Driving Passes for Disabled National Park Visitors
Sometimes it’s just not possible to use private vehicles in a few areas of some national parks. In fact, some parks limit vehicle access to certain areas to control crowds or to minimize the environmental impact on fragile ecosystems. In many cases, shuttle busses are the solution. And although most national park shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible, what happens if your scooter is too big to access the shuttle, or if you have to tote along a lot of medical equipment, or if you need to recline your wheelchair? Rest assured in these cases — and many more — special driving passes for disabled national park visitors are available. Check out what these popular national parks offer.
Zion National Park
In order to manage traffic in Zion Canyon, only shuttle bus traffic is allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive daily between March and October, on weekends in February, and during the December holiday season. People who have reservations at Zion Lodge are allowed to drive to the lodge and park in the parking lot, with a Red Pass permit and a parking code, which are provided when the reservation is made.
Visitors who need to carry along additional medical equipment or folks who cannot ride the shuttle for medical reasons are eligible for a Yellow Pass permit to drive their personal vehicles along the entire length of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Visitors who cannot ride the shuttle due to weight or size restrictions are also eligible for this permit. The shuttle lift can accommodate a combined weight limit of 600 pounds, and wheelchairs that are up to 45 inches long and 25 inches wide. The free Yellow Pass permits are available at the information desk at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Grand Canyon National Park
In Grand Canyon National Park, Hermit Road and Yaki Point Road have restrictions on private vehicle usage. Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles from March 1 to November 30; and Yaki Point Road and the Kaibab Trailhead parking lot are closed to private vehicles all year. A free park shuttle is used to transport people to these areas of the park.
A special Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit is available to anybody who has mobility issues, and may have problems boarding the park shuttle buses. All shuttle buses are lift-equipped and can accommodate wheelchairs up to 48 inches long and 30 inches wide. Most motorized scooters will not fit on the buses.
There is no fee for the permit, which is available at park entrances and visitor centers. An accessible parking placard or disabled license plates are required to park in accessible parking spaces in the park, as the Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit is not good for that purpose.
Yosemite National Park
Although Yosemite doesn’t require special driving passes for disabled national park visitors, a few areas of the park where vehicles are restricted are open to visitors that have an accessible parking placard or disabled license plates. These roads include the Happy Isles Loop Road, the Mirror Lake Road and the access road to the Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove. The speed limit on these roads is 15 mph, and drivers must use their hazard lights when driving. It should be noted that these roads are open to bicycles and pedestrians, so keep an eye out for them.
Additionally, visitors with a temporary disability or folks who forget their parking placards can obtain a temporary disability placard at the park. This placard allows visitors to park in accessible parking places in the park, as well as drive along Happy Isles Loop Road, the Mirror Lake Road and the access road to the Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove. The temporary disability placard is available at park entrance stations or visitor centers.
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