Best National Parks for Accessible Travel
For senior travelers, accessibility is paramount. The good news is that the National Park Service has made significant strides in making parks more welcoming for visitors with mobility challenges. An “ADA-accessible” trail is typically paved or hard-packed, with a gentle grade suitable for wheelchairs or those who are unsteady on their feet. Here are a few of the best national parks for accessible travel.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a model of accessibility. The Rim Trail is a mostly flat, paved path that stretches for miles along the canyon edge, offering spectacular, unobstructed views. Much of the trail is wheelchair accessible. The park’s shuttle buses are equipped with lifts, and many of the most famous viewpoints, like Mather Point and Yavapai Point, have accessible paths. The visitor centers and lodges are also fully accessible.
Actionable Tip: For a peaceful and accessible sunset view, take the park shuttle to Hopi Point. The viewing area is large and paved, providing a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest shows.
Zion National Park, Utah
While known for its strenuous hikes, Zion’s main canyon is remarkably accessible. The Pa’rus Trail is a gem—a wide, paved path that follows the Virgin River for 1.7 miles (one way) with almost no elevation change. It’s perfect for a leisurely stroll or wheelchair roll. The mandatory park shuttle provides access to the entire scenic drive, with an audio tour pointing out highlights. The shuttle stop for the Riverside Walk, another mostly flat and paved trail, leads to the mouth of the famous Narrows.
Actionable Tip: Board the park shuttle early in the morning (before 9 a.m.) to avoid the longest lines and enjoy the coolest part of the day on the Riverside Walk.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Yellowstone’s main attractions are its geysers and hot springs, and many of these areas are accessible via boardwalks. The entire Old Faithful area, including the path to the iconic geyser, is a network of boardwalks and paved paths. Other accessible areas include the boardwalks at Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, and West Thumb Geyser Basin. The park’s scenic drives offer countless opportunities to view wildlife from your vehicle.
Actionable Tip: When planning your visit, check the NPS website for the “Eruption Times” of predictable geysers like Old Faithful, so you can time your arrival perfectly and secure a good viewing spot on the accessible benches.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia offers a different kind of beauty, with its rugged coastline and granite peaks. A significant portion of the park’s famous carriage roads, a 45-mile network of crushed-stone roads, is accessible for wheelchairs and offers a gentle way to explore the forest. The Jordan Pond House, famous for its popovers, is accessible, and there is a lovely, flat path around part of the pond. The Park Loop Road provides stunning coastal views from the comfort of your car.
Actionable Tip: Drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise (vehicle reservations required in season). The summit has paved paths, allowing everyone to experience the first light to touch the United States.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
While the park’s name evokes high peaks, there are many beautiful and accessible areas in the valleys. The Bear Lake area has a flat, hard-packed trail that circles the stunning subalpine lake, with incredible views of Hallett Peak. The Sprague Lake loop is another fully accessible, 0.5-mile trail with benches along the way. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in North America, is a breathtaking scenic drive that allows you to experience the alpine tundra without a strenuous hike.
Actionable Tip: To acclimate to the high altitude, spend your first day in the lower-elevation Estes Park area before driving up Trail Ridge Road. Drink plenty of water to help prevent altitude sickness.
