Physical / Mobility

 

Canyonlands National Park varies in its accessibility for people with physical or mobility disabilities. Many trails in the park have steep and rocky surfaces with uneven slopes and loose sand or gravel. The paved road at Island in the Sky has many accessible viewpoints and facilities; the other districts have limited accessible facilities. This page describes the accessible activities and facilities available at each district.

Wilderness

Eighty-six percent of Canyonlands National Park is recommended wilderness and is managed as federally designated Wilderness. While mechanized forms of travel like wheeled vehicles are prohibited off park roads, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows you to use a wheelchair on trails if your disability requires use of a wheelchair.

 

Island in the Sky

Programs and Tours

Rangers offer programs spring through fall.

• Geology talks are offered at Grand View Point. A paved sidewalk leads from the parking lot to the program location, which is located off the sidewalk on a gravel surface. Seating on large boulders is available. Accessible toilets are nearby.
• Rangers offer patio talks on the front porch of Island in the Sky Visitor Center. The area is paved and accessible to wheelchairs. Accessible toilets are nearby.

Campground

Campsites

Island in the Sky Campground has one accessible campsite and nearby pit toilet. The campsite is reserved at all times for people with disabilities only. The campsite is paved with the exception of the tent pad, which is dirt. Paths to the toilet and campsite payment station are paved.

Pay Phone

There are no pay phones at the campground. The nearest pay phones are at Island in the Sky Visitor Center.

Routes

There are no paths through the campground. Travel through the campground is via the paved road, which may have some slopes.

Visitor Center

• Entrance: The front door does not have a push button opener.
• Parking: Accessible parking is available. The parking lot is paved.
• Toilets, water fountains: All toilets are wheelchair accessible. An accessible water fountain is inside the visitor center.
• Seating: Benches are located inside the visitor center and outdoors on the front patio.
• Pay phone: Pay phones are available in the visitor center parking area.
• Exhibits: Exhibits and the visitor center desk are structured to be accessible from a wheelchair.
• Routes: A slight ramp leads to the front door of the visitor center.
• Picnic tables: Picnic tables outside the visitor center are accessible to wheelchairs. Sidewalks are paved.

Trails and Facilities

These overlooks are accessible for people using a wheelchair.

• Buck Canyon Overlook
• Green River Overlook
• Grand View Point Overlook

All toilets at Island in the Sky are accessible.

 

The Needles

Programs and Tours

Rangers offer evening programs in spring and fall.

• Evening Programs are held at The Needles campground amphitheater. Accessible toilets are nearby.
• Patio talks are held beneath a covered seating area outside of The Needles Visitor Center. The area is paved and accessible to wheelchairs. Accessible toilets are nearby.

Campground

Campsites

The campground has two accessible standard sites. One site is always reserved only for people with disabilities. The other site is held for people with disabilities until 8 pm. After 8 pm, anyone may occupy that site for one night. Both sites offer wheelchair access to the fire ring, tent pad, and picnic tables. One site has cement surrounding the tent pad; the other site offers a paved walkway to the tent pad.

Bathrooms

All bathrooms in the campground are wheelchair accessible.

Emergency Phone

There is no cell phone service within the park. The nearest emergency phone is located at The Needles Visitor Center.

Amphitheater

Reaching the amphitheater may require climbing stairs. The walkway is gravel and sand.

Routes

There are few paths through the campground. Paths to the toilet and campsite payment station are paved. There are paved roads throughout The Needles Campground, but the road has speed bumps that may be difficult for a wheelchair to navigate.

Group Campsites

There are three group campsites at The Needles. All sites are flat, but they all have gravel or deep sand, which could make wheelchair navigation difficult. Assistance may be required.

Visitor Center

• Entrance: The front door does not have a push button opener.
• Parking: Accessible parking is available. The parking lot is paved.
• Bathrooms, water fountains: Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. An accessible water fountain is near the bathrooms.
• Seating: Benches are located inside the visitor center and outdoors on the front patio.
• Emergency phone: An emergency phone is available at the visitor center near the restrooms 24/7.
• Exhibits: Exhibits and the visitor center desk are structured to be accessible from a wheelchair.
• Auditorium: This space is accessible to wheelchairs and offers a park orientation film that is available upon request.
• Picnic tables: Picnic tables outside the visitor center are accessible to wheelchairs. Sidewalks are paved.

Other Facilities

These facilities are accessible for people using a wheelchair.

• Wooden Shoe Overlook
• All toilets in The Needles district

Trails

All trails in The Needles district have rocky, uneven surfaces, steep slopes, and some drop-offs.

 

The Maze

Programs and Tours

Rangers offer hikes in Horseshoe Canyon in spring and fall. This is a strenuous hike covering 7 miles, part of this in deep sand, and includes a steep ascent of 650 feet elevation in 1 mile to exit the canyon.

Hans Flat Ranger Station

• Entrance: The front door does not have a push button opener. The ranger station has a wooden ramp that leads to the door. The approach to the visitor center is gravel.
• Parking: The parking area is gravel.
• Toilets: There is an accessible pit toilet at the ranger station. The surface approaching the toilet is gravel.
• Water: There is no running water at the ranger station or anywhere in The Maze district.
• Pay phones: There are no pay phones at ranger station or anywhere in The Maze district.

Trails

Trails in The Maze district have rocky, uneven surfaces, steep slopes, and drop-offs. No trails are accessible. Read more about hiking and backpacking at The Maze.

 

All-Terrain Wheelchair

An all-terrain wheelchair is available at Island in the Sky Visitor Center to enable visitors with mobility challenges to enjoy more of the park's trails. The all-terrain wheelchair is non-motorized and requires an assistant/operator to push the chair. The chair is available on a first-come, first-served basis; we do not take reservations.

Checking Out the Chair

Come to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center information desk. If a chair is available, a ranger will begin the checkout process. Both user and assistant must fill out a waiver prior to use. Either the chair user or their assistant must present an ID and proof of insurance. The ranger will provide a brief training on how to use the chair, review the chair features checklist with the user and assistant(s), and review the list of recommended trails and overlooks. The all-terrain wheelchair is available for single day use only and must be returned to Island in the Sky Visitor Center before it closes on the same day of checkout. The park cannot store personal wheelchairs. For visitor center operating hours, please visit our Operating Hours and Seasons page.

 

Know Before You Go

Recommended Trails

Prohibited Trails

Other Trails

Chair Specifications