Redwood Creek Challenge Trail ~ Handicapable Information

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail ~ Handicapable Information

Some of Challenge Trail is not usable for people with limitations but most areas are accessible so you can watch others doing things like the Squirrel Scramble, Angels Flight, Smoke Jumpers or Rock Traverse. These areas are not doable for people with some physical limations.

What those with limitations can do is follow the animal tracks, enjoy the beautiful environment and get a taste of the High Sierras and watch the show. They can be with their family/friends as together they explore the wilderness. What you need to be aware of is there are stairs in several places and thin bridges to cross. No worries as there are clearly marked paths that you can use to get around those problems. There is one area with a rope bridge that those with physical limitations can’t access.

Children with ADHD or just with a need to burn off some energy will find this a perfect place to run free. Keeping a child that is used to having time to burn off excess energy confined in lines for hours at a time with no release is too much to ask. This gives them a much needed break so they can enjoy their time at the park and not have problems. This is also a fantastic break from the feeling of being in a manmade location. You can get into a little bit of nature (even if some of it is manufactured).

For a child with special needs that has not seen the great wilderness this is a fantastic and safe first exposure. They can see the animal tracks, hear the animals and walk trails that look like the real thing. They can participate in the things they are able to do and skip what they can’t. Nobody is hurried in doing the activities. If they need a few more minutes to get on the Smoke Jumpers tire swing there is no problem. If they attempt to climb the Travers Wall and they need to get off part way across that is not a problem.

Here all people are equal when it comes to exploring. All can look for animal track and leaf prints on the trail. Everybody can go into the Ranger Fire Lookout and see a little about life as a ranger. Everybody can learn a little about nature and be reminded to respect our wilderness and be a friend to all be it plant, fish or tiny mole.

Disney California Adventure's Redwood Creek Challenge Trail ~ Changes Over the Years

Disney California Adventure’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

~ Changes Over the Years

Challenge Trail is one area of Disney California Adventure that has undergone some changes in theme but has always stayed the same in appearance and adventures offered. This is a fantastic area for families with active children to come and let them run free for a time. There is only one entrance/exit to this area so it is safe to let the older trustworthy kids run a bit free and you can take a break by the entrance.

The original theme was and still is the High Sierra Mountains of California. Yosemite is the main focus of the area. What has changed the most over the years is the show. Originally the show was Miwok Indian stories. An Indian would come and tell one of the legends from their history. Around the Ahwahnee Camp Circle area there are still statues that represent some of the stories they told. DeVine could also be found in and around the area. I enjoyed the Indian stories and used them as an educational tool with my daughter. I do wish I’d had a camera to record those shows because they were so wonderful.

After the movie Brother Bear came out the show was changed to a Brother Bear theme. The characters would come out and tell parts of the story from the movie then do a meet and great. While this was an enjoyable show I did not like it as much as the Indian stories. The only thing they added to the area other than the change in the show was the spirit cave. Before this they had a cave but it only had the paintings and not the place to put your hand to find out what animal spirit you are. This cave is still there.

Today the theme of the area is Wilderness Explorer from the movie UP. When you come into the area you are given a map with a list of tasks to complete. If you complete the tasks you are given a sticker to place on the back of your map. The show is now a culmination of the experience around the area. It is fun to put it at the end as a reward for completing the tasks you are assigned. The show is the Senior Wilderness Employer graduation ceremony. Russell comes out to help recite the pledge. Also Kevin shows up a couple of times.

I do like the UP theme as it encourages more interaction and gives kids more direction to the kids while they explore. This can be great if you want to add a little bit of education to your child’s time at Disneyland.

The entire area is beautiful and reminds me of time spent in Yosemite and the Eastern Side of the High Sierras. As you walk around the area look down at the ground and see what animals have been walking the trail before you. Learn about the animals and then spend time in a ranger’s fire lookout. You will see maps of the Yosemite area. Tools for fighting wildfires are hung on the wall and displays of the rocks from the area are there to look at.

This area is fantastic for spending a few moments letting your kid run wild. This is a good change from standing still in lines. There are many fun things for them to do like short and long slides, the smoke jumper’s rope swing and a rock wall to climb. It’s also a great place to do some homeschool class work. Follow the tracks and learn about the animals, this can spark a lot of talk and encourage coming home to look up more information. See a tiny bit of what a rangers life is like and what it takes to take care of our wilderness. Learn about a little bit of California. If you are not from California and are just going to the Disneyland Resort this can show you a bit of what the wilderness of the area is like. Yes it is very accurate in look and feel.