Ride the Rails on the Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon is definitely a must-see on the life bucket list. Most people arrive at this popular national park by car, as there’s not exactly an international airport on the rim. That said, there’s an alternative way to get to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon – ride the rails on the Grand Canyon Railway (www.thetrain.com)). And not only is this journey scenic, it’s also wheelchair-accessible. So check out this fun excursion on your next Arizona visit.

The Historic Williams Depot

This scenic rail excursion begins at the Williams Depot; and despite the historic nature of the building, there’s good wheelchair access to all areas. The Fray Marcos Hotel — which opened to the public in 1908 — once occupied the left portion of the depot. Today most vestiges of this 43-room Harvey House are gone;, however there are some vintage photos in the former lobby which is located next to the gift shop.

And while you’re at the depot, there’s also a little entertainment before boarding the train. The local marshal and the nefarious Cataract Creek Gang stage a wild west shootout before the train departs. There is level access to the show area, and wheelchair-accessible seating is available in front of the bleachers or at nearby tables. Then after the shootout, everyone heads over to the train.

Access Aboard the Railway

The excellent access at the Grand Canyon Railway continues with pre-boarding, when wheelchair-users and slow walkers are boarded before the rest of the passengers. Access is good on this historic train; and train buffs are wowed by the vintage train cars which are pulled by diesel locomotives. There are six classes of service, with Pullman, Coach and First Class being the most accessible.

The Harriman-Style Pullman cars have bench seats that flip so families can sit together and windows that open; while the Budd coach cars have front facing bench seats and air conditioning. The first-class cars have comfortable reclining seats, large windows and air conditioning. All of these cars can be accessed by a portable lift, and they all have wheelchair tie-downs and nearby companion seats. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, wide doorways and ample pathways are also located in these cars

And of course, if you just can’t make up your mind about which class to book, you can always mix classes; and take one class going up and another on the return trip.

The Trip and Beyond

The journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon takes about two hours, and you just can’t beat the passing scenery. As an added bonus, roving musicians entertain passengers with western songs along the way. And on-board attendants are always available to field questions and suggest activities for the stop on the South Rim.

Once the train arrives, passengers can explore the South Rim on the the wheelchair-accessible Grand Canyon shuttle. The return train departs for Williams about three hours later; however if you’d like to spend more time on the South Rim you can extend your visit for a night or two. The railway also offers South Rim hotel packages with wheelchair-accessible rooms. And if you’d like to spend the night in Williams after the train returns, they also have wheelchair-accessible rooms at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.

No matter which package you choose, you’ll have a great time on this scenic railway. Not only is the scenery second-to-none, but the railway employees are extremely accommodating. It’s a great wheelchair-accessible way to experience the Grand Canyon.