Accessibility

The NPS strives to provide as many accessibility options for each of its parks as reasonably can be expected. All public buildings are required to have full accessibility. The outdoor environment, though, can be a daunting challenge. National Seashores might need a boardwalk (see photo below), or paths through a forest can be paved with asphalt (think Muir Woods National Monument). A few parks have had additional structure added to make their primary assets available to all. Wind Cave National Park installed an elevator shaft so visitors with wheelchairs can few the cave and the cave’s signature feature; boxwork.

Some parks will not have any means to accommodate visitors with physical disabilities. The six parks above the Arctic Circle in Alaska are the best examples, with concessionaire bush flights the only means to access. Be sure to check the NPS website for the parks you are considering visiting, to see what accommodations are available.