3 National Parks with Accessible Experiences

America’s national parks are part of the country’s heritage and are there to be enjoyed by everyone, but some do a better job than others to ensure that is possible. We’ve put together a list of three of the most accessible national parks for your next family vacation so everyone can have a good time and discover the country’s natural beauty together.

Yosemite National Park

California’s signature national park welcomes visitors of every kind and has put many programs and accessibility options in place. For example, the Big Trees Loop Trail in Mariposa Grove is wheelchair-friendly, and there are shuttle buses to take visitors around the park that are not only free but are also equipped with lifts for wheelchairs to ensure the park is barrier-free. The 1.2-mile Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is paved, there are plenty of benches along the route and tactile exhibits are placed along the trail to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery at their own pace.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park stands out as one of the most visually stunning landscapes in South Dakota thanks to its sharp contrast of pinnacles and canyons created by thousands of years of erosion. There is a scenic byway loop that allows you to drive through much of the park to the dramatic scenery without having to get out of the car, but if you do want to get out and do some hiking, the park is known for its wheelchair-friendly trails.

The park also has its fair share of prairies, and you won’t want to miss Prairie Dog Town, a part of the park where there is a massive warren, also known as a town, of prairie dogs living in their natural habitat. Visitors are able to park near a large concentration of prairie dog burrows without having to do any hiking so they can enjoy the show as hundreds of adorable prairie dogs pop in and out of their holes. The area is incredibly quiet and serene and feels like you are far-removed from the rest of the world.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone, which spans three states, is well-known for iconic attractions like Old Faithful, but its rugged mountain terrain can be a bit intimidating if you are trying to figure out how to navigate it safely. Luckily, the park has invested a great deal of resources in making its most notable sites as accessible as possible, with paved boardwalks at its biggest attractions, accessible trails throughout the park like the Fountain Paint Pot Trail and Artist Point Overlook, as well as scenic drives throughout the park so all visitors are able to take in the scenery and the local wildlife without missing out.