El Capitan, the southern-most point of the Guadalupe Mountains
Named for the mountain range that dominates the landscape, Guadalupe Mountains National Park (www.nps.gov/gumo/) contains the four highest peaks in Texas, and boasts an impressive share of backcountry acreage. If all that sounds a little foreboding for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, then think again.
The park also contains a historic stage stop as well as the ruins of an 1800s ranch — both of which are wheelchair-accessible. They can be easily reached from Highway 62/180, which runs from El Paso to Carlsbad and passes through the southwest section of the park. Not only is Guadalupe Mountains National Park a destination by itself, but it also makes a nice add-on to a Carlsbad Caverns visit. Either way, it’s a good choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers who want to explore a bit of southwest history.
Pinery Stage Station
The Pinery Trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Pinery Visitor Center makes a good first stop in the park. Located just off the highway, there’s accessible parking in front, with barrier-free access to the building. Inside there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair around the exhibits and ranger information desk, and level access to the accessible restrooms.
But the real attraction — The Pinery Trail — starts just outside the visitor center and leads over to the site of the former Pinery Stage Station. The paved accessible trail is dotted with benches, while interpretive plaques that detail the desert plants line the walkway.
The trail ends at an interpretive plaque that explains the importance of this one-time stage stop. Built in 1858, the stop was named for a nearby stand of pines, and since it had an abundant water source it was one of the most favored stations along the 2,800-mile mail route from St, Louis to San Francisco. It’s about a .7-mile round trip hike from the visitor center, however if you can’t manage the distance, there’s also a pullout along the highway near the stage stop. Although the Butterfield Overland Mail Coach only operated for a little over two years, it should be noted that it never missed a run — even in adverse weather.
Ruins of the Pinery Stage Station
Frijole Ranch History Museum
Frijole Ranch History Museum
Another must-see in Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the Frijole Ranch site, which is located just up the highway. Accessible parking is located near the accessible vault toilet. And since there are accessible picnic tables in a nearby covered pavilion, this stop is also a good spot for a lunch break.
The accessible Manzanita Spring Trail begins near the parking area, and leads over to the Frijole Ranch History Museum — an open-air exhibit which focuses on the history of this parcel, which was first settled by the Radar brothers in 1876. It was later acquired by the John Thomas Smith family in 1906. They grew apples, peaches, apricots and other fruits, and transported their harvest by wagon to Van Horn — a two-day ride away. The Smith farmhouse still stands, and it’s furnished as it would have been in the early 1900s. The Smith family operated the orchard until 1942, and it later served as a ranger residence, before it was added to the National Register of Historic Sites.
The paved undulating trail continues on past the old farmhouse and ends at Manzanita Spring. It should be noted that there’s a short 15-foot section of the trail that has rocks and dirt along it, from a washout. The good news is, that section is at the beginning of the trail, and if you can make it past that, you won’t have any problems completing the trail. On the other hand, if it’s been repaired, this trail is entirely passable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. All it all, it’s a one-mile round trip hike that offers an interesting look at the farming history of the area.
Manzanita Spring Trail
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Because of increased visitation to many popular US National Parks, advance entrance reservations are now required during peak visitation periods. These reservations must be purchased in advance at www.recreation.gov, or by using the mobile app (https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app) or calling (877) 444-6777. They will not be available for purchase at the parks; and visitors who arrive without national park entrance reservations will be turned away. It’s a good idea to print or save a digital copy of your reservation on your phone, as cell service is not available at many national park entrance stations. A photo ID is also required, and it must match the name on the reservation.
Entrance reservations are not required if you have lodging, camping or tour reservations; however you must show confirmation of those reservations at the park entrance. Entrance reservations are required even if you have a national park pass. And if you don’t have a national park pass, you will still need to pay the entrance fee even if you have an entrance reservation. Questions about the entrance reservations can be directed to the specific national park you intend to visit.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2025 national park entrance reservations.
Mount Rainier National Park
The timed entry reservation system for Mount Rainier National Park was a pilot program in 2024. The results of this program are being evaluated to determine if it helped the park achieve it management objectives. At this time no entry reservations are required for 2025.
Timed entry reservations are required for visits to the Paradise Corridor and the Sunrise Corridor of Mount Rainier National Park, between May 24, 2024 and September 2, 2024, from 7 AM to 3 PM.
The Paradise Corridor runs from the Nisqually Entrance near Ashford in the southwest area of the park, to the Stevens Canyon Entrance on State Route 123 near Ohanapecosh in the southeast corner of the park. Mount Rainier timed entry reservations are required for this area of the park between May 24, 2024 and September 2, 2024. They will be available beginning on February 21, 2024 at the following times.
Booking Window Opens
Arrival Dates
February 21, 2024
May 24 to June 30, 2024
April 1, 2024
July 1 to July 31, 2024
May 1, 2024
August 1 to September 2, 2024
The Sunrise Corridor is located in the northeast corner of the park. It can be accessed by the White River Entrance, which is located on State Route 410. It connects Enumclaw in the north to Yakima in the east. Mount Rainier timed entry reservations are required for this area of the park from July 3, 2024 to September 2, 2024. Timed entry reservations for this area of the park are available beginning on April 1, 2024 at the following times listed below.
Booking Window Opens
Arrival Dates
April 1, 2024
July 3 to July 31, 2024
May 1, 2024
August 1 to September 2, 2024
Reservations cost $2, and blocks will be released 90 days in advance. A limited number of timed entry reservations will also be available at 7:00 Pacific Time the day prior to the visit.
