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Great Basin National ParkThe cypress swamp fill swith water in wet years.
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Great Basin National Park
Accessibility

Great Basin National Park offers a variety of opportunities accessible to people with disabilities. Much can be learned about Great Basin National Park from your vehicle and from the accessible facilities and programs. This wild landscape, rich in natural and cultural history, is a wonderful place to spend the day, a week, or more!


Fees
Access Passport holders are entitled to receive a 50% discount on camping and cave tour fees. Inquire at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center about this lifetime pass that is available at no cost for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who have been medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled.
 

Parking and Restrooms
Designated accessible parking spaces are available in all parking lots, with ramps provided over the curbs.

All public restrooms are accessible.

 

Visitor Centers
Both visitor centers are fully accessible. The Lehman Caves Visitor Center provides a lift between the parking lot and main level. The Great Basin National Park slide show is closed captioned.

 

Camping and Picnicking
Three campgrounds in the park have accessible sites: Upper Lehman Creek Campground (site #2), Wheeler Peak Campground (site # 5), and Baker Creek Campground (sites # 11 and #27). Each campsite has a picnic table, fire grate, and tent pad. These sites are generally located next to accessible restrooms.  All sites are first come first served.  When campgrounds fill, these sites are made available to all campers.

Note: Persons using the Upper Lehman Creek Campground restroom access ramp may require assistance, due to its steepness.

All picnic areas provide accessible tables and restrooms.

 

Seeing the Park  

Island Forest Trail
The Island Forest Trail (0.2 miles long and constructed to meet wheelchair accessibility standards) winds through mixed conifer and aspen communities. The first tenth-mile maintains a 1% grade. Sections on the second tenth-mile are as steep as 8%grade, making this half of the trail more challenging. The trail is located at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.
>Island Forest Trail Brochure (PDF)

Lehman Caves Tour
Brief tours of the first room of the cave, the Gothic Palace, are available for those unable to negotiate the stairs and narrow passageways of the tour route.  Participants join the first 30 minutes of a regular tour, and are escorted out of the cave by a ranger.  Another friend or family member must be available to assist visitors in non-motorized wheelchairs.  

Please be advised that wheelchairs are not available at the park.  First room tours may not be available on every tour, depending on staffing levels. 

Other Ranger-Led Activities
Evening programs are offered during the summer at the Upper Lehman Creek and Wheeler Peak Campgrounds. Both evening programs are accessible and are a wonderful way to wrap up a day in Great Basin National Park. For more information inquire at any visitor center or consult the park newspaper, The Bristlecone.  
 

Assisted Listening Devices
Assisted listening devices are available for use with any ranger-led program, including cave walks and evening programs.  Talk to a ranger at any visitor center about using one before the start of the program.

 

Telephone Relay Services
To access the telephone relay services, please call 1-800-326-6868. The user will be connected to an interpreter and automated system.  The voice number in Nevada to reach an interpreter is 1-800-326-6888.


>Accessibility Brochure (PDF)

For other downloadable brochures about Great Basin National Park, go to our brochures webpage.

 

 

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout  

Did You Know?
The Bonneville cutthroat trout is the only trout native to Great Basin National Park and East Central Nevada. Ancestors of the current Bonneville cutthroat trout were abundant in ancient Lake Bonneville 16,000 to 18,000 years ago, the remnant of what is now the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

Last Updated: March 03, 2009 at 17:42 EST