Located about three hours northeast of Sacramento, Lassen Volcanic National Park offers visitors a diverse landscape dotted with active geothermal features. Dominated by Mount Lassen which erupted in 1915, the park boasts an impressive collection of steam vents, mudpots and boiling springs, many of which are readily accessible. Add in wildflower-filled meadows, pristine mountain lakes, and the ruins of the last eruption and you have a park that truly stimulates all of the senses.
Insider Tips
Sulphur Works, which is one of the most active geothermal areas in the park, is a must-see for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. There’s accessible parking in the paved lot, with barrier-free access to a level sidewalk that leads past mudpots, steam vents and boiling springs. The crosswalk has curb-cut access, so wheelchair-users can enjoy the geothermal features on both sides of the street. All in all it’s a quarter-mile out-and-back jaunt; and although other areas of the park boast these geothermal features, this is the only accessible option.
One of the most accessible trails in the park is located in the Devastated Area, about 10 miles south of the Loomis Museum. The hard-packed dirt trail leads past the area devastated by the 1915 eruption of Mount Lassen. Interpretive plaques with audio descriptions are located along the trail, and signs of the eruption and the subsequent rebirth of the forest are evident along this easy half-mile loop. Additionally there are a few accessible picnic tables located near the trailhead, so it also makes for a nice lunch stop.
Spend the night on the shore of Manzanita Lake in one of four accessible camping cabins. All of the accessible cabins have parking in a level area with ramp access up to the front porch. They include level thresholds, wide doorways and adequate pathway access. The one-room cabins are furnished with a 19-inch high double bed, while the two room cabins include a 19-inch high double bed and three single beds. They all include a dining table with chairs, and a propane heater. Each cabin has a locking door, screened windows and a bare wood floor. Add in an accessible picnic table and a fire ring and you have everything you need to rough it in style.
Located in the Central California Sierras, Kings Canyon National Park is just a short drive from Sequoia National Park. It’s composed of two distinct regions — Grant Grove and Cedar Grove. These two regions are connected by the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, which runs through a section of the Sequoia National Forest between them. Grant Grove is known for its giant sequoias, while Cedar Grove boasts some magnificent granite canyons. And both areas feature an abundance of wildlife and some spectacular windshield views.
Insider Tips
For a bird’s eye view of the park, head up to Panoramic Point. The two-mile road to the viewpoint is located on the far side of the visitor center parking lot. Just follow the signs to John Muir Lodge, and make a sharp right just before you reach the lodge. At the end of the one-lane winding road there’s accessible parking and a paved path out to the viewpoint, which also offers a glance at Hume Lake, Spanish Mountain and Mt. Goddard in the distance. It’s definitely worth the short walk.
Grant Grove Cabins offers a nicely accessible rustic cabin, which is furnished with two queen-sized beds and includes a covered patio with a picnic table and a small wood stove. An accessible bathhouse, with family restrooms and a roll-in shower, is located nearby. It’s a nice choice for folks who enjoy nature, but don’t really want to pitch a tent.
Grizzly Falls Picnic Area, which is located along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, makes an excellent lunch stop. A short paved loop leads from the parking area to several accessible picnic tables on cement pads. As an added bonus, there’s a great view of the falls from any of the picnic tables and even the parking area.
National park lodges are more than just places to rest your head. Not only are they part of the essential infrastructure of our national parks, but they’re also filled with history . In fact, more than a few national park lodges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And the good news is, the bulk of these historic properties have added access upgrades over the years, so wheelchair-users and slow walkers can also enjoy them. Thinking about staying in a national park lodge on your next road trip? Here are a few more benefits of staying “in park”.
Beat the Crowds
The best way to beat the crowds at national parks is to arrive early in the morning, and that’s much easier to do if you stay overnight in the park. The crowds drastically increase after 10 AM, when a lot of tour buses also appear. For example in Grand Canyon National Park, it’s almost impossible to enjoy Hermit Road during peak season in the afternoons. The shuttle buses are full and private vehicles are not permitted along the route. If however you get an early start, you’ll have a much more pleasant experience. Even better, it’s just a short walk to a shuttle bus stop from any of the park lodges, and five of the lodges have wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Nature Surrounds You
There’s just no comparison between staying at a chain hotel in a gateway city and bedding down in a national park lodge surrounded by nature. How can you beat opening your drapes to a view of Half Dome, or enjoying the red rock beauty of Zion Canyon from your front porch?
