Penned by accessible travel expert Candy B. Harrington, this access guide highlights wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park attractions and lodging options. It includes detailed information about accessible trails, picnic areas, lodging and attractions in Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This handy resource features:
- Access details and photos of more than 45 accessible lodging options, including all in-park facilities as well gateway city offerings.
- Details on wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton bus and boat tours, along with shuttle services to, from, and within the parks.
- Information about barrier-free camping options in the parks, including the campsite numbers and accessible features.
- Information on wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton trails, picnic areas and attractions.
- Amtrak, airport and accessible van rental information for easy connections to the parks.
- Information on loaner wheelchairs, free-ranger-led tours, access passes, discounts, and loads of insider tips for a truly accessible national park visit.
- Recent access upgrades and updates in the parks.
This guide will help you plan a wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton visit, and find an accessible hotel room or campsite that suits your needs. Barrier-Free Travel; Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers is a great 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.
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Preface
Change is in the Air
The reason for a second edition of a guidebook can be summed up in one word — changes. That said, due to major world events and an altered social attitude, this second edition has more than the normal requisite changes. And those changes are still evolving as this work goes to press.
There are many reasons for these changes. COVID changed everyone’s travel style and patterns, and more and more people are now visiting our national parks. This has resulted in some shortages and even restrictions on visitors. Mother Nature has also been unpredictable in the past several years, which has resulted in damages and closures in some parks.
The final reason for these changes is actually a good one — there’s been a new awakening about diversity and the needs of a broader population, including people with disabilities. This has resulted in many access upgrades throughout our national lands, including Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. And as I initially noted, this is a very good change
Addressing the parks individually, Glacier National Park has perhaps undergone the biggest procedural change, due to a massive influx of visitors in post-COVID times. In 2021 the park implemented a pilot program for vehicle entrance reservations. This proved successful, so they made a few tweaks and continued the program in 2022. The vehicle entry reservation requirement is now a permanent policy during the peak summer season; although some yearly changes are possible. The current policy is detailed in this edition, but it’s prudent to check the park website for yearly updates.
Likewise, Yellowstone has seen some policy changes due to some unfortunate natural disasters. Massive floods in June 2022 forced the total closure of the park, while visitors inside the park were evacuated. As the waters receded, major damage to some park roads and facilities was discovered. To that end, some road and campground closures were implemented, mostly in the northern area of the park. Vehicle reservations were also required to enter the park. Although the bulk of the damage has been repaired and vehicle reservations are no longer required, it’s likely that there may be detours or traffic slow downs while the finishing touches are applied. Consult the Yellowstone website for the latest information on road and facility closures.
And although Grand Teton National Park has experienced some growing pains in the past few years, no new entrance restrictions or ticketing requirements have been implemented. That said one of the biggest changes in this park is the new visitor complex at Jenny Lake. I’ve watched this project develop over the years, and I’m thrilled with the improved access that it has brought to the park. A welcome change for sure — and of course it’s detailed in this edition.
Unfortunately COVID also had an impact on park concessionaires, so some changes had to be made on their part. Due to the decreased pool of seasonal workers and supply chain issues, some of the dining concessions in the parks initially had limited hours and menus. Many locations have returned to normal operations, although a few restrictions still exist. The good news is that the park concessionaires do an excellent job of updating things on their websites, so check there for the most current information. It’s also a good idea to pack along a snack bag in case of unexpected shortages.
Finally, this edition also includes some new and upgraded lodging choices, trails and attractions. And that’s another good change. No new properties have been built in the parks, but I have included more choices in the gateway communities. Of course the parks remain popular, so remember to book early to avoid disappointment!
On a personal note there have also been some big changes in my life. Charles and I left California after the Creek Fire destroyed our mountain home. We rebuilt in NE Washington about four hours west of Glacier National Park. In fact I wrote this Preface at a picnic table which was fondly dubbed “my office”, while I watched the contractors work their magic on our new abode. And this is good news for my readers too, as I’m now closer to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, so I’ll be able to keep folks apprised of future changes.
And If you come across some changes or improvements, please let me know about them, so I can share that information with everyone.
Even though the landscape is constantly changing, these parks are still a national treasure. I hope you enjoy all that these beautiful national lands have to offer, and that you have a great wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park experience. And let me know how your adventure went!
