Accessibility

A man in a blue sweatshirt and tan hat sitting in a wheelchair. A wheel-chair accessible path stretched in front of him.
A man using an all-terrain wheelchair on the Alluvial Fan accessible trail.

NPS/Photo

Rocky Mountain National Park has something for everyone to enjoy, from exploring the park's trails to taking a scenic drive and wildlife viewing.

The National Park Service is committed to ensuring that all people have equal opportunity to benefit from our facilities, programs, services, and activities.

 
View of the 2023 NPS Access Pass, a owl is flying over a field

NPS

Park Entrance Fees & Passes

The Interagency Access Pass is part of the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series. The Access Pass is free for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities and covers park entrance fees.

Who is Eligible?

The Interagency Access Pass may be issued to US citizens or permanent residents of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities. To learn more, visit the NPS Interagency Access Pass webpage.

 

Helpful Resources

Brochures

Braille and large-print versions of our park brochure are available at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

Request an ASL-Sign Language Interpreter

A certified sign language interpreter can be provided with a month's advance notice to accompany a ranger during a ranger-guided program. To request an ASL interpreter, please call 970-586-1206.

Is your trip less than a month away?
Park staff will do their best to meet the request, but due to the availability of interpreters, some requests may not be able to be met.

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD): 970-586-1319

 

Service Animals

Service animals are permitted in all park facilities and on all trails, with the exception of areas closed by the Superintendent to protect park resources. Service animals are dogs that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities.

A service animal that is allowed in park facilities, trails, etc., must be doing so in the service of a disabled person. Emotional support ("therapy animals") are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but are pets. Therapy animals and pets are prohibited on all park trails, meadows and tundra, as well as in park buildings. Service dogs-in-training are not service animals under ADA, but are considered pets. For more information about pets in Rocky Mountain National Park, click on this link https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Be aware that it is common for other visitors to ask questions, make unwanted remarks, or to report service animals to law enforcement officers if they are not aware the dog is a service animal and allowed to be in locations where pets are not generally allowed. For these reasons, it is recommended that service animals wear a visible identification vest while in the park.

 

Visitor Centers

To learn more about Rocky Mountain National Park, stop by one of the park's visitor centers. Beaver Meadows and Fall River Visitor Centers are located on the east side of the park. Alpine Visitor Center is located on Trail Ridge Road, at the top of Fall River Pass. Kawuneeche Visitor Center is located on the west side of the park.

Click here to learn more about RMNP's Visitor Centers

Enjoy the Park Film

Learn more about natural and cultural features and history of Rocky Mountain National Park by watching the park's 23-minute film. The film is available at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on the east side of the park and at Kawuneeche Visitor Center on the west side of the park.

The film is captioned and audio description is available upon request.

Ranger-guided Programs

Assisted listening devices are available upon request for the park's ranger-led programs. To submit a request, call 970-586-1206. At least three days advance notice is needed.

 
Park shuttle bus dropping passengers off at Bear Lake Shuttle Stop

Shuttles Buses

Rocky Mountain National Park operates free shuttle buses in the Bear Lake Corridor that provide access to many popular destinations. All park shuttle buses are accessible with wheelchair lifts and tie downs. If you have questions about shuttle accessibility, please ask your bus driver.

 
New Sprague Lake Boardwalk
Sprague Lake Boardwalk

NPS

Explore Rocky Mountain National Park - List of Improved Trails

Be advised that park trails contain hazards including loose gravel, uneven surfaces, rocks, tree roots and steep areas.

East Side of RMNP:

  • Sprague Lake (8,701 feet)
  • Lily Lake (8,931 feet)
  • West Alluvial Fan (8,585 feet)

West Side of RMNP:

  • Coyote Valley Trail (8,834 feet)
 

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchairs are allowed anywhere foot travel is permitted, including trails and wilderness, if the device is “designed solely for use by a person who has a mobility impairment for the locomotion, and is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area”. This includes mechanized wheelchairs, e.g. battery-powered, as long as it is suitable for indoor use.

Be advised the seasonal conditions may impact access even in fully accessible locations. Park trails may contain hazards including loose gravel, uneven surfaces, rocks, tree roots, and steep areas.


Electric Personal Assistance Mobility Devices

Electric Personal Assistance Mobility Devices (EPAMD), which are two-wheeled, electricallypropelled human transport devices including Segways™, are permitted in the following areas when being operated as an assistance device by persons with mobility disabilities:

  • Sidewalks and parking areas
  • Roads closed to motor vehicles unless otherwise posted
  • The following accessible park trails:
    • Coyote Valley Trail
    • Lily Lake Trail
    • Holzwarth Historic Site Access Road
    • Sprague Lake Trail

Persons without a disability are not authorized to use a motorized wheelchair or EPAMD in these designated areas.

Use of EPAMDs on park trail systems, other than those accessible trails listed above, is prohibited because of increased potential for injury to visitors, damage to natural resources, increased hazard of surprising wildlife, and hazards to EPAMD operators in steep, loose, or slippery conditions that are consistently encountered on park trails. EPAMDs do not meet the legal definition of a wheelchair.

 
All-Terrain Wheelchair_001

Interested in Exploring Rocky Using an All-Terrain Wheelchair?

Using an all-terrain wheelchair can make it easier to navigate rocky trails, snow covered paths or dirt roads while exploring the park. If you, or anyone in your party, is a person who uses a wheelchair, you can now explore the trails of Rocky Mountain National Park by reserving an all-terrain wheelchair at no cost.

Donated to Rocky Mountain Conservancy by the Sam Schneider Legacy Foundation, this rugged three-wheeled, all-terrain wheelchair is available for use to any visitor to Rocky Mountain National Park.

To learn more, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/explore-rocky-using-an-all-terrain-wheelchair.htm

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517

Phone:

970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

Contact Us