Five Wheelchair-Accessible Wildflower Hikes to Enjoy this Summer
After a long hard winter it’s nice to be able to get out and enjoy Mother Nature’s beauty. And thanks to an ample snowpack and a wet spring, the west is bursting forth with wildflowers this year. Although you can certainly spot colorful blooms at the lower elevations right now, this wildflower show will continue at the higher elevations throughout the summer. With that in mind, here are five wheelchair-accessible wildflower hikes you can enjoy over the next few months. As an added bonus, most of the hikes are located on federal lands, so make sure and take along your America the Beautiful Access Pass for free admission (emerginghorizons.com/national-park-freebies-10-tips-to-trim-your-travel-budget/).
Yosemite National Park
Cook’s Meadow
www.nps.gov/yose
This is a classic Yosemite wildflower hike, and very easy to access. From the visitor center in Yosemite Valley walk towards Yosemite Falls, until you see the meadow on your left — you can’t miss it. Then make a left, cross two streets and follow the boardwalk across Cook’s Meadow. It should be noted that in wet years the boardwalk is subject to flooding, but that’s easy to spot from the street. The wildflower show starts here in mid-May with plenty of shooting stars, milkweed, western azalea and dogwood. For an added treat, walk out on Sentinel Bridge along the way for a beautiful view of Half Dome, before you loop back across the meadow. It’s one of the top wheelchair-accessible wildflower hikes and if you’re up for it, check out the accessible trail to lower Yosemite Fall when you return ( emerginghorizons.com/dont-miss-yosemite-falls-this-summer).
Mount Rainier National Park
Paradise
www.nps.gov/mora
Located 12 miles east of Longmire in Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise is aptly named, and in the summer months the meadows simply explode with wildflower blooms. There are actually two ways to explore the area. Start off at the Jackson Visitor Center, which features accessible parking and barrier-free access. Not only are there interpretive exhibits, an information desk, food service and accessible restrooms inside, but the visitor center is the perfect vantage point for a 360-degree view of Mount Rainier, the surrounding peaks, and the showy wildflower meadows.
Some power wheelchair-users may also be able to access the Skyline Trail, which is located next to the visitor center. It’s rated as “accessible with assistance” as there’s a steep section in the beginning. It’s only a 100-foot elevation gain, but it’s all in the same place. If you can make it past the first part, the paved trail is pretty level after that. Wildflower blooms peak in late July and early August, when the meadow is covered in avalanche lilies, asters, daisies and purple shooting stars.
Spend the Night in Greenwater Accessible Cabin (emerginghorizons.com/renovated-mount-rainier-property-features-wheelchair-accessible-cabin/).
Glacier National Park
Logan Pass
www.nps.gov/glac
Next up on the list of wheelchair-accessible wildflower hikes — Glacier National Park, more specifically, Logan Pass, the apex of Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is definitely a seasonal hike, as Going-to-the-Sun Road usually opens in late June, after plowing is complete. There’s accessible parking in the Logan Pass lot, and the quarter mile trail begins just to the right of the stairs at the visitor center. This hard-packed dirt path winds around through the wildflower-filled hillside to the back door of the visitor center. Although it’s utilitarian in nature, it’s quite scenic come late July. If you’d prefer to go somewhere less crowded, head up the road to Lunch Creek, where a short dirt path leads about 50 yards over to an accessible overlook. Not only is the area carpeted with wildflowers in the summer, but the striking backdrop of Pollock Mountain is visible year-round.
Take a Glacier Hike and Spend the Night Nearby (emerginghorizons.com/glaciers-waterfalls-and-wildlife-dot-montana-national-park/).
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Sunset Trail
www.nps.gov/cebr
Located 45 minutes west of Cedar City and an hour east of Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks National Monument offers a nice wheelchair-accessible wildflower hike along the Sunset Trail. The trail begins at Point Supreme Overlook, next to the information center, and winds along the canyon, before it crosses the highway and continues on to the picnic area and campground. From there, the trail has a gradual uphill grade with spots to rest along the way before it culminates at Sunset View Overlook. It’s just a mile in length and the trail is lined with columbine, bluebells, paintbrush, primrose and sunflowers, which usually peak around mid-June. If you can’t do the whole trail, park in the picnic area and do the second leg for maximum wildflower exposure.
Spend the Night in an Accessible Zion Cabin (emerginghorizons.com/zion-lodge-boasts-wheelchair-accessible-cabin-with-a-view/).
Mono Lake State Natural Reserve
Reserve Boardwalk
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514
Last but not least on our list of wheelchair-accessible wildflower hikes — Mono Lake in California’s Eastern Sierras. Although Mono Lake offers several scenic trails and overlooks, the best place to catch the wildflowers is on the State Reserve Boardwalk in Mono Lake County Park. Located off of Highway 395, north of Lee Vining, just look for the signs that read “County Park”. From the parking lot a fairly level dirt trail leads over to the accessible quarter-mile boardwalk that winds through the marsh and culminates on a Mono Lake viewing platform. The tufa formations that rise from the lake are definitely photo worthy, but this area also absolutely pops with color from the native wildflowers around mid-July. There are benches to sit back and enjoy it all, and even a few picnic tables in a level grassy area near the boardwalk to enjoy a noontime repast.
Visit Bodie While You’re in the Area (emerginghorizons.com/step-back-in-time-at-bodie-state-historic-park/).
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