Nature for everyone: options for enjoying the territory without barriers

Social inclusion manifests itself in many ways: in a classroom that adapts materials so everyone can learn; in a community center that offers activities for elderly people living alone; in a neighborhood that redesigns its streets to be accessible to children, the elderly, and people with reduced mobility. These are gestures that, taken together, create a fairer society, more attentive to all realities. But inclusion isn't just about urban spaces or public services: it's also about the outdoors, in the fundamental—yet simultaneously unequal—right to walk on a path, follow a trail, experience the forest, or reach a natural viewpoint. So, where does inclusion stand in Catalonia's natural environment?

The Catalan Tourism Agency is clear: "Catalonia is a territory rich in landscapes and culture, but also committed to inclusion and accessibility," it states. For the agency, accessible tourism is now a key element in ensuring that everyone can enjoy the region without barriers: the experience of exploring the natural environment should not depend on anyone's physical abilities. This principle, which already inspires numerous adapted routes and spaces throughout the region, raises a central question: how is this inclusive approach being implemented in the natural environment?

Adapted natural paths

Catalonia's natural parks have been working for years to make the experience of nature accessible to everyone, adapting routes, viewpoints, and areas of discovery to the pace and needs of each visitor. In the Ebro Delta, for example, wide walkways and accessible observatories allow visitors to enjoy watching birds in flight without any barriers, and in the Empordà marshes, routes such as Cortalet - Mas del Matà or the one that reaches Les Llaunes offer flat paths, wooden walkways, and areas for approaching the birds.

In the mountains, Montseny Natural Park offers routes such as the Frare spring trail or the Mariona farmhouse trail, designed so that everyone can enjoy the forest experience. And in Garraf, the Pleta botanical trail makes it easy to discover Mediterranean species along a user-friendly route also designed for the visually impaired. These are examples that demonstrate how the country's network of natural parks has been incorporating accessibility as a core principle.

Orography and accessibility

In February 2024, the Institute for the Development of the High Pyrenees and Aran (IDAPA), which depends on the Department of Territory, took a decisive step in this same direction by presenting the guide Designing accessible routes. An illustrated guide to criteria, measures, and best practicesPrepared in collaboration with the ASPID association and the Alt Pirineu and Aran Trails Committee, the publication responds to a clear observation: despite the proliferation of new trails in the Pyrenees, many are not truly accessible, not due to the terrain but due to design shortcomings.

The guide provides key concepts, path typologies, technical criteria, and real-world examples—both good and bad—to help administrators and managers create truly universal routes. It also establishes an essential distinction between "accessible" paths and merely "practical" paths, and details specific elements such as slopes, paving, crossings, rest areas, parking, signage, and accessibility features. Ultimately, it is a resource that aims to make accessibility a structural criterion in the design of nature trails, not an optional addition.

An alternative: the Joëlette chair

Accessibility to the natural environment doesn't always mean transforming paths, leveling slopes, or installing walkways: some routes can never be adapted, and that's precisely why other options are needed in these areas. One such option is the Joëlette chair, a single-wheeled vehicle designed to allow people with reduced mobility to travel along trails, through forests, and on footpaths with the help of a team of volunteers. Its system—a single central wheel, a reinforced seat, and two steering points—allows it to navigate terrain where a conventional wheelchair couldn't proceed.

Joëlette not only allows people to overcome physical obstacles, but also reconnects them with nature and transforms hiking into a shared experience, fostering community and opening up landscapes that, for many, had remained inaccessible. In Catalonia, there are already 49 Joëlette chairs distributed throughout the region, according to the latest data collected by Marta Naharro, Neus Bardina, Estrella Forcada, and Cristina Cereza, members of the teaching team at the Valls d'Àneu Learning Camp. Some are owned by public administrations—from municipalities to county councils, provincial councils, and the Catalan government itself—while others belong to hiking clubs and non-profit organizations.

The case of Olesa de Montserrat

Olesa de Montserrat (Northern Baix Llobregat) is probably one of the municipalities that has most strongly committed to promoting and normalizing the use of the Joëlette as a tool for inclusion in nature. They have a municipal project—the chair belongs to the Town Hall—that is coordinated by Social Services in close collaboration with volunteers and local organizations. "The acquisition of this chair was a clear commitment to making the natural environment accessible to everyone," explains Joan Soler on behalf of the Social Services and Public Space Management departments of the Olesa Town Hall.

The project's origins date back to late 2015, when the then-Social Services Councilor, Georgina Muñoz, and Montse Caba, a resident of Olesa who uses a wheelchair due to polio, began exploring ways to guarantee universal access to the municipality's natural spaces. Before acquiring their own wheelchair, however, the group behind the project wanted to test its capabilities on the ground. Soler recalls it perfectly: "Before buying the wheelchair, we accompanied the Rodamunt association to the summit of Sant Jeroni to see if it was truly feasible to have one." That climb, undertaken with a group of volunteers from Olesa, was the turning point. It convinced them that they had the equipment and motivation to make it happen and that a single wheelchair could transform accessibility in the municipality.

Since then, Olesa has transformed Joëlette into a true gateway to the mountains. It has become a tool that not only facilitates travel but also fosters community, creates connections, and brings to light realities that often remain hidden from the tourist gaze. "It's amazing to see the smiles of the users when we return to the village; it's a silent act of gratitude," says Soler, who has coordinated dozens of outings during this decade-long project.

The importance of volunteering

If Joëlette is paving the way, it's because there are people behind it willing to guide it. Volunteering is the driving force behind this project, and names like Àngel Bou's in Olesa are proof of that. He came to the world of Joëlette twelve years ago, following the personal story of his niece Anna, who needed a wheelchair after a health issue. "She won a Gaes grant and they gave her a Joëlette," he recalls. Bou understood the potential of this device. Later, when he learned that Olesa would be acquiring one, he didn't hesitate: "I went to the presentation and became a volunteer."

For him, each outing is a combination of nature, shared effort, and humanity. "I take away the satisfaction of having helped someone enjoy nature who, on their own, would hardly ever reach the heights a Joëlette can," he explains. Bou also highlights the camaraderie that develops among users, volunteers, and family members: groups who didn't know each other before and end up sharing the journey, conversation, and rest. But there's one moment that sums it all up: "When you reach the end of the outing and see the look of satisfaction and gratitude on their faces, it makes all the effort you put into pulling the chair worthwhile." For Bou, volunteering transforms his perspective on everything. "It broadens your view of life by about 360 degrees," he admits.

A project with a future

This year, 2025, Joëlette's project in Olesa de Montserrat celebrates its tenth anniversary. A decade in which a single wheelchair—and a group of dedicated volunteers—has allowed dozens of people to rediscover paths, viewpoints, and trails that had previously been inaccessible. Ten years of outings, shared learning experiences, and connections that extend far beyond the trails themselves. "It's a project that has grown significantly and continues to grow," explains Joan Soler.

To celebrate the project's tenth anniversary, Olesa has organized two events open to the public. On December 10th, a round table discussion will be held with organizations and individuals working on inclusion, to review the project's progress and look towards the future. And on Saturday the 13th, a group hike will take place to the Creu de Saba – one of the highest accessible points in the municipality – with the participation of Joëlette wheelchairs from neighboring towns and groups that promote accessibility to nature.