Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

Both Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks have made great strides in the past few years in making their facilities more accessible to those with disabilities. Visitor centers at both parks are wheelchair accessible, including the restrooms. At Bryce Canyon, a half-mile section of the Rim Trail, between Sunrise and Sunset Points, is fairly level, paved, and wheelchair accessible; several of the viewpoints along the scenic drive are accessible; the Bristlecone Loop Trail, at Rainbow Point, has a hard surface and is accessible with assistance; Sunset Campground has accessible campsites, and the shuttle bus is completely accessible. In Zion, accessible campsites are available in South and Watchman campgrounds; Riverside Walk, at the end of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, is paved and accessible with assistance; Pa'rus Trail is a 2-mile paved and accessible trail, open also to bicyclists; and Zion's shuttle system is completely accessible. In addition, rangers at both parks are extremely receptive to helping visitors with disabilities.

The National Park Service's America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands -- Access Pass, available free at all national parks, is a lifetime pass that is issued to any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is medically certified as disabled or blind. The pass permits free entry and gives a 50% discount on park service campgrounds and activities, but it does not cover user fees or charges for services offered by private concessionaires. Complete information about the pass is available at tel. 888/275-8747, ext. 1, and at http://store.usgs.gov/pass.

The Utah information and referral line for people with disabilities is tel. 800/333-8824, or go online to www.accessut.org.

Amtrak will, with advance notice, provide porter service, special seating, and a discount (tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com) for travelers with disabilities. If you're traveling with a companion, Greyhound will give your companion a 50% fare discount (tel. 800/231-2222, or 800/752-4841 for the Disabilities Travel Assistance Line; www.greyhound.com). Both Amtrak and Greyhound have scheduled stops in St. George, and Greyhound also stops in Cedar City.

Many of the major car-rental companies now offer hand-controlled cars for drivers with disabilities, and can provide those vehicles with advance notice. Wheelchair Getaways (tel. 800/642-2042; www.wheelchair-getaways.com) rents specialized vans with wheelchair lifts and other features for drivers and/or passengers with disabilities, with outlets in most of the southwestern states.