Rolling Atlas

Bernheim Forest and Arboretum

Checked on Nov 2, 2026

At Bernheim Forest and Arboretum in Clermont, Kentucky, "The terrain at Bernheim is varied – from smooth paved walkways and boardwalks to natural, sloping trails and paths of gravel and mulch" (Bernheim accessibility page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026).

Call to confirm before you go: call Bernheim at (502) 955-8512 (Bernheim Accessibility Recommendations (PDF, Apr 2023), [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026). The GRIT chair is first come, first served.

Our ratings see details

  • Overall4.5 of 5
  • Entry5 of 5
  • Paths4 of 5
  • Restrooms4 of 5
  • Parking5 of 5
  • Staff & info5 of 5
At a glance:
  • Accessible parking
  • Accessible restrooms
  • Paved paths
  • Loaner all-terrain chairs
  • Heads-up: gravel, mulch and sloping trails
  • Heads-up: the walk from parking to the Canopy Tree Walk is 7%

Plan your visit

  • Visitor Center: "The main door has an automatic opening button" (Bernheim Accessibility Recommendations (PDF, Apr 2023), [Official]).
  • Restrooms: restrooms at the Visitor Center and the Playcosystem parking lot "are accessible," but Visitor Center restrooms "may require assistance with entering/exiting due to lack of automatic door opener" (same PDF).
  • Parking: accessible spaces "are marked with the international access symbol" (same PDF).
  • GRIT Freedom Chair: "available to all visitors at no cost," 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Visitor Center; "Bernheim staff are not able to assist with transfers. A slide board is available if needed." A waiver, video and photo ID are required (Bernheim GRIT page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026).
  • Canopy Tree Walk: pavement and wood, with a "Gradual 5% grade of pavement to flat wooden structure"; parking is "125 feet from path at 7% grade" (Canopy Tree Walk page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026).
  • Surfaces: some paths are gravel or mulch (Bernheim accessibility page, [Official]). Packed gravel is usually manageable with power chairs and scooters; loose or deep gravel, with wheeled walkers or manual chairs, can be difficult to impassable.

Heads-up: gravel, mulch and sloping trails. Bernheim lists "natural, sloping trails and paths of gravel and mulch" (Bernheim accessibility page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026). Packed gravel is usually manageable with power chairs and scooters; loose or deep gravel, with wheeled walkers or manual chairs, can be difficult to impassable.

Heads-up: the walk from parking to the Canopy Tree Walk is 7%. Parking is "125 feet from path at 7% grade," and there are "Large rocks at trailhead with space for mobility device to navigate" (Canopy Tree Walk page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026). Bernheim's pages give different lengths for the walk, so call to confirm.

Heads-up: most outdoor restrooms aren't accessible. "many of the additional outdoor restrooms at Bernheim are not accessible" (Bernheim Accessibility Recommendations (PDF, Apr 2023), [Official]).

Heads-up: bring a helper for GRIT transfers. Staff can't assist with transfers (Bernheim GRIT page, [Official], checked Nov 2, 2026).

Heads-up: one visitor's view. "Not completely handicap accessible" (TripAdvisor review, Jun 21, 2023, [Secondary]).

Worth your time

Checked Oct 16, 2026.

Accessibility and ratings

See how we rate

What we found

From Bernheim's official pages

From visitors

  • Our logged review check on Oct 16, 2026 (60 TripAdvisor reviews checked): two visitors praise access to the Forest Giants; one (2023) says Bernheim is "Not completely handicap accessible."

Details not published

  • Paths to the Forest Giants.
  • The exact length of the Canopy Tree Walk (Bernheim's pages differ).

Bernheim Forest and Arboretum

Category Rating
Overall 4.5 of 5 · Very accessible
Average of the 5 rated categories (4.6), rounded to 4.5.
Entry & Arrival 5 of 5 · Venue states accessible
Facility-published info states it is accessible; we have not personally verified this. The Visitor Center main door has an automatic opening button. No contradiction in our logged review check (Oct 16, 2026).
Getting Around / Paths 4 of 5 · Very accessible
Why: Bernheim says some trails are sloping and some paths are gravel or mulch, so we take off a wheel.
Facility-published info states it is accessible; we have not personally verified this. Paved walkways, boardwalks and the Canopy Tree Walk. One 2023 review disagrees; see the Heads-up.
Restrooms 4 of 5 · Very accessible
Why: Visitor Center restrooms have no automatic door opener and "may require assistance with entering/exiting," so we take off a wheel.
Facility-published info states it is accessible; we have not personally verified this. Accessible restrooms at the Visitor Center and Playcosystem lot. No contradiction in our logged review check (Oct 16, 2026).
Parking & Drop-off 5 of 5 · Venue states accessible
Facility-published info states it is accessible; we have not personally verified this. Accessible spaces are marked. No contradiction in our logged review check (Oct 16, 2026).
Staff & Info 5 of 5 · Venue states accessible
A free GRIT all-terrain chair, and the accessibility guide gives (502) 955-8512 for questions and a ranger line, (502) 648-4190, for help on the trails. No contradiction in our logged review check (Oct 16, 2026).

Entry and Parking score 5: an automatic Visitor Center door and marked accessible parking. Restrooms score 4 because the Visitor Center restrooms lack an automatic door and may need help. Paths scores 4 because some trails are sloping, gravel or mulch. Staff & Info scores 5: a free GRIT chair, and the accessibility guide gives a phone number for questions and a ranger line for help on the trails. The average of the 5 rated categories is 4.6, which rounds to 4.5.

Ratings tagged "not personally verified" rest on information the venue published or on trusted firsthand reports; we have not personally verified them.

Checked on Nov 2, 2026. Sources: Bernheim accessibility page, Bernheim GRIT page, Canopy Tree Walk page, Bernheim Accessibility Recommendations (PDF, Apr 2023) (official); TripAdvisor reviews of Jun 21 and Jul 4, 2023 and Sep 8, 2025 (secondary)