Penned by accessible travel expert and national park aficionado Candy B. Harrington, this handy resource includes detailed access information on 52 national park lodges throughout the mainland US. An excellent resource, this detailed volume also offers well researched access information on the featured national parks and includes:
- Insider Tips for visiting each national park
- Access details on national park trails and attractions
- Detailed access descriptions – including bed heights — of lodge rooms
- Photos of the accessible rooms, including the bathrooms
- Accessible train, trolley, boat and bus tours in the national parks.
- National Park lodging concessionaire information
- The best national park scenic drives and windshield views
- Fees, roadway information and seasonal closures in the national parks
This guidebook includes detailed access information that will help wheelchair-users and slow walkers plan the ultimate national park road trip around the US. It’s also a great idea book, for folks who are undecided about which national parks to visit. Barrier-Free Travel; National Park Lodges for Wheelers and Slow Walkers is an excellent resource for seniors, parents with stroller-aged children, Baby Boomers, folks who need to take things a littler slower, and anybody who uses a cane, walker, wheelchair or scooter.
A must-have resource for any national park road trip.
Preface
Amazing Spaces in Spectacular Places
National park lodges are definitely amazing spaces. Granted they all have location going for them, but these majestic properties are much more than just chain hotels planted at precipitous points in our national lands. A great deal of thought went into their design and even their orientation.
Take Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone, and the Ahwahnee in Yosemite, for example. Both properties were designed by Gilbert Underwood, and although they both feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive lobby and the requisite oversized fireplace; they each also include individual design touches that truly makes them one-of-a-kind properties.
And as far as orientation goes, look no further than Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park. The lodge was designed to reflect the solitude in the surrounding land; and the rooms face the adjacent mesa, and feature large picture windows and comfortable outdoor areas to enjoy the magnificent view.
National park lodges are more than just places to spend the night. They are places to extend your visit, enjoy the park after dark, and totally immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty. And each national park lodge is completely different.
And that’s the main reason I wrote this book
The first national park lodge I ever visited was Camp Curry in Yosemite National Park. I was 13, and I was on a girlfriends skiing getaway with some of my besties and their families. Even though it was close to home it was still quite the treat for us. Snow covered the surrounding forest floor, and one night on our way back from the bathroom my pals and I had an impromptu moonlight snowball fight. And of course there was a lot of giggling — after all we were 13 — before an adult opened his cabin door and unceremoniously schussed us. And then we continued giggling — and pelting each other with snowballs — as we ran through the forest back to our cabin.
That’s what memories are made of — these amazing spaces in spectacular places.
And over the years I’ve been privileged to spend some time in all the national park lodges; and indeed each one holds a very special memory for me.
The Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim is especially memorable, as I had an appointment to meet the manager there before the property opened up for the season. The place was completely deserted — it was just Charles, me and the deer. The manager showed up after we finished our picnic lunch, and when she took us into the main lodge building I had flashbacks of scenes from The Shining. It’s amazing how creepy a deserted lodge can be, especially when it’s so massive.
The Roosevelt Cabins in Yellowstone produced another memorable experience. We snuggled together in our cozy log cabin one night while the wind whipped up outside; and the next day we were treated to an up-close-and-personal bison encounter, just steps from our front door.
Finally, I’ll never forget the night we spent at Rock Harbor Lodge in Isle Royale National Park. It absolutely poured down rain that night, so much so that it startled me from my sleep. We awoke the next morning to be greeted by a gorgeous sunrise, as the waves peacefully lapped at the lakeshore. From tempestuous to breathtaking in less than six hours — it was quite a ride.
And my hope is that these national park properties will create equally poignant memories for you too.
Now let’s talk access, because, after all that’s my expertise. That’s another reason I wrote this book, to let folks know that these historic lodges are for the most part accessible. Granted, most were constructed before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was ever enacted, however access upgrades have been continually added over the years. Many people assume these lodges are not wheelchair-accessible, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. So I’ve included detailed access descriptions and copious photos of the accessible rooms to prove this point.
Of course, lodgings are only part of the access equation. With that in mind I’ve also included an Access Overview section for each park, which lists some of the most accessible trails, attractions and access upgrades; and gives folks a good idea about the general accessibility of the parks. This book goes well beyond just stating that something is ADA compliant — it’s a realistic assessment of the access so you can choose the parks that will work for you.
And if your time in a park is limited, be sure and read the Don’t Miss This section, which includes the one absolutely must-do accessible trail, attraction or activity in the park. And again this is gleaned from first-hand experience, and a lot of legwork.
In the same vein, I’ve also included an Insider Tip section for each park, which is filled with helpful suggestions of things to look for, avoid or take into consideration when planning your visit. Your time is valuable, and I discovered most of these tips the hard way, so that you don’t have to.
In the end, Barrier-Free Travel: National Park Lodges for Wheelers and Slow Walkers is the perfect tool to help you decide what parks and lodges will work best for you, and to plan an accessible national park road trip.
