Boasting more than 60 peaks above 12,000 feet in elevation as well as the highest paved road in the country, Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO) ranks up in the top five parks in the U.S. 

Rocky Mountain National Park has many wonderful accessible campsites, trails, fishing piers, buildings, and tours for people with disabilities, as they’ve been working hard on their access improvements since 1992.  As with all the parks in the National Parks System (NPS), accessibility information is available on their website under the tabs “Plan Your Visit” and “Things To Know Before You Come.”  But ROMO goes above and beyond with a complete nine-page PDF brochure with definitions, fees, camping, trails, safety information, and more. 

Accessibility on the Trail
Trails are marked in the brochure by three categories (fully, moderate, and marginally accessible); my wheelchair-user husband and I personally love this feature because we’re always up for an adventure, and don’t necessarily need fully accessible trails by ADA standards.  Our favorite trails in the park are the Beaver Boardwalk through the deserted beaver village, Coyote Valley Trailhead, a one-mile trail that crosses the Colorado River, and Many Parks Curve Overlook, which has great views of Longs Peak and the Estes Valley and fits into the moderately accessible category; however please note that several pullouts, overlooks, and trailheads do not have disability-designated parking. 

Accessible Camping
Camping in the park is a divine experience with impressive views, amazing wildlife, and even some backcountry camping for people with disabilities.  Sprague Lake Camp is the only backcountry option, with a paved trail starting at the parking area, leading to a 12-person site with picnic tables, a fire pit, and a grill. This site books years in advance however, and needs the backcountry permit in addition to a camping pass, but all sites book early so reservations are a must.

There are three other accessible campgrounds in the park, Glacier Basin, Moraine Park, and Timber Creek.  Morraine and Timber are open year round.  All have four ADA-compliant sites each along with fully accessible bathrooms. Moraine Park also has the best views overlooking the park. 

The Rainbow Curve Overlook is also worth noting; it has a curb cut and paved sidewalk, to the viewpoint overlooking the Mummy Range and the Horseshoe Park with some jaw-dropping scenery.  It also has an accessible bathroom. 

Note that some of the park (Trail Ridge Road especially) isn’t open year round based on snowpack, although several of the camp ground are. This park is also one of the richest in wildlife in the country, with elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bear, coyote, cougar, eagle, and hawk to name a few.  The wildflowers are peak between mid-June and July, and the fall colors are brightest in mid-September. 

All information can be obtained at any of the four accessible Visitors Centers in the park. 

See Related Articles
Discover other disability-accessible destinations, in Accessible National Parks: Camping Info for People with Disabilities.

See Adirondack Park Boasts Barrier-Free Backcountry Access to get more information on experiencing an accessible retreat outdoors.