If your travels take you to the Volunteer State, then check out the loaner all terrain wheelchairs in Tennessee state parks. The list is growing, but currently over 30 state parks offer these loaner wheelchairs. They are available to both adults and children, and they can be operated independently or with caregiver assistance. And each park has a list of specific trails you can try out in their loaner all terrain wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are available at these Tennessee state parks.
West Tennessee
Chickasaw State Park
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Natchez Trace State Park
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
Paris Landing State Park
Pickwick Landing State Park
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park
Reelfoot Lake State Park
T.O. Fuller State Park
Middle Tennessee
Bledsoe Creek State Park
Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Cumberland Mountain State Park
Cummins Falls State Park
David Crockett State Park
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Henry Horton State Park
Long Hunter State Park
Radnor Lake State Park
Alvin C. York State Historic Park
Tims Ford State Park
East Tennessee
Booker T. Washington State Park
Cove Lake State Park
Cumberland Trail State Park
Harrison Bay State Park
Indian Mountain State Park
Panther Creek State Park
Red Clay State Historic Park
Roan Mountain State Park
Rocky Fork State Park
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Warriors’ Path State Park
Reservations for the all terrain track chairs are available at stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/all_terrain_wheelchair_request. Alternatively, you can call the parks directly with your reservation request. This method is preferred when the anticipated visit is less than three days away. And although reservations are preferred, the all terrain wheelchairs are available on a walk-up basis, if they are not already reserved.
Located at 7,100 feet along Southern Oregon’s Cascade Crest, Crater Lake was created over 7,700 years ago after a massive eruption of Mount Mazama. The resulting caldera filled with melted snow and rainwater, and subsequently the 1943-foot-deep lake took on a deep blue — if not somewhat ethereal — hue. Add in the surrounding cliffs that are nearly 2,000-feet high, two picturesque islands, and an old growth forest, and you have all the ingredients for a scenic national park experience. And although the lake itself isn’t wheelchair-accessible, there are many other areas in Crater Lake National Park (www.nps.gov/crla) that wheelchair-users and slow walkers can enjoy.
The Rim Drive
View from the Phantom Ship Overlook
A good way to enjoy Crater Lake National Park is to take the 31-mile Rim Drive that circles the caldera. For the best windshield views take the drive in a counterclockwise direction starting on West Rim Drive. There are a number of overlooks and pullouts along the drive, but the windshield views are also spectacular.
Be sure and stop at Watchman Overlook, which offers an excellent view of Wizard Island. There’s accessible parking near the accessible vault toilet, with curb-cut access to a sidewalk over to the lower overlook. The upper overlook is only accessible by stairs or a steep path, but don’t fret if you can’t make it to the top, as you’ll catch some of the best views from the road. Cloudcap Overlook and Phantom Ship Overlook also offer some great windshield views of the lake. And don’t miss Vidae Falls on the last section of East Rim Drive, as this 100-foot waterfall can be easily seen from the pullout.
If you’d like to leave the driving to someone else, Crater Lake Trolley (craterlaketrolley.net) offers an accessible tour which travels along Rim Drive and stops at five to seven viewpoints. This two-hour tour departs from Rim Village, and the lift-equipped trolley has space for one wheelchair. At least 24-hours advance notice is required for wheelchair accessibility (541-882-1896). It should be noted that wheelchairs must be no wider than 28-inches and have a combined weight limit of no more than 400 pounds.
Explore the Forest
The Godfrey Glen Trail
Although the lake is the crown jewel of the park, the surrounding forest also offers some impressive vistas. To that end, one of the most accessible trails in the park– the Godfrey Glen Trail — is located near the south park entrance, on Munson Valley Road between Mazama Village and Park Headquarters.
This hard-packed dirt trail passes through an old growth hemlock and fir forest; and although there are some ruts and roots along the way, most are easy to dodge. The biggest obstacle along this 1.1-mile loop is the steep grade at the halfway point. Best bet it to travel in a clockwise direction, and double back when it gets too steep. Even if you can’t complete the whole trail, you’ll still get some nice canyon views along the way.
