Five Wheelchair-Accessible National Parks to Visit this Fall
National Parks are incredibly popular during the summer months; but when kids go back to school and parents have to manage scholastic schedules, the crowds tend to ease up. Add in some nice scenery and mild temperatures and you can see why fall is a great time to visit a national park. And although all of our public lands are worth a visit, here are five wheelchair-accessible national parks to include in your fall travel plans.
Yosemite National Park
Explore Yosemite’s Wheelchair Accessible Mariposa Grove
If you want to beat the crowds in Yosemite National Park in the fall, then head over to Mariposa Grove. Although shuttle transportation to the grove is required for most visitors, if you have an accessible parking placard you can drive up to the remote parking areas to explore the grove. If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry, as all of the shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible.
Grand Canyon National Park
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Although snow hampers wheelchair access in Grand Canyon National Park in the winter, the fall offers the perfect weather for taking in the impressive canyon views. The nicely accessible Rim Trail is just steps from Verkamp’s Visitor Center. And next to the Yavapai Geology Museum you’ll find the equally accessible 1.3-mile Trail of Time. A drive out to Yaki Point for sunrise also tops the must-do list. Although private vehicles are prohibited on Yaki Point Road, people with mobility issues can pick up a free Scenic Drive Accessibility Drive Permit at any park entrance, visitor center or lodge. It’s a great way to start the day.
Shenandoah National Park
The Limberlost Trail in Shenandoah National Park
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Shenandoah National Park offers a bevy of fall colors along 105-mile long Skyland Drive. It’s an easy one-day drive, and you can stop and admire the views at numerous pullouts along the way. Slyland is also the name of a comfortable lodge located near milepost 41 in the north end of the park. This historic property, which dates back to 1888, also has a wheelchair accessible corner room with a great view. Even better — the room has a bathroom with a roll-in shower. Additionally the lodge is close to one of the most accessible trails in the park — The Limberlost Trail. It offers a short 1.3 mile hike through the woods, around the wetlands and across the river, before it loops back to the beginning. It makes for a nice peaceful morning stroll.
Glacier National Park
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Glacier National Park also sees a sizable decrease in visitors post Labor Day. Fall is a great time to explore Going-to-the-Sun Road. Get up early and enjoy Logan Pass without the crowds. The road is usually open till mid-October, but it’s all dependent on when the area gets its first significant snow. Save some time to take a hike on the Trail of the Cedars, which is located between Lake McDonald and Logan Pass. This .8-mile accessible trail winds through the forest and crosses a peaceful mountain stream, then loops back to the trailhead. Pack along a picnic lunch and enjoy it at the Avalanche Creek Picnic Area, which is just across the street from the Trail of the Cedars.
Yellowstone
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Last on the list of wheelchair-accessible national parks to visit this fall is Yellowstone. And Old Faithful is a mandatory stop on any Yellowstone visit. There’s an accessible boardwalk that circles the iconic geyser; but if you don’t feel like walking you can also enjoy the eruption from the nearby Visitor Education Center. For more geothermal activity head over to Firehole Lake Drive, where a one-way scenic drive winds around the geysers and features several pullouts along the way. And if you’d like to overnight in the park in a wheelchair-accessible cabin, then check out the options at Canyon Lodge, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Plan accordingly though, as Canyon Lodge closes in mid-October, Old Faithful Snow Lodge closes in late October, and Mammoth shuts its door in late November.
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