Accessibility at National Parks
- Sam Shepherd
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
By Garrett Dudzik
The National Park Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior that holds 433 units, or the collection of properties that the National Park Service controls, which include the 63 national parks [3]. The nation is further divided into twelve unified regions in order to have “greater efficiency, accountability, collaboration and consistency across our bureaus.” [4]. In 2024, the National Park Service reported 331.9 million visits across 404 out of 433 units that record the number of visitors [5]. According to the statistical breakdown of the record visitors, 28% were from the national parks themselves [6]. National parks make up the largest percentage of visitations, with under 93 million visitors. The National Park Service offers an Access Pass that allows anyone with a permanent disability to enter national parks for free. To get an Access Pass, you’ll need a valid photo ID and a document from either a licensed physician, a state agency, or a federal agency stating that you have a permanent disability [7]. You can order online and receive through the mail, which costs a shipping fee of $10, or go to a national park that allows passes to be obtained in person [8]. The pass itself is free to those who qualify.
Yellowstone was the first national park established on March 1, 1872, decades before the National Park Service was formed [1]. On August 15, 1903, the Roosevelt Arch, made out of basalt and is named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid down its cornerstone, was completed [2]. Above the arch is a quote set in concrete from the Organic Act of 1872, which reads, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the people”. Following this quote, the National Park Service has tried to include accessible options for park guests, which include the NPS app and in-park features.
The National Park Service has an app that can be downloaded, The NPS App, that contains multiple features that include tours, maps, news, accessibility options, and much more. [9] The app can give audio descriptions for certain exhibits and centers, and alternative text for images [10]. Outside of the app, each national park has its own list of accessibility options.
Yellowstone National Park has a multitude of accessibility options offered. These options include: sign language interpreters given a minimum of a three-week notice from visiting, captioning options for media not on the NPS app, audio descriptions for trails and centers, assistive listening options, large print and braille versions of the park's map, service animals are welcomed, and hyroscopically controlled mobility devices are provided [11]. Only certain areas of the park have accessibility due to how much land the park encompasses. Yellowstone’s backcountry, granted access through a backcountry permit, has accessible campsite and trails that allow wheelchairs and service animals [12]. Not every national park has the same number of accessibility options. Different parks have differing amounts and levels of accessibility. The Shenandoah National Park includes virtual tours, which can be viewed online, and for trails, you can use all-terrain wheelchairs and even reserve accessibility hiking carts [13].
The National Park Service goes through the Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (SETP), which highlights what each national park needs to improve overall [14]. Most of the SETPs include some level of accessibility improvements that include, but are not limited to: ramps, accessible trails and paths, audio descriptions, large printed words, braille, contrasting colors, and sign usage [15] [16]. National parks are still lacking accessibility in most of the parks in comparison to Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Haleakalā, for example. They are, however, moving exceedingly in the right direction, so everyone can enjoy the national parks, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the people.”
Sources
[1] “National Park System (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm. [2] “Unified Interior Regional Boundaries.” U.S. Department of the Interior, February 26, 2018. Accessed September 19,
[3] “Visitor Use Data.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/visitor-use-statistics-dashboard.htm. [4] “Visitor Use Data.” National Parks Service.
[5] “Access Pass.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm.
[6] “Access Pass.” National Parks Service.
[7] “Brief History of the National Parks: Articles and Essays: Mapping the National Parks: Digital Collections: Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress. Accessed September 19, 2025.
https://www.loc.gov/collections/national-parks-maps/articles-and-essays/brief-history-of-the-nati onal-parks/#:~:text=Yellowstone%20became%20the%20first%20national,%2C%20Agriculture %2C%20and%20the%20Interior.
[8] Holden, Courtney. “Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone’s North Entrance.” Yellowstone National Park, March 20, 2021. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/park/history/roosevelt-arch. [9] “NPS App.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025.
[10] “NPS App.” National Parks Service.
[11] “Accessibility.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
[12] “Accessibility.” National Parks Service.
[13] “Accessibility.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
[14] Self-evaluation and transition plan. Accessed September 20, 2025.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/Self-Evaluation-and-Transition-Plan-YELL-2023 -web508.pdf.
[15] “Parkplanning.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=141046.
[16] “National Park Service.” National Parks Service. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://parkplanning.nps.gov/searchAll.cfm.
