I went hiking with Luke 5 Adventures at Fairmount Falls in Southeastern Jefferson County, Kentucky. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure about this “accessible hiking” business. I wasn’t an active participant, so… can you call that hiking?
Using the Joëlette Co. “chair cycle,” an adaptive device made by a French company that allows two people to guide the chair over various terrains, volunteers from Luke 5 Adventures took me “over the river and through the woods.” Nature surrounded me, from the chirping birds and the hum of cicadas to the gurgling water along Floyds Fork. Several friends joined me on the hike, and my favorite part of the day was leaving the path to walk through the creek.
The highlight of the park is its forty-foot waterfall. The path is densely forested (watch out for poison ivy!) and is narrow and at times steep: definitely not accessible for even the most active of wheelchair users.
But Why Fairmount Falls?
I needed to see Fairmount Falls. I know that sounds crazy. Why? I set a few scenes in an upcoming historical fiction novella in this location. I had to experience the sights and sounds for myself, especially the stunning waterfall.
Today, Louisville Parks and Recreation owns and operates Fairmount Falls. However, in the time period of my novella, the Thixton family owned the property. A family friend, Charlene Grant, learned I was researching the Fairmount area, and she told me that her parents, Gerald and Gladys Weber, had owned the land on which Fairmount Falls is situated from 1964 to 2002. The Webers selflessly sold the land to the city in 2002. In a letter to the family, Mr. Weber wrote: “…We would like to see [the property] preserved in the future for coming generations.”
So did I really hike with Luke 5 Adventures?
My conclusion: absolutely. With Luke 5 Adventures, I hiked where no wheelchair can go. And it was absolutely incredible. While I thought I wasn’t an active participant, my neck and upper body muscles told me otherwise the next day!
Watch this video to see what accessible hiking looks like at Fairmount Falls with Luke 5 Adventures.
How to Visit Fairmount Falls
Fairmount Falls is located at 9100 Thixton Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Access to this park is limited to three vehicles per day. Contact the Jefferson Memorial Forest Welcome Center at 502-368-5404 to make your reservation.
