National Park Guides

In Easy Access to National Parks—Sierra Club Guide for People with Disabilities, the authors Wendy Roth and Michael Tompane, cite "best visits" to parks with full wheelchair access, regional significance, and scenic beauty. Ideal slope ratios range between 1:12 (one foot of rise over a level distance of 12 feet) and 1:20 (one foot of rise over a level distance of 20 feet). This is invaluable for anyone with accessibility concerns, including families with small children and seniors.

The authors scope out the best places, as well as those to avoid. Featured are maps and history of each park, its terrain, wilderness description, trails, places of interest, accessible campgrounds, restaurants, rest stops, and visitor centers. Just glancing through makes one long for a big dose of nature. Access guides show how easy it is to enjoy America's mountains, lakes, deserts, and forests. The authors' best visits were:

Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon, UT
Carlsbad Canyon National Park, Carlsbad, NM
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Bloomfield, NM
Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL
Grand Teton National Park, Moose, WY
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI
Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA
Redwood National Park, CA
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, CA
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Voyageurs National Park, MN
Big Bend National Park, TX
Yosemite National Park, CA