Barrier-Free Access on the Huron-Manistee National Forests

Recreation demand on the Huron-Manistee National Forests is heavy. Visitors come to the Forests from all over the Midwest, especially from nearby urban centers such as Indianapolis, Toledo, Grand Rapids, Detroit and Chicago, as well as from all over northern Michigan.

Types of recreation opportunities available are vast and correspond to the categories of land use on the Forests: primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, roaded natural, rural, and urban (currently there are no areas labeled "urban" on the Huron-Manistee National Forests). For example, in a primitive setting, recreationists would travel by foot, are given a sense of isolation, and feel a part of the outdoors. no facilities would be provided. By contrast, a semi-primitive motorized area would show strong evidence of other people. Roads and motorized trails may be evident (reference: Huron-Manistee Land and Resource Management Plan).

People who recreate in the forest say they need these varying levels of opportunity. Some users want to leave behind their everyday urban experience and hike the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. Other users prefer a more social recreation experience and may elect to camp at nearby Lake Michigan Recreation Area where there are paved parking spurs and flush toilets. The National Forest managers have worked hard to provide both kinds of experiences for forest visitors.

Policy on Providing Access to Disabled Users

The National Forests are visited by an increasing population of visitor who have a disability of some kind. The Huron-Manistee National Forests, and all federal government agencies, are governed by the policy of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended 1978). This act sets forth guidance on how the disabled may access the programs and facilities of the federal government. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that the Forest Service provide equal access to the programs and facilities. However, the law recognized that when such access is not readily achievable without fundamental change to the nature of the experience, alternatives are acceptable.

In the case of the Huron-Manistee National Forests' programs, certain areas have been designated closed to the use of motor vehicles by the public. This includes all recreation users. It is the intention of the managers to provide a quiet area. No vehicles are permitted, including All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). However, a disabled user may use a manual or electric wheelchair to access these areas. The user should be aware that trail hardening may not be provided.

A wheelchair is defined in the Forest Service Manual as:

A mechanical apparatus that is medically necessary for the basic mobility of any individual and is considered to be a part of that person and not subject to restrictions on mechanical use...A manual wheelchair is a "device that is self-propelled by human power, designed for, and used by, a mobility-impaired person." (36 CFR 1.4)

It is the policy of the Huron-Manistee National Forests that areas closed to public use of motorized vehicles will remain closed to such use for all users, despite disability. No device powered by an internal combustion engine will be considered a wheelchair. Other areas of the forest have an array of roads where visitors may drive a vehicle. ATVs are not street-legal and are, therefore, restricted to trails designated by the Forest Service. Forest trails are closed to ATV use unless specifically posted as an ATV trail.

The Huron-Manistee National Forests are actively working to make facilities, campgrounds and other recreation sites barrier-free. There are several recreation sites that are barrier-free and the Visitor Center at Lumberman's Monument offers barrier-free programs. Sites along the River Road Scenic Byway have accessible observation platforms looking out over scenic panoramas. Several barrier-free fishing piers have been constructed on still waters and rivers.

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