Candy Harrington
candy@EmergingHorizons.com
www.EmergingHorizons.com
Facebook: Candy Harrington
Twitter: Candy B. Harrington
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Contents
- Preface — Change is in the Air
- Glacier National Park
- Apgar — Lake Mc Donald
- Going-to-the-Sun Road
- St. Mary Lake
- Many Glacier
- Two Medicine — Walton
- Lodging, Attractions & Services Outside Glacier
- Glacier National Park Resources
- Yellowstone National Park
- Old Faithful
- Yellowstone Lake
- West Thumb — Grant Village
- Canyon
- Tower-Roosevelt
- Madison — Norris
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Lodging and Attractions Outside Yellowstone
- Gardiner
- Yellowstone National Park Resources
- Grand Teton National Park
- The Basics
- Moose Junction
- Jenny Lake
- Jackson Lake
- Highway 191
- Lodging, Attractions and Services Outside Grand Teton
- Grand Teton National Park Resources
Suggested Itineraries
With so many things to see and do in Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, advance planning is a must. With that in mind, here are some wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park itineraries to help you plan your travels. No matter how long you have – be it 24 hours or 10 days – these itineraries will help you make the most of your national park visit.
One Day
Glacier National Park
Start the day at the Apgar Visitor Center, then hop on an accessible Western Alpine Red Bus Tour (advance reservations required), which stops at Logan Pass and the accessible Trail of the Cedars. After the tour follow the .4-mile accessible Apgar Bike Path to Apgar Village, and have lunch at Eddie’s Cafe. In the afternoon, explore the accessible trail off Apgar Loop Road that circles through the woods and along cDonald Creek. Next, head over to Lake McDonald, and take a stroll along the accessible Lake McDonald Path that winds alongside the shore. Save some time to take-in the lake view from the picnic tables in back of Lake McDonald Lodge, then have dinner at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room inside the lodge. Spend the night in an accessible room or cabin at Lake McDonald Lodge.
And don’t forget to make your Glacier vehicle entry reservation if you visit the park during the summer. Information about current reservation requirements can be found on the park website at www.nps.gov/glac.
Yellowstone National Park
Spend the day exploring the Old Faithful area. Begin at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, then take a stroll around the iconic geyser and watch it erupt. Next, take a hike out to Morning Glory Pool on the multi-use path, and loop back to the visitor center through Upper Geyser Basin. Have a quick bite to eat at the Glacier Grill at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, then spend the afternoon exploring Midway Geyser Basin. Top off the day with a scenic drive to Firehole Lake. Spend the night in an accessible cabin at Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
Grand Teton National Park
Start your day with a visit to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, located near the Moose Entrance, at the south end of the park. Continue north to the Menor’s Ferry Historic District, and visit the Chapel of the Transfiguration, then stroll along the accessible trail that passes by the old general store, the ferry and the blacksmith’s shop. Next, head over to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, and explore the visitor center and the surrounding wetlands. Have lunch at Dornan’s Pizza & Pasta, then continue on to the iconic T. A Moulton Barn
in the Mormon Row Historic District. Finally, head on up to Jenny Lake Lodge, but stop for a short stroll on the String Lake Trail on the way. Enjoy dinner and an accessible overnight stay at Jenny Lake Lodge.
Three Days
Glacier National Park
After the one-day Glacier itinerary, head over to Two Medicine on the east side of the park on the second day. Stop at Goat Lick Overlook along the way on Highway 2, and catch a gander at the mountain goats at the end of the accessible trail. Stop for lunch at Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Village, then head over to Running Eagle Falls and explore the half-mile accessible trail through the woods. Finally, enjoy the scenic drive along Highway 89 to St. Mary, and spend the night in an accessible cabin at St. Mary Lodge. Start day three with a visit to the St. Mary Visitor Center, and take the quarter-mile trail down to the Saint Mary River. Then hop in your car and drive over to Rising Sun, and stop to admire the views at St. Mary Overlook and Two Dog Flats along the way. Have lunch at the Two Dog Flats Grill at the Rising Sun Motor Inn, then head over to the boat docks for a gorgeous view of St. Mary Lake. Next, backtrack to St. Mary, then head north to Many Glacier. Enjoy the first part of the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail, then stop at Many Glacier Lodge and treat yourself to an ice cream cone and a great view of the glaciers that surround the lake. Plan to attend the free ranger program in the Lucerne Room, then have dinner in the Ptarmigan
Dining Room, and spend the night at Many Glacier Lodge.
Yellowstone National Park
Begin with the one-day Yellowstone itinerary, then head over to West Thumb to explore that geyser basin on day two. Take a scenic drive along the shore of Yellowstone Lake and stop for lunch at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Spend the afternoon driving through Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, and spend the night at Canyon Lodge, the largest hotel in the park.
