AdvenChair, a local trailblazer in all-terrain wheelchairs, and Wanderlust Tours, Central Oregon’s long-time leader in guided adventures, have just announced the schedule for their third series of accessible outings known as “AdvenTours.” On the heels of a virtually non-existent Central Oregon winter, the two partners are virtually chomping at the bit to get started.
“The one good thing about a winter with very little snowfall is that many trails are dry and ready to go,” said Geoff Babb, AdvenChair’s Founder and Chairman. “After two years of working with Wanderlust Tours to create life-changing experiences for people with special needs, we can’t wait to get rolling again.”
The collaboration between two outdoor industry pioneers that launched in 2024 has given people with mobility challenges of all ages the chance to experience some of Oregon’s most inspiring natural places. Combining AdvenChair’s unmatched durability, safety, and comfort with Wanderlust’s unique style of education, interpretation, and environmental appreciation earned them the prestigious Partnership Award at the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism last year,
With more people from the Pacific Northwest and beyond discovering the quality and variety of the AdvenTours, it has become a real labor of love for the team at Wanderlust Tours.
“The options and opportunities for exploration and discovery that the AdvenChair provides are virtually endless,” said Courtney Braun, Owner of Wanderlust Tours. “And with family and friends encouraged to participate, all of the tours have been extremely rewarding for our guests as well as our guides.”
AdvenTours begin where the pavement ends.
In addition to Wanderlust’s regularly scheduled public tours in 2026, the next six months feature a popular array of AdvenTours that explore the best of Central Oregon and beyond:
- Accessible Guided Scenic Hike at Smith Rock State Park, Sunday, May 24, 8am-1pm (Additional date available on Sunday, July 19th)
- Accessible Guided Hike Deschutes River Trail: Benham Falls, Sunday, June 21, 8am-1pm
- Accessible Guided Fort Rock Sunset Hike & Stargazing, Friday, July 10, 7:30pm-Saturday, July 11, 12:30am
- Accessible Guided Crater Lake National Park Hike, Saturday, August 29, 8am-5pm
- AdvenTours Accessible Guided Paulina Creek Hike, Saturday, September 19, 8am-1pm
- AdvenTours Accessible Guided Scenic Hike at Tumalo Creek/Shevlin Park, Saturday, October 25, 8am-1pm
All AdvenTours depart from Wanderlust Tours headquarters in Bend’s Fred Meyer Shopping Center on SE Third Street and cost the same as their regular guided hikes. Guests are encouraged to visit advenchair.com/events for the latest updates and information.
Follow your own path. Not the beaten one.
In addition to the pre-arranged AdvenTours, AdvenChairs are also available to Wanderlust guests for special custom tours with advanced reservations. A perfect example of this was evidenced last September when Hannah Crutchfield from Alabama discovered AdvenTours through Visit Central Oregon. With the help of the AdvenChair and a small team from Wanderlust Tours, she and her partner had no trouble reaching the top of Tumalo Mountain with its breathtaking view of the Cascades.
“It’s been the most amazing experience I think I’ve ever had!” said Hannah. “Being able to do something that I can’t do on my own has been absolutely fantastic! I feel on top of the world!”
Says Braun: “Seeing Hannah summiting a mountain together with her partner was pretty special! I’m looking forward not only to getting more folks out into the beauty of Central Oregon’s outdoor spaces on our regular tours, but also to learning what other places guests want to see and explore.”
With countless trails already in peak condition, AdvenChair’s Geoff Babb is equally excited to offer more custom tours to places that many folks have only dreamed about.
“I’ve witnessed the smiles from so many people who wouldn’t be out in the wilderness without the AdvenChair,” said Babb. “Whether it’s a family with a child who is disabled or a grandparent who can be with their grandkids on their favorite trail as they pass the love of the outdoors on to future generations, it’s very heartwarming to see.”
About AdvenChair:
AdvenChair is an all-terrain wheelchair designed for people with mobility challenges who want to venture off the beaten path and experience the grandeur of the wilderness. It is the brainchild of Geoff Babb, a fire ecologist and avid outdoorsman from Bend, who loved to ski, mountain bike and backpack with his wife and twin boys until a near-fatal brain stem stroke on November 10, 2005 forced him to use a wheelchair.
While the stroke forever changed his ability to move, Babb soon discovered that the biggest obstacle to experiencing a simple outing on local trails with his family again was not so much his body, but the frailties of common wheelchairs. Rather than lobbying for wheelchair-accessible wilderness trails, Babb chose to develop a wheelchair capable of adapting to the trails, and the AdvenChair was born.
On November 10, 2017, exactly 12 years to the day after his stroke, Babb survived a second brain stem stroke, which was a major setback. Yet it made him more determined than ever to share his all-terrain chair with other people dealing with permanent or temporary limited mobility. While developing the first AdvenChair, Babb also launched The Onward Project, LLC, to inspire, encourage and enable outdoor adventures for people of all abilities.
About Wanderlust Tours:
Since 1993, Wanderlust Tours has welcomed guests to vibrantly share the natural and cultural history of Oregon in order to instill appreciation and protection of the environment. We hold great respect for the natural surroundings of our beautiful central Oregon landscape and hope to introduce people to these delicate ecosystems while maintaining a low impact on the environment. Wanderlust Tours is made up of people who are passionate about the intricacies of nature. We thrive on sharing our knowledge and passion for the natural world with those who join our tours!
We are so excited to be partnering with AdvenChair and to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair, we can empower every member of our community in their quest for adventure!
