How to Enjoy the Grand Canyon National Park in a Wheelchair

You know how frustrating it can be when you attempt to navigate large National Parks in a wheelchair. The Grand Canyon can be one of the most difficult. The trails are, in general, not paved and the facilities are older. Thankfully, it is possible to enjoy the Grand Canyon when you use a wheelchair or other mobility device.

Accessibility on the South Rim

The South Rim is the best part of the park for people with disabilities. It is also generally the most crowded, but the Grand Canyon Visitor Center is fully wheelchair accessible and wheelchair van parking. Most of Grand Canyon Village is also accessible, but Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio are not. Hopi House is accessible only to visitors with wheelchairs narrower than 29 inches. There are also accessible restrooms. Maher Point has been redone to be fully accessible.

Accessibility on the North Rim

The North Rim is not as well developed as the South Rim, but most buildings are accessible. The two most popular overlooks, Point Imperial and Cape Royal are accessible. In some cases, you may need to request assistance and it's easier for somebody to travel with a companion. However, all food service facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible and all hotels offer wheelchair-accessible rooms. One thing to bear in mind is that the South Rim is at an altitude of 7,000 feet and the North Rim is at 8,000 to 9,000 feet. Altitude sickness is possible at the North Rim, and even at the South Rim, you may notice some shortness of breath. If you use a manually propelled wheelchair, be aware that your stamina might be reduced. Drinking plenty of water helps. So, here are some things you can do to further enjoy the park:

Get an America the Beautiful Access Pass

This pass is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. It is not transferable and lasts your lifetime. It is possible to get this pass at the entrance gate, but you will need to provide documentation or a statement of disability. For wheelchair users, who are disabled, it is easier. However, it may be easier to get it ahead of time and allow plenty of time for approval. There is a $10 processing fee, but the pass itself is free. It covers participating federal recreation sites, including all National Parks, so it's well worth getting. The pass also covers everyone else in the vehicle, even if they are not disabled, and provides discounts on some activities.

Request a Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit

This allows you access to certain parts of the park normally closed to motor vehicles, namely Hermit Road and Yaki Point Road. These roads are normally restricted to official shuttles only. You can request this at the entrance gate. There is no extra cost for the permit, but you may have to demonstrate that you are disabled. Access is restricted to reduce traffic.

Note that this permit does not allow you to park in designated spaces. Don't forget to bring your parking tabs.

Use the Park Shuttles

The park shuttles are accessible to users of standard wheelchairs, of a size not to exceed 30 inches wide by 48 inches long. Most mobs will not fit on the buses. You can rent a standard wheelchair at Bright Angel Bicycles. The shuttle buses allow you to move through Grand Canyon Village and the rest of the South Rim without having to drive. The shuttle buses are completely free.

There are no shuttle buses on the North Rim.

The park offers a variety of extremely interesting interpretative ranger programs at no additional cost. Most of these programs are seasonal (the Grand Canyon is well worth visiting in the winter, but a lot of things are closed. Year-round programs happen at Grand Canyon Village at the Visitor Center and Yavapai Geology Museum. Family talks are at the Verkamp's Visitor Center. Desert View Trail has seasonal programs including craft demonstrations from tribal artisans and cultural presentations. The North Rim, being at a higher altitude closes in winter, and programs are presented only in summer. Programs vary (one of the Grand Canyon programs is "Ranger's Choice"), so you should check the calendar when you get there for things of interest.

Take the Train

If you can't, or don't want to, drive, then there is an alternative. The Grand Canyon Railway is fully accessible. m the vintage depot in Williams, Arizona, and accommodates wheelchairs and scooters throughout the year, with options for both people who have to stay in their wheelchair for the journey or who can and would prefer to transfer.

You can get a package that includes a transfer to the center of the village or your hotel on accessible motorcoaches. It's also a spectacular train ride in its own right and is a popular way to visit the Grand Canyon for the day. The train has historic cars that have been modified to meet modern requirements.

e geology of the Grand Canyon is one of the reasons to visit it. Traveling down into the canyon is a trip back in time...but not one that is accessible to wheelchairs. Thankfully, the Trail of Time exists. It is a 1.3-mile trail that runs between Verkamp's Visitor Center and Yavapai Geology Museum, and it is fully wheelchair accessible. The trail has touchable samples of Grand Canyon rocks and explains the geology of the canyon. It's also a great place to take children. Once you get to the Yavapai Geology Museum, there is a tactile relief map and great views from the windows.

Hike Part of the Rim Trail

The 13-mile-long Rim Trail is partially wheelchair accessible and the shuttle stops along its course. The shuttle can get you past tough spots...or back to your hotel if the altitude is making you too tired. Buses run every 15 minutes. You can do as much or as little as you want, but make sure to carry water as there are no water stations on the trail itself. However, there are typically plenty of people who can help you out if you have a problem. Dogs are also allowed on this trail (dogs other than service dogs are not allowed in most of the canyon and service dogs require notification to go below the rim).

Drive Desert View Drive

The most popular scenic drive in the canyon is Desert View Drive, and most of the attractions along it is accessible. This includes the Tusayan Museum, where you can tour an ancestral Puebloan village, and viewpoints at Grandview, Moran, Lipan Point, Navajo Point, and Desert View Point. The upper floors of the Desert View Watchtower are the only thing not accessible. There are locations where you can get fantastic views without even leaving your vehicle.

Take an Air Tour

Air tours of the Grand Canyon are not always cheap, but they are a fantastic way to get truly spectacular views of the canyon. Several providers offer accessible tours with a lift or boarding ramp to access the wheelchair. However, you do have to be able to transfer to a plane seat and they recommend folding wheelchairs. Mobility scooters may have to be left (securely) at the terminal until your return.

Book well in advance in case there are space limitations. For example, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines only has one seat available to a wheelchair user per flight. Helicopter tours are generally a little more challenging than airplane tours. It's best to call the provider ahead of time to discuss your specific requirements. Papillon Grand Canyon Tours also offers accessible tours, although not all of their options are accessible.

Enjoy Camping

If you want to spend some time in a tent, there are wheelchair-accessible sites at Mather and North Rim campgrounds. Make sure to book well in advance, as Grand Canyon campgrounds tend to fill up early and the accessible sites are limited in number. They do, however, let you have a great camping experience.

Raft the River

Yes, you can! Arizona Raft Adventures has a program to help people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, experience the Grand Canyon on a multi-day rafting trip. They use motorized boats and have ramps set up for access. They have a chariot system for hiking, a specialized toilet system, and can set up tracks for movement around camp. These trips are not cheap, but it's a unique opportunity. Contact them to discuss your needs. This is a way you can get to the bottom of the canyon, and that's well worth it if you can afford it.

It's possible to have a great trip to the Grand Canyon when you use a wheelchair. Having a wheelchair-accessible van gives you, even more, access, with a special permit available to drive on roads not normally accessible to the public. Including those spectacular, picture-perfect views of one of the most striking natural landscapes on the planet.