Pinnacles Road Trails
View from the First Overlook on the Pinnacles Trail
Although the Rim Drive is a must-do on any Crater Lake National Park visit, save some time to hop off-the-beaten-path and explore two accessible trails off of Pinnacles Road. Located on the south side of the lake, this seven-mile road begins near Phantom Ship Overlook, and runs out to Pinnacles Overlook, near the southeastern border of the park. The road and the overlook are named for the spire-like pumice formations that dot this river valley. Accessible parking is located next to the Pinnacles Trail, which offers a closer look at these unusual formations, that were created when hot volcanic gases shot up through the ash.
The Pinnacles Trail passes by several overlooks that offer good views of the formations. The hard-packed dirt trail is covered in crushed rock, and although it’s not entirely level, the undulations are doable for most wheelchair-users. Even if you can’t manage the whole half-mile hike to the park boundary, at least take the level 250-foot walk out to the first overlook. You won’t be disappointed.
The Plaikni Falls Trail, which is located near the beginning of Pinnacles Road is also worth a stop. Accessible parking is located near this trail that winds through an old growth forest to the base of the falls. That said, the last quarter-mile is extremely steep, and probably not doable for most wheelchair-users and slow walkers. On the other hand, the stroll through the forest is fairly level, and there are numerous wheelchair turn-outs and benches located along the way.
And although Pinnacles Road makes a nice outing, be forewarned that there are no accessible toilets at either trailhead. Best bet is to plan ahead and make a rest stop at White Bark Pine Picnic Area or the Crater Peak Trail Picnic Area before hitting the trails.
Rim Village
Sunrise on the Back Terrace at Crater Lake Lodge
Last, but certainly not least, save some time to enjoy the rim view on foot on the accessible section of the Rim Village Promenade. This level trail runs alongside the rim from the Rim Village Café and Gift Shop to the back terrace of Crater Lake Lodge. Accessible parking is located near the gift shop, with paved access to the trail behind the gift shop. When you get to the rim, make a right and continue along .3-miles until you hit the lodge.
Interpretive plaques are located along the way, and it’s the perfect spot for a selfie or two, as the views are grand. The trail is mostly paved, and undulating, with a slight change in elevation just past Kiser Studio. Still, most manual wheelchair-users can manage the grade with a little assistance. Alternatively, there’s ramp access down to the trail from the back terrace at Crater Lake Lodge. Either way, the views at both ends of the trail are equally impressive. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like hiking, then just sit and enjoy the lake view from the terrace. And, if you’d like to spend the night at the lodge, they do have a wheelchair-accessible room. (emerginghorizons.com/spend-the-night-at-wheelchair-accessible-crater-lake-lodge/). So pack your bags, and head to Crater Lake – it’s a great accessible destination.
The powers that be just announced that Yosemite entrance reservations will not be required for the popular national park 2026. What does this mean? Well although visitors won’t have to buy a special entrance reservation permit for a specific time to gain entrance to the park, there will still be a few restrictions.
2026 Yosemite Entrance Plan
Although you will be able to pass through the entrance gate to Yosemite National Park without any additional documentation in 2026, the park will “will continue to utilize strong traffic management strategies to support visitor safety, access, and resource protection.” More specifically, “If Yosemite Valley reaches capacity, vehicles will be redirected to other areas of the park, including Wawona, the Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows, and Glacier Point Road.”
So what does that mean? Even though you will be able to get in the gate, you may not be able to access Yosemite Valley (where the bulk of the favorite attractions are) if there’s too much traffic. And with Yosemite Valley being a favorite destination, this could be a daily occurrence.
So, the best advice to visitors is to get an alpine (early) start if you are planning to visit Yosemite Valley. To be honest, that’s the best plan of action anyway, as the afternoon crowds tend to detract from the Yosemite experience. And if you want a real time update on parking , text YOSEMITE to 333111. Additionally, for information about wheelchair-accessible things to do in Yosemite, visit Accessible Yosemite.
And although it hasn’t been officially announced, it’s assumed that folks with campground and lodging reservations will be allowed access to their accommodations.
So, get there early, park your car and take the wheelchair-accessible Yosemite shuttle to enjoy Yosemite Valley.