So get out and explore our beautiful national parks, and then spend a night or two in the national park lodges listed in this book. And let me know how it goes. I’m sure it will be a memorable experience for you as well.
Candy Harrington
candy@EmergingHorizons.com
www.EmergingHorizons.com
Facebook: Candy Harrington
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Contents
- Preface– Amazing Spaces in Spectacular Places
- Before You Go
- Park Passes
- Authorized Park Concessionaires
- Elevation
- Service Animals
- What is an Accessible Trail?
- Arizona
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Grand Canyon National Park
- California
- Death Valley National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Sequoia National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Yosemite National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Death Valley National Park
- Colorado
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Kentucky
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Michigan
- Isle Royale National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Isle Royale National Park
- Montana
Glacier National Park- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Ohio
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Oregon
- Crater Lake National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Insider Tip
- Don’t Miss This
- Resources
- Crater Lake National Park
- South Dakota
- Badlands National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Badlands National Park
- Texas
- Big Bend National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Big Bend National Park
- Utah
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Zion National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Virginia
- Shenandoah National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Shenandoah National Park
- Washington
- Olympic National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Olympic National Park
- Wyoming
- Yellowstone National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Admission
- Spend the Night
- Access Overview
- Don’t Miss This
- Insider Tip
- Resources
- Access Resources
Author Q & As
Why a book on National Park lodges?
A national park road trip around the US is at the top of many a bucket list. Not only does this book let folks know what each park has as far as wheelchair-accessible lodging is concerned, but I also consider it a road trip idea book. Many of our Western national parks are within a days drive of each other, so it’s entirely possible to put together a great road trip route, and stay at the accessible national park lodges along the way.
Why didn’t you include the parks in Alaska and Hawaii?
Again because of the road trip theme, and it’s pretty hard to drive to Hawaii. And although you can drive to Alaska from the mainland US, it is quite a trek. And once you get there only a few the national parks are actually accessible by vehicle.
Can you give me an example of a national park road trip itinerary?
Certainly. One of my favorites is to combine Glacier National Park with Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. There’s really a lot to see and do in the area.
Did you also include information about accessible things to do in the national parks, along with the lodging information?
Certainly. Besides the access details and lots of photos of the accessible lodge rooms I also include a good overview of the accessible trails and sights in each park. Plus I also have a “Don’t Miss This” and an “Insider Tip” section in each chapter. It’s a pretty comprehensive title.
Did you visit each property that you covered?
Absolutely. I learned a long time ago that if you cover accessible travel you have to do site visits in order to accurately represent the accessibility. A phone call just won’t do, as you may be talking to someone who has never visited the site. And don’t even get me started about the glut of incorrect access information on the internet. In many cases I visited the parks more than once – some even five to six times.
How long did the research take you?
I would say I had a good editorial design about five years ago, so it took about four years of solid research. Some of the parks have limited operating seasons, and the weather was a factor in many cases. And like I said, many of the parks required a return visit.
Did you run into any problems during your research?
Well of course dealing with Mother Nature is always a challenge, and we had no shortage of weather issues – especially snow. I live in the Sierras, so I’m used to snow, but there’s not much you can do when the roads close. And although it’s not really an access problem – it’s a good thing – some properties upgraded their accessible rooms during my research period, so a return visit was necessary. The wildlife was pretty unpredictable too – I can’t even recall how many bison jams caused us delays in Yellowstone!
You mention the park concessionaires in the book. Who are they and why is it important for visitors to know about them?
Concessionaires are hospitality companies that contract with the National Park Service to operate the lodges and other concessions in the park. They are also responsible for maintenance and upgrades. There are many third-party booking sites for national park lodges, and because of marketing efforts they may come up before the concessionaires in an internet search. It’s important to deal directly with the concessionaires, as you will get first-hand access information from them, and they also offer the best prices. Plus when you book with a concessionaire, they will block the accessible room for you, which isn’t always the case with third-party booking sites.
What exactly is a “wheelchair-accessible” room?
That’s a really good question. If you pose that question to 100 different people you’ll probably get 100 different answers – as they’ll usually cite the features they have at home and absolutely need at a lodge. That said, you can have two accessible rooms in the same property and one can have a tub-shower combination and one could have a roll-in shower. And they are both considered accessible, That’s why I don’t just say it’s an accessible room, but instead I describe the the access features. I also note bed-height and what side of the toilet the grab bars are located, as these issues are not included in the access regulations but they are important to some people.
Do you have a favorite National Park lodge?
I have a lot of favorites, but the one at the top of my list is Zion Lodge. More specifically, the historic – and accessible – cabin that’s pictured on the cover of my book. Not only does it have great access with a ramped entry and a roll-in shower; but it’s also located at the far end of the property, and away from all the hustle and bustle. The front porch looks out on the beautiful red rocks, and it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset.
So, what’s your next project?
Well, my next title Barrier Free Travel; Death Valley National Park for Wheelers and Slow Walkers will be released this August – just in time for the fall and winter travel season. I’m also working on a second edition for my popular Barrier-Free Travel; Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers title.
