Accessibility

The National Park Service strives to make Scotts Bluff National Monument as universally accessible as possible. If your questions concerning accessibility are unanswered after reading information in this section of our website, please contact us.

Visitor Center

All public use areas of the Visitor Center are fully accessible. A fourteen minute-long, captioned video presentation is shown by request. A wheelchair and walker are available for use in the museum and on the paved trails.

Summit Road and Trail System

Two accessible parking spaces are located at the summit parking area. From the parking lot, paved trails lead to two summit overlooks.

The South Overlook is approximately 300 yards (274 meters) from the parking lot. Access to the North Overlook is by a 16% uphill path of about 60 yards (55 meters). It will take you to a level looping trail system which is about 150 yard (137 meters) long. Several overlooks from the summit will reveal the North Platte Valley. The remaining 100 yards (91 meters) contains a steep downhill grade of 19% with dropoffs on either side.

Saddle Rock Trail

The paved trail is 1.6 miles long (2.4 km) and leads from the visitor center parking lot to the top of Scotts Bluff. The first 700 yards (630 meters) is accessible for a wheelchair as it crosses prairie grasslands to a juniper ravine near the base of the bluff. Beyond this point is not recommended for wheelchair use as the trail rises steeply for over 1700 yards (1554 meters) with sharp dropoffs .

Oregon Trail Pathway

Following the paved trail west of the museum 50 yards (45 meters) you come to the eroded original Oregon Trail depressions (swales). Along the way you pass three covered wagon replicas. From the east end of the trail depressions, the trail is unpaved for 380 yards. The paved trail then resumes. The next 106 yards (97 meters) is uphill with a 13% grade. The Jackson campsite is approximately 107 yards (98 meters) further.

Monument Brochure

The monument's official brochure is available in text-only, audio described, and Braille formats.

Access Pass

The Access Pass is a free lifetime entrance pass to those federal areas which charge an entrance fee. It is available at the information desk to all United States citizens or permanent residents who have been medically determined to have a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely limits one or more major life activities.

Sign Language Interpreters

Available for ranger programs with three weeks notice. Call 308-436-9700 or email us. This length of time and specificity is needed because there are limited American Sign Language interpreters available in the vicinity of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

Last updated: March 14, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 27
Gering, NE 69341

Phone:

308 436-9700

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