On the third day, pick up a picnic lunch at the Canyon Lodge Deli, then head over to Norris. Spend the morning exploring a portion of Back Basin, then visit the Norris Museum and the Museum of the National Park Ranger. Head north towards Mammoth and stop for a picnic at Sheepeater Cliff along the way. Finally, take a scenic drive along the Upper Terraces, then spend the night at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
Grand Teton National Park
Start with the one-day Grand Teton itinerary. After breakfast on the second day, head out to the front porch at Jenny Lake Lodge for the morning interpretive program. Then hop in your car and take the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive, with a stop at the Jenny Lake Overlook and the accessible forest trail to the campground along the way. Have lunch at the Peaks Restaurant at Signal Mountain Lodge, then head over to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, and follow the half-mile Jenny Lake Trail along the shore. Top off the afternoon with a an accessible cruise on scenic Jenny Lake, then continue north to Jackson Lake Lodge for an overnight stay. On day three explore the trails at Jackson Dam and visit the Chapel of the Sacred Heart in the morning. Then take the scenic drive to the top of Signal Mountain Road, and have lunch at the Ranch House at Colter Bay. In the afternoon explore the Colter Bay Visitor Center and the lakeshore trail, and then spend the night in an accessible cabin at Colter Bay Lodge.
One Week
Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks
Follow the three-day Yellowstone itinerary, then take the scenic drive up to Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park on the fourth day. Spend the night at Lake McDonald Lodge, then follow the three-day Glacier itinerary.
Or
Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
Follow the three-day Grand Teton itinerary, then on day four pick up a sandwich at the Café Court in Colter Bay and explore the northern section of Highway 191. Stop at Elk Ranch Flats Overlook and the Cunningham Cabin Historic Site, then backtrack up to the Pacific Creek Picnic Area for lunch al fresco. Continue north, exit the park and spend the night at Flagg Ranch on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Continue along the next day with the three-day Yellowstone
itinerary.
Ten Days
Follow the three-day Grand Teton National Park itinerary, then add on the one week Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks itinerary. And if you have more time, add in a few extra nights to just sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery in these magnificent national parks.
Author Q&As
How do you decide what national parks to cover, and why did you pick Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton to include in this book?
I rely a lot on reader feedback and inquiries that I receive about the national parks. That’s why I started with Grand Canyon, as I had the most comments and questions about that park. Yellowstone is also very popular, but most folks forget about Grand Teton and Glacier – which are nearby – so I thought it would be a good idea to group them together. Plus there are a lot of accessible trails and lodging options in these parks.
What’s the best time to visit these parks?
That’s a tricky question. Summer is very crowded in these parks, but weather can be an issue in Spring and Fall. In fact, one year the entire length of Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park was not open until July. That said, on my last visit to Yellowstone we hit a very unseasonable snowstorm in early September. Still, if I had my pick I’d go in the Fall. On the other hand, if you absolutely have to visit in the summer, try to plan a mid-week visit, as weekends and holidays are an absolute zoo in the parks.
I’d like to visit all three parks in one trip. Is that possible?
Absolutely – that’s why I grouped them together. I even included some sample itineraries on this website.
Do I need a reservation to get into Glacier National Park? Won’t my America the Beautiful Access Pass work? What about if I have campground reservations?
It depends on when you visit. Entrance reservations are required in the summer for the West Entrance Station, the Camas Entrance Station, the Rising Sun checkpoint (6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) and Many Glacier Valley. Reservations are available at www.recreation.gov for $2 each. Entrance reservations are not available for purchase at the park. And yes, even if you have a national park pass, you still need a vehicle entrance reservation.
Visitors who have in-park lodging, camping or tour reservations are not required to have an entrance reservation. This includes private lodging within the park, and all boat and bus tours. Lodging or tour reservations must be shown at the park entrance.
I don’t drive and I use a manual wheelchair. Is there any way for me to visit at least one of these national parks without a car?
My suggestion is to take Amtrak’s Empire Builder train, which runs from Seattle to Chicago, and stops in West Glacier. From there you can take Xanterra’s accessible West Side Shuttle to Lake McDonald Lodge or the Village Inn at Apgar – both of which have accessible rooms. Lake McDonald and Apgar are easy to get around without a vehicle, and you can also take an accessible Red Bus Tour that goes up to Logan Pass and the accessible Trail of the Cedars. It’s a very accessible way to enjoy the park without your own vehicle.
Were any of the facilities damaged or destroyed in the 2022 floods in Yellowstone? Have they been repaired?