Yosemite National Park
The 2025 Yosemite entrance reservation requirements are delayed due to administrative changes. The 2025 (and beyond) requirements are expected to be released shortly.
National park entrance reservations are required for Yosemite National Park, for visits from April 13, 2024 to October 27, 2024. The 2024 Peak Hours Plus entrance reservation program differs a bit from those in past years, but the goal is the same — to preserve the park and increase enjoyment for visitors.
Entrance reservations will be required on weekends and holidays from April 13 through June 30, and from August 17 through October 27. The holidays that fall within the reservation period include Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day and Columbus Day. Entrance reservations will also be required daily from July 1 through August 16. These reservations are required for visitors who enter the park between 5 AM and 4 PM (3 PM after September 21) . Reservations cost $2 each.
There are two types of entrance reservations. One is good all day, while the other is only good after noon. Both entrance reservations are valid for three days, and they do not need to be used on the first day.
The majority of Yosemite entrance reservations will be available on January 5, 2024 at 8 AM PST. The rest of the reservations will be available seven days before the arrival date at 8 AM. For example, a reservation for an arrival date of October 27 would become available at 8AM on October 20.
Reservations are required for most people who just want to pass through the park; however people with a local zip code can pass through without an entrance reservation. The only acceptable proof of residence for this purpose is a drivers license. No stopping is allowed on the pass through entry.
Yosemite entrance reservations are also required during peak viewing times for Horsetail Falls in February. Those entrance reservations are usually released in early December. (
After reviewing the 2024 Arches Timed Entry Reservation Program, some modifications have been made. A Timed Entry Reservation will be required for visitors who enter the park from April 1 to July 6, 2025 and from August 28 to October 31, 2025. Reservations are required between 7 AM and 4 PM during these periods. Reservations will be released in blocks beginning at 8 AM MST on January 2, 2025. They cost $2 each. The reservation blocks are listed below.
April 1-June 30 reservations open January 2 at 8 AM MST
July 1-6 reservations open on February 1 at 8 AM MST
August 28-31 reservations open on March 1 at 8 AM MST
September 1-30 reservations open on April 1 at 8 AM MST
October 1-31 reservations open on May 1 at 8 AM MST
Beginning on March 31, 2025, a limited number of next-day tickets will be available after 7 PM MDT on the day prior to the visit.
Reservations can be made in hourly increments and are only valid for entrance during that hour. Visitors who want to visit the park on two different days will need two different timed entry reservations. Once visitors enter the park, they can stay for the entire day. Ticket holders may also exit and re-enter the park on the same day with a correctly validated ticket.
Glacier National Park
As in previous years, advance vehicle reservations are required for the most congested areas in Glacier National Park. The 2025 system requires vehicle entrance reservations for visitors traveling over the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road between June 18 and September 28, 2025. These reservations will be required for visits between 6 AM and 3 PM.
Vehicle entrance reservations cost $2. A portion of the vehicle entrance reservations for the West Entrance and the Camas entrance will be available 120 days in advance beginning February 12, 2025 at 8 AM Mountain Standard Time. Beginning on June 12, 2025 the remaining vehicle entrance reservations will be released at 7 PM, the day prior to the visit.
As in 2024, vehicle reservations will not be required to enter Two Medicine Valley or the St. Mary entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025. Entry may however be restricted (metered) during peak times if the roads become too congested. This usually occurs between 10 AM and 2 PM. Visitors with lodging or tour reservations will be admitted during these restricted times.
The Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier Valley will be closed to the public in 2025, due to construction projects.
It’s important to note that although visitors with lodging or tour reservations do not need vehicle entrance reservations to enter the park, the lodging or tour reservation must be made for the specific area of the park you plan to visit. For example if you have a reservation in the Apgar Campground, you will be allowed to access that campground; however you will not be allowed to access Going-to-the-Sun Road without a vehicle entrance reservation.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park are required to have a timed entry permit to enter the park beginning May 23, 2025. There are two Rocky Mountain Entry Permits.
The Timed Entry Permit will allow access to all areas of the park, except the Bear Lake Corridor. It will be valid from 9 AM to 2 PM. It is required until October 13, 20254. All permits will be timed, and will require the permit holder to enter the park within a 2 hour window.
The Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road Permit will allow entry to the Bear Lake Corridor, as well as the rest of the park. It will be valid from 5 AM to 6 PM. It is required until October 19, 2025.
Reservations for the majority of the permits will be released on 8 AM Mountain Time on the following dates.
May 1, 2025 for permits from May 26 to June 30
June 1, 2025 for permits for the month of July
July 1, 2025 for permits for the month of August
August 1, 2025 for permits for the month of September
September 1, 2025 for permits for the month of October
The remaining entry permits will be available for purchase at 7 p.m. the day before the planned visit. Entry reservations cost $2, and if you plan to visit the park more than one day you will need an entry permit for each day.
Carlsbad Caverns
Last but not least on the list of national park entrance reservations is Carlsbad Caverns. Although technically you don’t need a reservation to get in to the park, you do need one if you actually want to see the famous caverns.
Every person — even children — needs a timed ticket to enter the caves. Tickets are good for entrance within the hour specified on the ticket. Late comers will not be admitted, so give yourself plenty of time to travel to the caverns and park.
These tickets are priced at $1 each, and like the park entrance reservations they are only available at www.recreation.gov. And again, make sure you print out your tickets or save a screen shot of them, as cell service is spotty in the park.
Plan ahead to avoid disappointment, and get your national park entrance reservations as soon as you make your travel plans.
Barrier-Free Travel Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
