A Wheelchair-Accessible Yosemite Railroad Excursion
Although there’s no train station in Yosemite National Park, with a little advance planning it is possible to plan a wheelchair-accessible Yosemite railroad excursion. Here’s what you need to know to ride the rails to Yosemite National Park.
Hop Aboard Amtrak
The best way to take a wheelchair-accessible Yosemite railroad excursion is to hop aboard Amtrak’s San Joaquins. This route runs through the Central Valley from Oakland to Bakersfield, and offers Thruway bus connections from Los Angeles and Sacramento. The train also stops at Emeryville, Richmond, Martinez, Antioch, Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Hanford, Corcoran and Wasco. Southbound passengers can connect to Yosemite via YARTS in Merced, while northbound passengers can do the same in Fresno.
All Amtrak trains feature ramp or lift boarding, wheelchair-accessible seating and large accessible restrooms. Wheelchair-users can remain in their own wheelchair or transfer to a coach seat for the journey. The San Joaquins can accommodate manual and power wheelchairs up to a maximum width of 29.5 inches. Amtrak Thruway buses are accessible with 48 hours advance notice. Special accessibility requests can be submitted at www.amtrak.com/contact-us/email.html (click on accessibility request) at least 72 hours prior to travel, or by calling (800) 872-7245. On-the-spot accessibility requests can usually be accommodated if they do not present a safety issue.
The San Joaquins route features coach seating, free WI-FI, and food for sale on board. Amtrak offers a 10% discount to passengers with a disability and one companion. For more information about Amtrak’s San Joaquins route, visit https://www.amtrak.com/san-joaquins-train.
Southbound Yosemite Passengers
Southbound passengers who want to take a wheelchair-accessible Yosemite railroad excursion should buy a round- trip Amtrak ticket to Merced, which is about a three-hour trip from Oakland. Although Amtrak has partnered with YARTS to provide a bus connection from the Merced station to Yosemite, wheelchair-users should book this segment of the journey directly with YARTS to insure accessibility.
All YARTS buses feature lifts and accessible seating; however since accessible seating is limited access cannot be guaranteed unless you purchase an advance ticket at YARTS.com. Please note if wheelchair-accessible seating is required when you make your reservation. Alternately call (877) 989-2787 at least 48 hours in advance to secure an accessible seat. A 50% fare discount is available to people with a disability and seniors over 62 years old.
The Highway 140 YARTS route runs from the Merced Amtrak Station to Yosemite Valley with stops in Catheys Valley, Midpines and El Portal. Stops in Yosemite Valley include the visitor center, Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village. This route runs year-round, and it takes 2.5 hours to get from the Amtrak station to Yosemite Valley.
The Highway 140 YARTS route is an excellent choice for folks with lodging reservations at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village; however this route also includes stops at accessible properties outside of the park. Two excellent lodging choices on the route are the Yosemite Bug and AutoCamp Yosemite.
The Yosemite Bug (www.yosemitebug.com) is located in Midpines and features a large wheelchair-accessible guest room with a roll-in shower. Located nearby, AutoCamp Yosemite offers wheelchair-accessible accommodations in a camp-like setting, in custom designed luxury travel trailers. (emerginghorizons.com/new-yosemite-autocamp-features-custom-designed-wheelchair-accessible-airstreams/). Either property makes an excellent home base for a Yosemite visit, with daily YARTS connections to the national park.
Northbound Yosemite Passengers
Northbound passengers who want to take a wheelchair-accessible Yosemite railroad excursion should buy a round- trip Amtrak ticket to Fresno. This station is a two-hour trip from Bakersfield, and an additional 3.5-hour Thruway bus connection from Los Angeles. Amtrak has also partnered with YARTS to provide a bus connection from this station to Yosemite, but as with the Merced connection, wheelchair-users should book this segment of the journey directly with YARTS to insure accessibility.
The Highway 41 YARTS route runs from the Fresno Amtrak station to the Yosemite Valley visitor center, with stops in Coarsegold, Oakhurst and Fish Camp. It takes about 3.5 hours to get from the Fresno Amtrak station to Yosemite Valley. The Highway 41 YARTS route operates from May to September.
This route is a good option for day visitors; however passengers who have reservations at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village, should take the YARTS route from Merced instead. Unlike the Highway 140 route from Merced, the Highway 41 route from Fresno does not stop at any accommodations in Yosemite Valley.
Alternatively, accessible lodging outside of the park is available at two YARTS stops — the Best Western in Oakhurst, and Tenaya Lodge at Fish Camp. The former features an accessible queen room with a roll-in shower, while the latter offers a wide selection of accessible lodge rooms, cozy cottages and luxurious explorer cabins. (emerginghorizons.com/yosemites-tenaya-lodge-unveils-new-wheelchair-accessible-cabins-and-tour-bus/). Additionally, Tenaya Lodge offers Yosemite tours in a custom-designed wheelchair-accessible motorcoach with a retractable glass roof.
Getting Around Yosemite
Passengers who take a wheelchair-accessible Yosemite railroad excursion have several options to get around the park. First and foremost is the free Yosemite shuttlebus system.
There are currently two shuttle routes in the valley — the Yosemite Valley route and El Capitan hikers shuttle. The former stops at all the overnight accommodations, stores and major vistas in the park; while the latter calls on El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, the Four Mile trailhead, and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Although the Yosemite Valley shuttle operates year-round, the El Capitan hikers shuttle only operates from mid-June through early October. All shuttle buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and tie-downs, and can accommodate wheelchairs up to 24 inches wide and 46 inches long. The lifts have a weight limit of 750 pounds.
Aramark (www.travelyosemite.com) — a Yosemite lodging concessionaire — also operates several tours, including the popular Valley Floor Tour, that’s conducted in an open-air tram, which offers good views of the surrounding landscape. Although not all trams are accessible, wheelchair-users can request a lift-equipped one with 48 hours notice. And if you’d like to explore Tioga Road, hop on Aramark’s Hikers shuttle, which runs between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows from June to September. Accessible buses are available with 48 hours advance notice.
And if you’d like to get a little exercise, then rent a handcycle at the bike stands at Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village and explore the 12 miles of bicycle paths in Yosemite Valley. Most of the bicycle paths are wheelchair-accessible except for a short patch near Housekeeping Camp.
So get out and ride the rails to Yosemite National Park.
