Getting outdoors starts with useful access information

Update: My full guide is now available: The Access Pass helps with the fee. I still want the details.I want disability access to include the good parts of life, too—including time outdoors. Today I’m looking at the federal Access Pass, a free pass for eligible U.S. citizens or residents with permanent disabilities. There are eligibility and documentation requirements; having a disability doesn’t make every application automatic.

My focus is practical: how to get the pass, what costs it covers, and what still needs checking before a visit. A pass can help with an entrance fee, but it can’t tell you whether a trail, restroom or visitor center will work for you. At noon, I’ll unpack those details. We deserve useful information before we make the trip.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm

Photo: NPS, public domain. Capitol Reef National Park, December 2019. Archival illustration; check current conditions before visiting. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/a280867b-bee2-45cf-9c35-7919a121c64e