For many visitors, exploring Rocky Mountain National Park means lacing up hiking boots and heading for the trail. But for people with mobility challenges, access to the park’s rugged terrain has historically been far more limited. A growing partnership in Estes Park is working to change that by pairing adaptive equipment with community collaboration and long-term planning.
Through a partnership between the Estes Park Mountain Shop, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, visitors can borrow a Grit Freedom Chair, an all-terrain wheelchair designed for uneven surfaces, at no cost. The program, which began with a single donated chair, has grown into a small but impactful lending closet that now includes six adaptive wheelchairs.
From one chair to a lending program
According to Zach Zehr, owner of the Estes Park Mountain Shop, the program began about five years ago when the Sam Schneider Legacy Foundation donated a Grit all-terrain wheelchair in memory of Sam Schneider and his love of outdoor adventure. While the donation provided the equipment, there was no clear plan for where it would be stored or how visitors would access it.
“The Mountain Shop was asked if we could take it in and help distribute it,” Zehr said. “We started with just one chair, and as interest grew, the program grew with it.”
As demand increased, the shop began suggesting donations to help sustain and expand the program. Over time, support from community members and larger donors helped bring the total number of chairs to six. Each chair costs about $3,000.
Today, the Mountain Shop serves as the logistical hub for the lending program, housing the chairs, managing waivers, and helping users prepare for their outings.
How the Grit Freedom Chair program works
The Grit Freedom Chair is available free of charge to visitors and residents interested in exploring trails in the Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park. Users are encouraged to hike with a companion and must complete waiver forms before borrowing the chair. Borrowers are responsible for returning the equipment in the same condition it was loaned, aside from normal wear and tear.
Because trails can be remote and weather conditions can change quickly, users are advised to bring water, food, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, and any necessary medications or medical equipment. Those who require assistance transferring into or out of the chair must bring a companion, as transfer devices are not currently provided.
Transportation can be one of the biggest challenges for users. The Grit chairs are large and heavy, and not all visitors have vehicles that can easily accommodate them. To help address that barrier, the Mountain Shop offers a flat, hitch-mounted carrier that allows the chair to be transported on vehicles equipped with a trailer hitch.
Guided access through Kep Expeditions
In addition to self-guided use of the adaptive equipment, the Mountain Shop partners with Kep Expeditions to offer guided outdoor experiences designed with accessibility in mind. Led by founder Brian Kaepplinger, Kep Expeditions works alongside the shop to support visitors who may benefit from guided assistance while using mobility equipment on local trails.
The partnership helps bridge the gap for people who are new to all-terrain mobility devices or unfamiliar with trail conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park. By pairing adaptive equipment with experienced guides, the program expands access beyond logistics, offering reassurance, expertise, and a more inclusive outdoor experience.
In addition to the Grit Freedom Chairs, the Mountain Shop also offers an oversized, custom-made backpack from We Carry Kevan, designed to help caregivers carry individuals with mobility challenges on trails. The backpack expands access for users who may not be able to use a wheeled device on certain terrain, providing another option for experiencing the park’s backcountry with support.
A broader vision for accessibility
For the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the lending program is part of a larger, evolving commitment to accessibility across the park.
“This isn’t just about one piece of equipment,” said Kaci Yoh, communications manager for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. “It’s about giving people the information, tools, and confidence they need to experience the park in ways that work for them.”
In addition to supporting the Grit Freedom Chair program, the Conservancy funds other adaptive equipment, including wheelchair sleds and emergency tethers for winter use. Yoh shared the story of a third-grade student who was able to join a school field trip for the first time using adaptive equipment funded by the Conservancy.
The organization also owns and operates a Field Institute bus equipped with a wheelchair lift that can accommodate two wheelchairs, expanding access to educational programming and group outings.
Community engagement and the accessibility showcase
Last fall, the Mountain Shop and its partners hosted an accessibility showcase to raise awareness of the adaptive equipment available in Estes Park and to celebrate recent additions to the lending program. The event, organized on a tight five-week timeline, coincided with a visit from the Lavash family, whose support helped fund additional Grit Freedom Chairs.
“We really wanted to put the event together while the Lavash family was in town so we could do a ribbon cutting with the new chairs,” Yoh said. “Then we thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could showcase all the accessibility work that’s being done in Estes Park?”
The showcase brought together community members, local leaders, and partners, including Estes Park’s mayor, who spoke about broader accessibility initiatives across the Estes Valley. For Yoh, the most meaningful moment came when residents tried the equipment themselves.
“There were so many members of the community who came out and tried a Grit chair for the first time,” she said. “They didn’t even know it was available. And suddenly you could see it click, this person realized there was access for them that maybe hadn’t existed before because of this piece of equipment.”
The event underscored the program’s larger goal of not only providing adaptive gear but also making sure people know it exists and feel welcome using it.
Looking ahead to 2026
Both the Mountain Shop and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy are looking ahead to the 2026 season with plans to expand access even further.
One of the most anticipated projects is a comprehensive Visitor Access Guide, funded by the Conservancy and expected to be published in May 2026. The guide will provide detailed information about trail conditions, accessibility features, and equipment needs. It will be available in multiple formats, including large print, Braille, and audio description.
On the equipment side, Zehr hopes to diversify the types of adaptive gear available. While the shop already has sufficient Grit chairs, future goals include electric bikes, hand-driven or chest-steered wheelchairs, and oversized bike trailers designed for people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
“With about $6,000 in donations, we were able to add two more chairs,” Zehr said. “The more exposure and support we have, the more we can do.”
Though the Mountain Shop is a for-profit business, Zehr describes its approach to accessibility as mission-driven.
“If we can help make it easier for people to enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park, whether through equipment or information, we see that as a win,” he said. “You never know who you’re talking to or what barriers they’re facing, and seeing the impact this program has had has been incredibly rewarding.”
As Estes Park prepares for future seasons, the accessibility lending program stands as a reminder that opening trails isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about intention, collaboration, and a willingness to rethink who outdoor spaces are for.
More information on the Mountain Shop’s accessibility initiative can be found on their website: https://www.estesparkmountainshop.com/summer-rentals.
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