AllTrails, an inclusive app for all explorers

The AllTrails application, available in web and mobile versions, is designed to be inclusive: it offers filters adapted for people in wheelchairs or with pushchairs, as well as routes marked as ‘wheelchair-friendly’ or ‘stroller-friendly’.

This commitment aims to democratise access to natural areas and encourage safe and comfortable exploration, whatever your mobility needs.

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Adapted filters and solid criteria

AllTrails offers practical filters that can be accessed from the home page of the app :

• The ‘Suitability’ section allows you to select tags such as ‘Wheelchair-friendly’, ‘Stroller-friendly’ or ‘Paved’ on mobile and desktop.
• These tags are based on rigorous criteria: surface (concrete, tarmac, well-maintained path), gradient < 5%, width ≥ 0.9 m with overtaking spaces, absence of obstacles > 5 cm, suitable parking, etc.
• However, it should be remembered that the ‘wheelchair-friendly’ tag does not guarantee full compliance with ADA/ABA standards; conditions may vary depending on the weather, maintenance or equipment used.

An enhanced collaborative database

AllTrails’ strength comes from its community :

• Users can add or report adapted paths, comment on the actual quality of the path, and publish photos to illustrate obstacles or accessible areas.
• Feedback is invaluable: as one user on Reddit points out, ‘AllTrails app has extensive filters and a custom list feature […] to find, save, and organize trails/paths with varying levels of accessibility’.
• According to a May 2021 publication, AllTrails has enriched mobility information on more than 5,000 routes in the United States, based on ABA guidelines, which reinforces the reliability of accessibility tags.

Limits and recommendations for greater safety

Accessibility also depends on personal prudence and local conditions :

• Even waymarked routes do not always cover the whole loop; it is essential to consult the comments, waypoints and slope warnings via the altitude curve.
• AllTrails recommends that you check with the relevant park services, as some paths change according to the weather or roadworks.
• For wheelchair and pushchair users, ‘level/flat’ (< 1%) or ‘gentle’ (< 3%) sections are best. Steeper sections (up to 5%) may require off-road equipment or assistance.

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New opportunities for the mobility-impaired

AllTrails offers a structured and responsible approach to making the outdoors accessible to all: specific filters, precise criteria, community feedback and upstream checks increase the confidence of users in wheelchairs or with pushchairs.

However, while this base is solid, safe exploration depends on additional preparation : consulting recent reviews, contacting park managers, and assessing the equipment and terrain. Thanks to this practical-technical combination, AllTrails opens up new horizons for people with reduced mobility, while encouraging thoughtful and inclusive use of nature.