The June 2022 floods initially forced the total closure of the park, while visitors inside the park were evacuated. As the waters receded, major damage to some park roads and facilities were discovered. To that end, some road and campground closures were implemented, mostly in the northern area of the park. Although the bulk of the damage has been repaired, it’s likely that there may be detours or traffic slow downs while the finishing touches are applied. Consult the Yellowstone website for the latest information on road and facility closures.
I’d love to visit Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Is it accessible?
Yes, it is. A level boardwalk encircles it, and there are benches to sit and watch the eruption, or to just take a break. And if heat is an issue for you, there’s a seating area inside the visitor center which offers a good view of the geyser.
That said, although Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the park, there are some other geysers that are much more spectacular. I recommend a visit to Midway Geyser Basin, which features a mile-long accessible boardwalk that winds past Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, Opal Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring – the largest hot spring in the park. It’s very nicely done access-wise and a great photo op.
You never hear much about Grand Teton National Park. Are there any accessible trails there?
Absolutely. The eight-mile Multiuse Trail runs from Jenny Lake to the park entrance. This paved trail is wide and mostly level, with several access points along its length. There’s also an accessible trail along Colter Bay. And finally, thanks the $19 million Jenny Lake Renewal Project, a portion of Jenny Lake Trail is now a good option for slow walkers and wheelchair-users. From the Jenny Lake Visitor Center this accessible half-mile loop leads out to the lakeshore, past the boat dock and back to the visitor center. There are benches and interpretive panels along this very accessible lakeshore trail, with lots of spots to take in the beautiful views. It’s a very nicely done accessible trail, and an excellent example of universal design.
How did you decide what properties to include in this book?
Well first I included all of the properties inside the national parks that have accessible rooms. Then I went to the nearby gateway communities, and picked out some of the more accessible choices. It basically boiled down to location and access. The properties inside the parks are great, but I wanted to give my readers more options in case they were booked.
How did you determine what was “accessible” as far as hotels are concerned? Do all of the included properties have roll-in showers?
“Accessible” is a very broad term, because what may work for one person may be totally unsuitable for another person. Basically I looked at what the property managers indicated were their accessible rooms, and then I described the access so my readers can determine if it will or won’t work for them. No, not all of the included properties have roll-in showers, but then again not everyone requires one. Additionally, under the law (ADA), a room can be “accessible” and not have a roll-in shower. In the end I included a wide range of properties, so my readers would have choices.
How long did it take you to research the book?
I’ve visited the park many times over the past 15 years, but I did my final research trips for this book in 2022 and 2023. I had to revisit everything and of course look at new improvements, which took about four months. And that doesn’t count the pre-trip research and post-trip fact checking. Let’s just say that it was a substantial time commitment.
Did you encounter any problems while researching this book?
At the top of the problem list was the June 2022 Yellowstone flood. One site visit was cancelled because of the park closure, and another was postponed because repairs were still not completed. In the end we made an additional site visit early in the 2023 season to check out the status of the repairs. Mother Nature is unpredictable in this neck of the woods, so sometimes you just have to play it by ear.
We also a personal issue that caused a few problems. Charles and I lost our home in the Sierras in the Creek Fire near the end of 2020. We subsequently relocated to Northeast Washington and rebuilt. It was quite a challenge scheduling site visits and press trips to research this second edition, while at the same time trying to oversee a construction site. Thankfully we had a good crew to keep an eye on things for us, but between the unpredictable weather and the demands of being an owner-builder, we fell a bit behind in the book production department.
Out of all the places you visited while researching this book, do you have a favorite?
It’s hard to pick just one, as there are many wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton gems. That said, I absolutely love the Faces of the Northern Range trail in Yellowstone. It’s trucked away along the road between Tower Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs, and it’s rarely crowded. Everyone just passes it right by! The half-mile accessible boardwalk winds through the sagebrush and shrub-lined landscape and features scenic views of Yellowstone’s Northern Range in the distance. It’s a very well designed trail, with magnificent views of the surrounding landscape.
If you could offer one piece of advice about visiting these parks, what would it be?
My best advice for a wheelchair-accessible Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton visit is to plan ahead, but be flexible in case of weather delays. And make your lodging reservations early, especially if you want to stay inside one of the parks.
What’s next for you book-wise?
I’m currently working on the second edition of Barrier-Free Travel; Utah National Parks for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers. It will include access updates, more accessible lodging options and information about attractions in and near Utah’s Big Five. I’m also working on my newest title, Colorado National Parks for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers.
Barrier-Free Travel
Glacier, Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks
for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
