America’s first national park spans nearly 3,500 square-miles, the bulk of which occupies the northwestern corner of Wyoming. Known for its geothermal wonders the park is a filled with gurgling geysers, bubbling mudpots and hidden hot springs. But Yellowstone is much more than geysers, as it also features dramatic canyons, lush forests, and fertile valleys that are home to bears, wolves, elk, antelope and an extremely healthy bison population. And with a handful of western highways leading to the park, there’s plenty of opportunity to explore this diverse ecosystem.
Insider Tips
Although there’s accessible parking near the Brink of the Upper Falls Viewpoint in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the viewpoint itself is not accessible due to stairs and a steep grade. That said, you can get a better – and quieter — view if you continue along the North Rim Trail, past the left turnoff to the brink. And if you’d like a short hike through the woods that crosses Canyon Bridge and offers excellent views of the Yellowstone River and the Chittenden Bridge, then just continue along this accessible trail for another half-mile.
For a break from the congested traffic along the road to Old Faithful, take a short detour along Firehole Lake Drive. This one-way loop begins about a mile south of Fountain Paint Pot, and features accessible stops at Firehole Spring, Giant Fountain Geyser and Firehole Lake. As an added bonus, this route is pleasantly devoid of the bus loads of tourists that frequent the other area attractions, as larger vehicles are prohibited on this road.
If you’d like to overnight in the park in an accessible room with a great view, then choose room 202 at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel. This corner room, which features a bird’s eye view of Yellowstone Lake, is furnished with a 25-inch high king-sized bed and is equipped with an accessible tub/shower combination.
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.
Entry to Cabin 2
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.
Kitchen in Cabin 2
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.
Master Bedroom in Cabin 2
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).
Shower in Cabin 2
Sink and toilet in Cabin 2
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.
Rooftop deck on Cabin 2
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
Little Station Café at Field Station Moab
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.
Outside grounds at Field Station Moab
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.
Room 101 at Field Station MoabBathroom in room 101 at Field Station Moab
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).
Room 300 at Field Station MoabBathroom in room 300 at Field Station Moab
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.