Historical Peninsula and Modern Skyline of Istanbul
Based in Istanbul, Accessible Turkey (accessibleturkey.org) offers a wide range of tourism services for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. They have a large selection of four-to-seven day guided tours to Antalya and Istanbul, which include lodging at wheelchair-accessible hotels, transportation in adapted vans and attraction admissions. Accessible day tours are also available in Antalya, Istanbul and Alana. Additionally, Accessible Turkey can custom tailor tours to fit specific interests and abilities, and arrange for independent stays in accessible hotels in Istanbul and Antalya. And if you’d like to do something more active, the agency can arrange for accessible dolphin swims, paragliding, rafting and SCUBA experiences. Accessible Turkey can also arrange for attendant care, accessible airport transfers, and medical equipment rental. For more information, visit their website or e-mail info@accessibleturkey.org.
Barrier-Free Travel National Park Lodges for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
If you’re planning to visit some Washington State Parks in 2026, and you want to save a few bucks, then plan your visit for one of the fee-free days. Normally a Discover Pass is required in order to enter Washington State Parks, but on these 2026 dates you don’t need a pass and you don’t need to pay an entry fee.
Thursday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day and First Day Hikes
Monday, Jan. 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, March 9 – Billy Frank Jr.’s Birthday
Thursday, March 19 – State Parks 113th Birthday
Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day
Saturday – Sunday, June 6-7 – Free Fishing Weekend
Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Smokey Bear’s Birthday
Saturday, Sept. 26 – National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day
Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Washington has a lot to offer state-park wise, and here are some of our favorites. And we’ve really been impressed with their wheelchair access too.
If you’d like to visit a Washington State Park at other times during the year, and you happened to have a disability, then you can get a free Washington State Disability Pass. This pass can be used in place of a Discover Pass. Pass holders get the following benefits at Washington state lands.
Free parking and entrance to all state parks (no Discover Pass needed)
The form is pretty simple to fill out, but you do need to submit a few things with it.
Proof of Residency
This can be your drivers license or a Washington state ID card, but it must list your Washington address. You must be a Washington resident for at least three consecutive months in order to apply.
Proof of Disability
A copy of an accessible parking placard (not expired) is acceptable for proof of disability. If you don’t have that, then an eligibility letter for state or federal disability benefits will suffice.
There’s no charge to apply for the pass, and it’s good for either one or five years. So get yours today, and start exploring the accessible Washington national parks.
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.
Cataract Creek Gang at the Grand Canyon Railway
Access Aboard the Railway
Boarding the Grand Canyon Rail
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
Hopi House on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
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.
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
My husband uses a manual wheelchair and we are planning a European vacation. I’d like to rent a van and do a self-drive trip instead of relying on a car with a driver or a tour. Do you know of any agencies that rent wheelchair-accessible rental vans in Europe?
Doing a self-drive European vacation is a great idea, because it allows you a lot of flexibility. You can visit sites whenever you want, and take a break if you feel a little low on energy. It also puts you in total control of doing exactly what you want to do every day on your vacation.
Here are a few resources for finding wheelchair-accessible rental vans in Europe.
Handynamic
handynamic.com Handynamic has agencies located in France and Portugal, which offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles. They have vans with multiple wheelchair spaces, minivans with one wheelchair space, and cars with hand controls.
Wheeliz
wheeliz.com/en Headquartered in France, Wheeliz partners with private individuals to offers the largest fleet of wheelchair-accessible rental vehicles in the country. Offerings include both ramped vans and cars with hand controls. As an added bonus, the car owner’s insurance covers the rental, so no additional policy is necessary.
Mobility Ireland
motabilityireland.com/hire-vehicle Available at the Dublin Airport, Mobility Ireland offers several adapted vehicle rental options. They have an automatic transmission van with hand controls and steering aids, as well as a ramped accessible van available. Hand controls are also available on the ramped van.
Europcar
europcar.com/en-us/p/offers/mobility-for-disabled-people Last but not least in our lineup in wheelchair-accessible rental vans in Europe is Europcar. Located in Switzerland, they have a VW Caddy Maxi that can accommodate four passengers as well as one wheelchair-user. It includes a rear-entry ramp and tie-downs in the vehicle. And thanks to co-financing from the Cerebral Foundation, these adapted rental vehicles are available at a reduced cost.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips Driving Vacations for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Wheelchair-Accessible Hilton Head beaches are now a reality, thanks to a number of local programs and improvements.
