Five Favorite Wheelchair-Accessible National Parks

With 63 parks in the US National Park System, it’s really hard to choose a favorite. That said, wheelchair-access plays a big part in my top choices. But there has to be more than just access to a visitor center or a few overlooks to make my list. Diversity also plays into my choices, but so does the quality of the visit. Accessible overnight lodging has to be in that mix too.

And let’s not forget about the price of popularity. Sadly, with so many visitors flocking to some of these national treasures, sometimes it feels like you are lined up for a popular ride at an iconic theme park at some national parks. That definitely takes away from the natural experience. So taking that all these factors into consideration, here are my five favorite wheelchair-accessible national parks .

Glacier National Park

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Glacier National Park (emerginghorizons.com/barrier-free-travel-glacier-yellowstone-and-grand-teton-national-parks-for-wheelchair-users-and-slow-walkers/#itin-1) tops my list of wheelchair-accessible national parks, not only for the beautiful scenery and variety of accessible lodging choices, but for its ease of access without a vehicle. That’s right, you can take the Amtrak Empire Builder to this iconic national park, and then hop on the visitor shuttle to your in-park lodge and then book a Red Bus tour to see the park. And the good news is, that all of these transportation options are wheelchair-accessible. Plus, you don’t have to worry about getting an entrance reservation (emerginghorizons.com/national-park-entrance-reservations-required-in-2024/) if you stay in the park. So ditch your car and visit this Montana gem this summer!

Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite (emerginghorizons.com/barrier-free-travelyosemite-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parksfor-wheelers-and-slow-walkers/#itins holds a special place in my heart, as I grew up near there and spent a good chunk of my adult life in the area. Nothing beats the grandeur of Yosemite Falls or Half Dome; however Yosemite Valley can get extremely crowded, even in the off season. One way to dodge some of the crowds is to plan an excursion to a non-valley site. And my top pick for that is Mariposa Grove. Located near the South Entrance of the park, Mariposa Grove is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. And thanks to upgrades over the years, there are two wheelchair-accessible trails through this often overlooked corner of the park.

Shenandoah National Park

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Next up on my list of favorite wheelchair-accessible national parks is Shenandoah National Park. This Northwestern Virginia national park is chocked full of beautiful views, and the wildflower blooms in the summer are absolutely gorgeous. There’s also a beautiful 1.3-mile accessible trail that runs through a wooded area and over a boardwalk. And the trail is close to Skyland, an excellent choice for wheelchair-accessible lodging. The property boasts a spacious accessible room with a roll-in shower and the restaurant offers more great views. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and spend a night or two.

Yellowstone National Park

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I love Yellowstone National Park (emerginghorizons.com/barrier-free-travel-glacier-yellowstone-and-grand-teton-national-parks-for-wheelchair-users-and-slow-walkers/#itin-1), and I’m not alone with that opinion. It’s an incredibly busy national park. That said, if you get there early you can enjoy a somewhat uncrowded experience at Old Faithful, one of the park’s biggest draws. But there’s much more to see beyond the iconic geyser, and even a few places that are a little off-the-beaten-path. Some of my wheelchair-accessible favorites are West Thumb Geyser Basin, Frying Pan Spring and the Forces of the Northern Range Boardwalk. And one of my friends even had an accessible hunting adventure there (emerginghorizons.com/a-disabled-hunting-adventure-stalking-big-game-out-west/). Truly, they sky’s the limit as far as accessible things to do in the nation’s first national park.

Grand Canyon

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Rounding out my list of favorite wheelchair-accessible national parks is and oldie but goodie — Grand Canyon National Park (emerginghorizons.com/the-grand-canyon-for-wheelers-and-slow-walkers/#itin-1). More specifically, the South Rim of this iconic national park. I love it not only because of the accessible canyon views and lodging options, but also because it’s another national park that you can see without a car. You can take Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to Flagstaff and connect with an accessible shuttle to the park. Alternately, you can take an Amtrak thruway bus to Williams and hop on the equally accessible Grand Canyon Railway and ride it to the park. Add in an overnight at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, and you have a truly accessible car-free Grand Canyon package. And once you’re in the park, there’s an accessible shuttle that stops at the most popular South Rim sites. Enjoy the scenery and leave the driving to someone else in this beautiful national park.