Section 7: The Braille Trail

Section 7: The Braille Trail

Nature trails for the blind; Accessibility--Outdoor recreation; Environmental education; Sensory experiences; Braille, Louis, 1809-1852; Visually impaired--Recreation; Inclusive design; Aspen, Colorado; Independence Pass; White River National Forest; Environmental interpretation

A booklet documenting the world's first nature trail specifically designed for visually impaired visitors, located near Independence Pass outside Aspen, Colorado. The publication describes an innovative self-guided trail where visitors navigate using a rope guideline and experience the natural environment through touch, smell, and sound. The trail features interpretive stations with information presented in both Braille and standard text, allowing visitors to explore forest ecology through non-visual senses. Created by Aspen science teacher Bob Lewis after reading about Louis Braille, this pioneering project became a model replicated worldwide. The booklet contains text and likely photographs or illustrations explaining the trail's concept and features.

Lewis, Bob (Author/Designer); Etter, Alfred (Co-author)

Roaring Fork Press, New York City (as part of Aspen Magazine No. 4)

Spring 1967

Chamberlain, Bob (Contributor); Milmoe, Jim (Contributor); Fiore, Quentin, 1920-2019 (Issue designer); Johnson, Phyllis (Editor/Publisher)

Is part of Aspen Magazine No. 4 (Spring 1967); Documents the first Braille Nature Trail worldwide; Trail located at Independence Pass, White River National Forest, Colorado

Four-fold brochure (closed format: 22.8 x 15.3 cm), printed in two colors (black and green) on heavy weight green paper, inserted in center of eight-page booklet of same format, stapled, printed in black/white and green on heavy weight white paper

English (with references to Braille tactile reading system)

Booklet; Documentary publication; Educational material; Environmental interpretation guide

Temporal: 1965-1971 Spatial: New York, N.Y. Aspen, CO.