Pleasant Valley All Persons Trail Expansion

Pleasant Valley's popular All Persons Trail provides easy, universal access to beautiful Pike’s Pond with fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing and inclusive educational programs. A recent expansion has lengthened the trail to nearly 1 mile and increased access to wildlife viewing opportunities.

Making Nature Accessible at Pleasant Valley

We recently completed a major expansion to Pleasant Valley’s universally accessible All Persons Trail (APT), lengthening it to nearly 1 mile, expanding the boardwalk and viewing platform, and increasing access to an upland loop. Multi-use seating areas, including benches, offer resting points along the trail.

New sections of the All Persons Trail offer increased wildlife viewing opportunities, expansive views of Yokun Ridge, and increased access to areas of wetland. This successful expansion allows for extensive and inclusive educational programs and positive nature experiences for visitors of all ages and abilities.

These recent improvements complement our nature center’s accommodations which include modern, accessible, and family friendly restrooms; accessible outdoor program space; and multi-sensory, interactive educational displays. 

Learn more about accessibility at Pleasant Valley

What is an All Persons Trail?

These trails are designed to be wide, flat, and without obstacles to ensure visitors of all ages or those requiring mobility assistance devices can have a safe experience in nature. They also make it easy for families with young children—in or out of a stroller—to explore.

Mass Audubon’s APTs go beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and include universally accessible interpretive features, including:

• Engaging multisensory interpretive displays offer opportunities to encourage visitors to interact with nearby natural features, tactile objects, or listen for the sounds of resident species.
• Multiuse seating areas feature benches and extra space for wheelchairs, powered mobility devices, or strollers. These are strategically installed at intervals to provide spaces for visitors to rest while taking in the wonderful scenic areas around them.
• Trail maps in printed or tactile formats, a Braille guide, and an audio tour available as a download to a smartphone or other MP3 player.

Learn more about All Persons Trails

What's Next?

The trail is currently open and can be explored on your next visit. We are excitedly awaiting the installation of an audio tour and interpretive signage with tactile components, in early fall 2025. Keep an eye out for a celebratory ribbon cutting in early October!

Trail Conditions

Trail surfaces at Pleasant Valley vary and are also affected by weather conditions. Please call the office at 413-637-0320 for guidance and updated information on the condition of our accessible trails.

Support

To support Pleasant Valley's All Persons Trail, make a gift today.

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