And Then There’s the Wildlife!
No place is off limits to the native wildlife in national parks. For example, at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, it’s not unusual to see the resident elk graze outside the accessible cabins. It’s an especially impressive sight during the rut, when the large bulls heard their harems. And you’ll never forget the bugling cry of the bulls.
First Dibs on Dinner Reservations
The more popular restaurants in some national parks require dinner reservations, and first dibs on those go to lodge guests. For example in Yellowstone, reservations at the Old Faithful Inn, Grant Village and the Lake Yellowstone Hotel are available 60 days in advance to lodge guests; while folks staying elsewhere can only make same day reservations.
Location, Location, Location
Let’s face it, some national parks are just too far from the city to make a daily commute, so staying at an in-park lodge is the only option. Take Isle Royale National Park for example. It’s located on an island in the middle of Lake Superior, and since it’s a four-hour ferry ride from the mainland, staying overnight just makes sense. Fortunately Rock Harbor Lodge has a comfortable wheelchair-accessible room.
Competitive Pricing
Last but certainly not least, most of the popular national parks have rooms in all price ranges, and some national park concessionaires even have programs in place that offer competitively priced rooms. For example, Curry Village in Yosemite National Park offers affordable family accommodations, while the luxurious Ahwahnee offers high end rooms with prices to match. And over in Yellowstone National Park, the Xanterra Travel Collection prices a good chunk of their in-park rooms at rates comparable to those found in the surrounding gateway communities. So yes, you can book a national park lodge at gateway community prices, but you do have to book early to take advantage of these great bargains.
If a trip to Yellowstone National Park is on your travel calendar, then consider staying in Gardiner at the Jim Bridger Explorer Cabins (www.yellowstonevacations.com). This new addition to the Ridgeline Hotel features nine explorer cabins grouped around two community fire pits. It combines the best of both worlds — the feeling of roughing it in the outdoors, but with all the luxuries of home and hearth. And the wheelchair-accessible cabin is packed full of accessible amenities — including a choice of bed heights. As an added bonus, it’s just a short drive from Gardiner to the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It’s the perfect pick for a wheelchair-accessible Yellowstone visit.
Spend the Night
There’s accessible parking near the Ridgeline Hotel office, with level access to the front desk. From there, it’s just a short drive around the corner to the accessible parking space near accessible cabin 2. The parking space is located close to the ramp that winds around to the front porch of the cabin. Alternatively, there are steps up to the front porch, with accessible parking located nearby.
Access features in the cabin include wide doorways, lever handles, good pathway access and low-pile carpet for easy rolling. The great room is furnished with a 13-inch high sleeper sofa and a coffee table in front of a gas fireplace. The kitchenette includes a roll-under sink, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a cooktop and a microwave. Also included are a nice selection of dishes, glasses, utensils and pots and pans. Add in a toaster, a coffee maker and even an ice maker and you have all your bases covered.
The master bedroom is furnished with a 31-inch high platform bed with wheelchair access on both sides; while the second bedroom has a bunk bed with a double on the bottom (23-inches high) and a twin on top. So between the sleeper sofa and the two bedrooms, guests definitely have a choice in bed heights.
There’s excellent access in the bathroom as well, which boasts a full five-foot turning radius. It’s equipped with a roll-in shower with a fold-down shower bench, grab bars and a hand-held showerhead. Other access features include a roll-under sink and a toilet with grab bars on the back and left walls (as seated).
The Extras
And then there are those little extra features at this fun wheelchair-accessible Yellowstone lodging pick. Lets start out with the private rooftop deck in cabin 2. Although the other cabins have a spiral staircase up to this feature, there’s a private elevator to access the deck in accessible cabin. It’s a great place to chill at night or to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning.
