes in other parks around Metro Vancouver. Check the schedule below for updates.
- Sunday, May 26th: Stanley Park
- Saturday, June 1st: Spanish Banks
- Sunday, June 2nd: Rocky Point
- Saturday, June 8th: Green Timbers
- Sunday, June 9th: Jericho Beach
- Saturday, June 15th: Dog Mountain
- Sunday, June 16th: Burns Bog, Delta
- Sunday, June 30th: Lighthouse Park
- Saturday, July 6th: Spanish Banks
- Sunday, July 7th: Stanley Park
- Saturday, July 13th: Burnaby Lake
- Sunday, July 14th: Rocky Point
- Thursday, July 18th: Special Hike in Golden Ears Park
- Saturday, July 20th: Fishing at Rice Lake
- Sunday, July 21st: Spanish banks.
- Sunday, July 28th: Cypress Falls
- Saturday, August 3rd: Iona Beach
- Sunday, August 4th: Dog mountain
- Saturday, August 10th: Tynehead Regional Park
- Sunday, Aug 11th: Lighthouse Park
- Saturday, Aug 17th: Sunset Hike Jericho Beach
- Sunday, August 18th: Cypress Falls
- Sunday, August 25th: Stanley Park
Each summer, we also partner with the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC to offer children and youth the opportunity to explore nature through dedicated Kids’ Days. This year, the BCMOS and ASABC Kids Days will take place on:
- June 29: Sailings and TrailRider hikes are from 11 am to 3 pm
- July 27: Sailings and TrailRider hikes are from 11 am to 3 pm
- August 24: Sailings and TrailRider hikes are from 11 am to 3 pm
Want to go on an adventure with friends and family? TrailRiders are available to rent or buy. Learn More.
The Booking System opens May 14, 2024 at 9 AM and the hiking season starts on May 22nd.
COST: $10 per hike.
Kids 18 years old and under hike for free!
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.