New York State’s Autism Nature Trail, affectionately known as “The Ant”, opened in October 2021, in Letchworth State Park, a dramatic gorge park in the western region of the state.
It’s three waterfalls and towering cliffs earned it the nickname ‘Grand Canyon of the East’, and it was recently voted best state park in a USA Today readers’ poll.
I’ve been invited to experience it, as part of Selling Travel‘s commitment to promoting accessible travel.
I am met at the start of the one-mile loop by Loren Penman, one of its founders. Her enthusiasm shines through as she tells how, along with her co-founders Susan Hernstein and Gail Servanti, they were inspired to begin the project after a chat about how children with autism seemed calm and comfortable in Letchworth’s natural environment.
What followed was seven years of research, consultation and planning. From 2014 until construction began in 2021, the team worked closely with specialists in education, accessibility and the outdoors, as well as talking to the families of children with autism, to ensure that the trail was suitable for a range of people.
Walking in their shoes
As we begin our walk, it quickly becomes clear how much thought has gone into every detail.
The first thing Loren points out is not something along the trail, but the finish. “It’s important for people to know where they are going to end up,” she explains.
For many, predictability and orientation can be reassuring, and that idea runs throughout the design.
The Trailhead Pavilion is a welcome orientation point, where you can register, collect maps and familiarise yourself with the route, before setting off.
Even the trail surface has a purpose. The stone dust makes a pleasant crunchy noise, so walkers know whether they are on the path or have wandered off it, which is especially important to people with visual impairments. Clear signage and paths ensure that the trail is well-marked throughout.
Something for everyone
Eight stations are spaced along the loop, each with a different theme, and provide points along the trail for some important interaction.
At the Sensory Station, we are encouraged to feel, smell and touch things found on the trail. We examine bark, moss, seed pods, fossils and animal bones. Those who find something interesting can carry it with them, before returning it to a drop-off point at the end of their walk.
Benches (carved using chainsaws) invite us to sit and take it all in. Loren tell us that the “negative irons” in the atmosphere (which are often found in forests and near water), naturally help to people to relax.
For those who feel overwhelmed, there are ‘alone zones’ at each station, for them to take a break and reset, while nearby exit routes take you quickly back to the trail’s end if needed.
Further along, Sunshine Slope follows a gentle winding path to the summit, where you can sway and spin in one of the cocoon like hanging pod seats.
At Music Circle, we enjoy playing drums, chimes, rain sticks, xylophones and marimbas (though we won’t be getting the band back together any time soon!). It’s a lovely spot to hang out, among a ring of pine trees, and the instruments are softly tuned to protect from any sensory overload.
At first glance, Reflection Knoll appears to be a peaceful woodland clearing, but every third boulder has a carved animal image to discover.
Eva’s Curiosity Corner (named after Susan’s granddaughter) is a spot where unusual items are left to be examined. It is also the half-way point, with a cut-through for anyone who wants to get back to the start in a hurry.
For youngsters with energy to burn, Meadow Run/Climb has paths for running and jumping, and an obstacle course of balance beams, which culminates with a roll down the hill.
The trail then reaches Grandmother Tree, a large old tree, which seems to reach out to people. It is said to symbolise the nurturing role that nature can play in our lives.
Creativity is the theme of the Design Zone, where branches, bamboo poles and wooden shapes are provided as building materials, encouraging young and old alike to construct their own sculptures and dens.
The Playful Path has a variety of textures and surfaces underfoot. We couldn’t resist giving it a try, balancing along logs, stepping across rocks and navigating tree sections. Each segment has something different to feel underfoot, and it’s great for balance as well.
Finally, the trail arrives at Celebration Station. A blackboard invites us to leave messages, draw pictures or record our thoughts before heading home.
Although designed with the autistic community in mind, the Autism Nature Trail has something for everyone to enjoy. Every feature encourages us to listen, touch, feel, smell and look more closely.
In conclusion, I found that I experienced the countryside differently, as instead of a simply walk in the woods, I found myself slowing down and paying more attention to details that I would normally pass by.
The trail packs a lot into a mile and so, by the time we reached the end, it felt as though we had spent longer exploring.
It’s a great reminder of why it’s so good to slow down and properly notice the natural world around us.