For starters, many of the public beach parks and access points have beach mats down to the high water line. These mats allow wheelchair-users and slow walkers to access the beach without sinking into the sand. The beach mats can be found at these locations.
Alder Lane Beach Access
Burkes Beach Access
Coligny Beach Park
Driessen Beach Park
Fish Haul Beach Park
Folly Field Beach Park
Islanders Beach Park
Additionally, there are also loaner beach wheelchairs available at several beach locations. It’s easy to reserve a beach wheelchair on the town website. Just go to secure.rec1.com/SC/hilton-head-island-sc/catalog and create an account. Then look at the calendar and pick an available date.
Beach wheelchairs are available for loan in eight-hour blocks from 8 AM to 4PM, seven days a week. They must be reserved at least three days in advance. After you’ve made your selection, you’ll be prompted to sign a waiver, and then enter a payment method for the $25 refundable deposit. The deposit will be refunded within three business days after the beach wheelchair is returned. Once the transaction is complete, you’ll be given instructions on when and where to pick up your loaner beach wheelchair.
So make plans to explore the wheelchair-accessible Hilton Head beaches.
Barrier-Free Travel 101 Accessible Vacations Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Developed by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, this handy website (explorecayman.com/getting-around/accessibility) includes helpful Cayman Islands wheelchair access information for visitors. It offers details about airport and airline accessibility and provides information about the local tour and taxi companies that have accessible vehicles. Other useful information includes some suggested accessible attractions, a local wheelchair rental service, and information about the location of mobi-mats on the area beaches. There are also details about a local adaptive diving resource. Check out this handy resource before you book your flight!
Barrier-Free Travel Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
I reserved an accessible room through an online third-party booking site. All seemed OK when I reserved the room, but when I got to the hotel, there was no accessible room for me. The hotel blamed it on the booking site and the booking site blamed it on the hotel. What did I do wrong and what can I do to avoid this in the future?
Who is to Blame?
First and foremost, you didn’t do anything wrong. Unfortunately it’s a bit of a convoluted system. Basically it’s up to each property to provide third-party booking sites with the availability and description of their of accessible rooms. Unfortunately this can and does change a lot, as folks also make reservations directly at the hotels. So, the hotel is supposed to keep the booking sites updated with this information. Does this always happen? In a word, no.
When it doesn’t happen, people end up making reservations for accessible rooms that are already reserved and should have been taken out of inventory. So, when a guest who has booked one of these non-existent accessible rooms arrives, that room is not available.
And unfortunately, since you technically didn’t make a reservation through the hotel, they cannot refund your money to you. You have to go back to third-party booking site to recover it. To say it’s a flawed system is somewhat of an understatement.
What’s a Traveler to Do?
It’s a difficult situation when each entity claims that it’s the other ones fault. And quite frankly, customers just don’t have the time to figure it all out. I feel strongly that you should file an ADA complaint in this situation, but who do you complain about? If you can’t figure it out, then let the Department of Justice (DOJ) sort it out.
File an ADA complaint against the third-party booking site and the hotel, and let the chips fall where they may. The DOJ needs to hear about cases like this, not only to possibly enforce the regulations, but to see and understand why they are not working. Filing an ADA complaint is easy – here are the details (emerginghorizons.com/why-you-should-file-an-ada-complaint/)
I’d also refrain from making reservations for an accessible room through a third-party booking site in the future. I understand that the discounted priced is a big draw; however is it really worth the discount if the accessible room won’t be available when you arrive? And today many properties advertise that they will meet the discounted rates of third-party booking sites, so I’d at least give them a call and ask if that’s a possibility.
In the end, it really is better to to book directly. Sometimes having a middleman just introduces errors, and when accessibility is at stake, you really don’t want errors.
I’m sorry you had this experience, and I hope that your next trip goes better.
Barrier-Free Travel Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If your travels take you to the Volunteer State, then check out the loaner all terrain wheelchairs in Tennessee state parks. The list is growing, but currently over 30 state parks offer these loaner wheelchairs. They are available to both adults and children, and they can be operated independently or with caregiver assistance. And each park has a list of specific trails you can try out in their loaner all terrain wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are available at these Tennessee state parks.
