Kevin Simpson of Tahawus Trails LLC rakes the new accessible trail at The Nature Conservancy’s Boquet River Nature Preserve in Willsboro. (Photo provided by The Nature Conservancy)

WILLSBORO — The Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy announced this week it will open the longest accessible hiking trail in the region this fall.

The 1.5-mile loop trail is located at TNC’s Boquet River Nature Preserve in Willsboro. It will be constructed to standards set out by Federal Trail Accessibility Guidelines under the Architectural Barriers Act.

“Nature has the potential to help seniors — including those with dementia — increase their sense of value and strengthen social connections,” Eli Schwartzberg, owner and operator of the neighboring Champlain Valley Senior Community in Willsboro, said in a press release. “Having accessible trails so close to our facility would expand outing opportunities for residents, including those in our memory care wing.”

“The ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant nature trails that wind in and about the preserve are a fabulous resource to help bring the healthful and healing effects of exposure to the natural world to people of all levels of mobility,” Willsboro town Supervisor Shaun Gillilland said in the release.

The loop trail will be surfaced with crushed stone that can accommodate walkers, hikers, bicyclists and wheelchairs. The trail will be built with minimal slope changes.

Tahawus Trails LLC is completing the work, which TNC said should be done in September.

For more information on TNC’s Adirondack efforts, go to www.nature.org/adirondacks.