Accessibility

Anglers heading out on the river by motorboat.

NPS Photo.

 

Missouri National Recreational River is a spectacular river that can present difficult challenges for visitors with disabilities. Improvements in accessibility are being made each year and with a bit of pre-planning, all visitors can find Missouri National Recreational River to be a rewarding experience.

• Accessible parking, trails and picnic facilities are available at Niobrara State Park (402-857-3373). A bridge for anglers with disabilities spans the Niobrara River in the northern section of the park; access is from the north side of the town of Niobrara.
• Ponca State Park (402-755-2284) has accessible parking, picnic shelters, and cabins. The park's visitor center is accessible for visitors with disabilities.
• Lewis and Clark Visitor Center (South Dakota side) is accessible for visitors with disabilities. Two fishing piers for anglers with disabilities are at Lake Yankton, just below Gavins Point Dam; others are on the Missouri River by Nebraska Tailwaters campground and just outside the Chief White Crane campground.

A good place to look for the latest information on accessibility is the Disabled Traveler's Companion Website. While not officially affiliated with the National Park Service, they have been working with other National Parks and provide valuable information to the disabled traveler. Their website contains information that will aid in planning your trip to the National Parks.

 

Park Brochure

• Braille brochures are available at the visitor contact station (park headquarters).
  

Service Animals

• Service animals are allowed.

• The Americans with Disability Act definition of a service animal. as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability.

• For more information ADA Service Animal FAQ

Access Passport

U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities are eligible for The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass—or more simply, the Access Pass—which provides a wide range of discounts on activities and services when you visit federal lands. The passport allows free admission to federal areas which charge entrance fees and provides reductions for other types of user fees. Free Access Passports can be obtained at National Park sites that charge fees or from the USGS store. The nearest outlets for these are at Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, Nebraska, and Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, Minnesota.