If you’d like to explore Montana’s State Parks, but don’t think you can navigate some of the trails in your wheelchair, then rest assured there’s now a viable solution. Action Trackchairs are now available for loan in Lone Pine State Park  (https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lone-pine) and Lake Elmo State Park (https://fwp.mt.gov/lake-elmo). These power wheelchairs feature tank tracks instead of tires, and they allow folks access to areas not navigable in standard wheelchairs. So here are the details about the trackchairs in Montana State Parks

Lone Pine State Park

Thanks to support from the Montana State Parks Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, and Hydro Flask’s Parks for All, Lone Pine State Park was the first Montana State Park to acquire an Action Trackchair.

The trackchair is available at the Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center to anybody with a physical disability. There’s no charge to borrow the chair, but proof of disability must be provided. Additionally, the trackchair-user needs to be accompanied by a non-disabled companion while using the chair.

The trackchair can be used on the primary trails in the park, as well as the wheelchair-accessible overlook. For more information or to reserve the trackchair, call (406) 755-2706.

Lake Elmo State Park

Lake Elmo State Park followed suit in August 2023, and added an Action Trackchair to their offerings. This was made possible by grants from the Montana State Parks Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, and Hydro Flask’s Parks for All. Like in Lone Pine State Park, you must provide proof of disability and be accompanied by a non-disabled companion in order to use the trackchair. And there’s no charge to borrow the trackchair.

The trackchair can be used on the primary trails in Lake Elmo State Park, as well as the accessible fishing pier. For more information or to reserve the trackchair, call (406) 422-2277 or (406) 247-2940.

And let’s look for more trackchairs in Montana state parks in the near future. They seem to be on a roll with this access upgrade.