The explorer cabins come equipped with walking sticks, flashlights and binoculars. There’s also a nice little collection of games in the hall closets, including National Park Monopoly. And if you need to do some laundry, it’s free — along with the detergent — over at the Ridgeline Hotel. Last but certainly not least, there’s the free s’mores kit, so you can craft your own yummy creation around the community fire pit. All in all, it’s a great wheelchair-accessible Yellowstone lodging pick, with plenty of choices for wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
A sister brand of AutoCamp, Field Station properties exude a distinctive outdoor vibe. And Field Station Moab (www.fieldstation.com) is a shining example of this. So much so that when you walk in to the front lobby you feel like you’ve just entered a REI or some cool low-key coffee house. The first thing you see is a collection of outdoor gear and apparel, with a few folks lingering over coffee and snacks over to the left. The back wall is a large window, that folds open to create a seamless transition to the comfortable outdoor space. And way over in the corner you can spot the front desk – proof positive that you really are in a hotel. To say it’s a refreshing change is an understatement. And in keeping with this progressive concept, access is also front and center at this debut property of the Field Station brand.
The Public Spaces
The whole Field Station concept is also a refreshing departure from typical hotel development. Instead of going into a town and clearing a lot to erect a new addition to the concrete jungle, Field Station instead buys distressed properties, guts them, and adds their own unique brand accents to them. And the results are astonishing. In fact it’s hard to imagine that Field Station Moab was previously an abandoned and deteriorated Super 8 property.
And again the access is excellent. There’s plenty of accessible parking in the large lot, with level access to the power assist front door. And inside there’s ample room for even the largest wheelchair or scooter to maneuver through the public spaces. Accessible restrooms – which double as changing rooms for the retail space – are located just off the front lobby. And there’s plenty of room for wheelchair-users to enjoy a cup of coffee, a breakfast bagel, pizza or a burger in the Little Station Cafe. Beer and wine are also available, and if you’re in a hurry they have a number of grab-and-go selections.
Outside there’s level access to the picnic tables and outdoor furniture, which are bordered by a mister. And in the center you’ll find the signature AutoCamp fire circle. There’s also level access to the pool area, and the portable pool lift can be used in the pool or the adjacent hot tub. Next door there are family bathrooms that are each equipped with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. They also each have a toilet with grab bars and a roll-under sink, and ample room for a large wheelchair and an attendant. They can be used as changing rooms, or as bathroom facilities for folks that rent out the van life spots.
The Rooms
Field Station Moab has seven accessible rooms, all of which are located on the ground floor. Room 101 includes a level threshold, wide doorways, a lowered peephole, lever handles and good pathway access. It’s furnished with a 25-inch high king-sized bed with wheelchair access on both sides, a table and chairs, a bench, a chest of drawers and a refrigerator, And, like all the accessible rooms, it also has remote controlled window shades. The bathroom features a full five-foot turning radius and is equipped with a bathtub with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a tub bench. It also includes a roll-under sink and a toilet with grab bars on the back and right walls (a seated). It’s a comfortable room with a definite outdoor feel to it.
Rooms 103, 114 and 301 are also accessible king rooms with a tub/shower combination. Rooms 349 and 352 are accessible double queen rooms. Room 349 has a tub/shower combination, while room 352 has a roll-in shower.
Room 300 – which is huge – can comfortably accommodate up to eight people. It includes the same basic access features as room 101, except that it has a wider double entry door. It’s furnished with two 25-inch high queen sized beds with wheelchair access on both sides, and a double bunk bed (the bottom bunk is 21 inches high). It has the same basic furnishings as room 101. There’s also level access to a patio, which has a few chairs and a fire pit. The bathroom includes a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. Top it off with a roll-under sink and a toilet with grab bars on the back and left walls (as seated).
The Extras
And then there are the Field Station Moab extras. Like free laundry. There’s level access to the laundry room with plenty of room for wheelchair-users to access the front loading machines. Even the detergent is free. And if you want to heat up a quick snack there are also microwaves located in the community space.
But one of the best extras at Field Station Moab are the employees, as they are all local experts in one area or another. Ask them a question and you’ll get great advice from a local. They can also help set up tours or connect you with a local guide. And if you forgot something at home, they have a good selection of rental gear.
So check out Field Station Moab on your next Utah road trip. It makes a great home base for exploring nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers