TerrainHopper Frequently Asked Questions

“Its not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.”— Albert Einstein

To reserve a TerrainHopper ride, please contact our Trail Accessibility Program Coordinator, Hannah Silverblank, at [email protected].

Hannah will work with you (and, if applicable, your family member, caregiver, support provider, or other companion) to schedule a date and time based on TerrainHopper availability and staff support.

Before a first ride, we ask riders to complete a pre-ride questionnaire. This helps us understand any accessibility needs, collect information required by our grant funding, and complete our liability waiver. Riders are required to review and sign the waiver before participating.

We also ask first-time riders to have a brief conversation with Hannah before their visit. This helps us prepare for your needs, answer any questions, and ensure you have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience at Distant Hill. This can be held over phone, email, or Zoom, depending on your preference.

Most reservations are scheduled for two-hour sessions. We understand that every rider’s needs and schedules are different, and we may be able to accommodate longer or shorter visits depending on availability and individual circumstances. If you have specific timing preferences, please let us know when you schedule your ride.

Our program launched in May 2026, and there is currently no limit on how often riders may reserve the TerrainHopper. If you are interested in arranging recurring visits, please contact Hannah to discuss options. As the program grows, reservation policies may change based on demand.

The TerrainHopper has a maximum rider weight of 350 pounds and a maximum rider height of 6 feet, 7 inches.

There are no minimum height or weight requirements. Some children and smaller adults may benefit from additional positioning support. Riders are welcome to bring their own adaptive seating equipment, such as a Tomato seat, which may be secured in the TerrainHopper when appropriate.

If you have questions about fit, positioning, or support needs, please contact us before your visit.

In most cases, no. We strongly recommend scheduling in advance. Advance reservations help us ensure that the TerrainHopper is available, that trained staff are present, and that we are prepared for any accessibility or support needs you may have.

Occasionally, same-day rides may be possible if equipment and staff are available, but we cannot guarantee availability without a reservation.

The TerrainHopper offers several driving and control options. During your visit (and in your pre-ride consultation with Hannah), we will help you determine which option feels most comfortable and accessible for you.

Available control options include:

• Handlebar controls
• Joystick controls, which can be positioned on either the left or right side
• A tethered joystick, which allows a caregiver, family member, friend, support person, or staff member to operate the TerrainHopper while walking alongside it

You are welcome to try different control options to find the one that works best for you.

Yes. We have two wheelchair-accessible portable restrooms available for visitors.

• One is located in the main parking area near the pavilion.
• One is located along the trail system near the entrance to the gardens.

If restroom access or scheduled breaks are important to your visit, please let us know when planning your ride so we can help ensure a comfortable experience.

The TerrainHopper is available to anyone whose current mobility makes it difficult, uncomfortable, or impossible to access the trails or gardens without additional support.

Many riders are disabled people or people living with disabilities. Others may be recovering from injuries, managing chronic illnesses, experiencing age-related mobility changes, or living with conditions that make mobility challenging.

Our goal is simple: to help more people enjoy time in nature and experience Distant Hill's trails and gardens.

If you're unsure if the TerrainHopper is right for you, please reach out to Hannah at [email protected]. She's happy to answer any questions you may have.

Absolutely. Riders are welcome to bring caregivers, family members, friends, or other support people during their visit. If you plan to use the track and lift system, you must bring someone who is experienced with a lift to help with the transfer. 

If possible, please let us know who will be accompanying you when you make your reservation so we can help ensure everyone has a comfortable experience.

Riders must be seated in the TerrainHopper seat while using the device. During your pre-ride conversation, we will talk about your transfer needs and any support or equipment that could help make the process more comfortable. If you have specific questions about transfers, positioning, or adaptive seating, please contact us before your visit.

Riders should plan to attend with a caregiver, family member, friend, or support person who can provide any necessary physical assistance for transfers.

Our staff and volunteers are familiar with the TerrainHopper and the transfer area and can help you and your support person develop a safe, comfortable transfer plan. We can explain the equipment, answer questions, stabilize the equipment, adjust the seat, secure the harness or seatbelt, and provide guidance based on our TerrainHopper experience, but we do not provide hands-on physical transfer assistance.

You are welcome to bring any equipment that supports your transfer process, such as transfer boards or positioning supports.

We also have a Track & Lift system available. If you would like to use it, please let us know when scheduling your visit so we can set it up in advance. We are happy to discuss the system with you beforehand and help you and your support person prepare for and navigate the transfer process.

Service animals are welcome. If you plan to bring a service animal, please let us know when scheduling your ride so that we can discuss trail conditions, logistics, and any accommodations that may help ensure a positive experience for both you and your animal.

The TerrainHopper can operate in a variety of outdoor conditions, but severe weather, trail conditions, or safety concerns may require us to cancel or reschedule a ride. If weather conditions are questionable, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss options. 

We also encourage riders to reach out if they need to reschedule their ride. Advance notice is appreciated, but we fully understand that sometimes last-minute cancellations are necessary, and we are always happy to reschedule at a time that works better for you.

We recommend the following items:

• Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing
• Closed-toe shoes
• Water
• Sun protection, such as a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
• Bug protection (we do have bugspray and a netted hood)
• Any medications, communication devices, or personal items you may need 

Trail conditions can vary throughout the year, so dressing for the weather is always a good idea.

Our staff are trained to support riders in using the TerrainHopper and navigating the trail experience. However, staff are not able to provide personal care assistance, such as toileting, feeding, medication administration, or other personal support services.

If you require personal care assistance during your visit, we encourage you to attend with a caregiver or support person. Please feel free to discuss your needs with us in advance so that we can help you plan your visit.

Yes. Children may be able to ride the TerrainHopper provided they fit safely within the equipment's specifications and can be appropriately supported.

Parents and guardians should discuss their child's needs with us before scheduling a visit. Children who require additional positioning support may benefit from bringing their own adaptive seating equipment.

We recognize that accessibility includes much more than mobility. If you have communication, sensory, cognitive, developmental, behavioral, or other accessibility needs, we encourage you to let us know during the scheduling process. We will do our best to understand your needs and provide accommodations that help make your visit comfortable, safe, and enjoyable.

We welcome conversations about accessibility and are always happy to answer questions before your visit.

For most rides, a Distant Hill staff member accompanies TerrainHopper riders for safety and trail navigation purposes. We understand that some riders prefer a quieter, more independent experience, and our staff are happy to give you plenty of space and conversation-free time on the trail if that is your preference.

Experienced TerrainHopper users may be eligible to complete our competency assessment to qualify for unassisted operation of the TerrainHopper. Riders who successfully complete the assessment may be able to use the TerrainHopper without a staff member accompanying them on the trail.

For safety reasons, riders participating in unassisted rides must still be accompanied by a friend, family member, caregiver, or other support person while on the trail. This helps ensure that assistance is available in the event of a mechanical issue, emergency, or other unexpected situation.

If you are interested in qualifying for unassisted rides, please contact us to discuss the assessment process.

Yes! We encourage visitors to use the TerrainHopper to participate in workshops, special events, garden visits, and other activities that might otherwise be difficult to access.

The TerrainHopper is available not only for trail rides, but also as a tool for increasing access to the many experiences Distant Hill has to offer.

If you plan to attend a specific program or event, please let us know when making your reservation so that we can coordinate timing, accessibility needs, and any staff support that may be helpful during your visit.

Currently, Distant Hill has one TerrainHopper. We know that many people enjoy visiting the trails with friends, family members, and community groups, and we recognize that having additional all-terrain mobility devices would make the trail experience more accessible for some visitors.

It’s also worth noting that many of Distant Hill’s trails are already wheelchair accessible, and some groups choose to explore those areas together on foot or using personal mobility devices while reserving the TerrainHopper for specific sections of trail or for riders who want to access more rugged terrain.

In the meantime, we may be able to help groups explore alternative options. Depending on the needs of your party and staff availability, a combination of the TerrainHopper and other accessible transportation options, such as our golf carts, may allow more people to enjoy the trails together.

If you are planning a group visit, please contact us. We'd be happy to discuss your group's needs and explore possible solutions. Your feedback helps shape the future of this program. If access to additional TerrainHoppers would make a meaningful difference for you, your family, or your community, we encourage you to let us know. Hearing directly from potential riders helps us better understand community needs and strengthen future funding requests to expand accessibility offerings at Distant Hill.