Wheelchairs and Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs)
Definitions
Manual wheelchair: a device that is propelled by human power, designed for and used by a person with mobility concerns.
Motorized wheelchair: a self-propelled wheeled device, designed solely for and used by a person with mobility concerns for locomotion that is both capable of and suitable for use in indoor pedestrian areas.
Other Power Driven Mobility Device (OPDMD): Any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines, that is not primarily designed for individuals with disabilities, that are used by such individuals for the purpose of locomotion.
Policy
The use of a manual or motorized wheelchair by an individual with limited mobility is allowed to the extent that the same would apply to a pedestrian. The information in this section is intended to treat a person using a manual or motorized wheelchair as a pedestrian and is not intended to restrict the activities of such a person beyond the degree that the activities of a pedestrian are restricted by the same regulations. For your safety we recommend that you contact the park for current conditions of the trail you intend to use.
The recumbent 3-wheel trike is not allowed indoors due to its size which becomes a safety issue for both user and pedestrians. It may be used on the Keys Ranch tour and front and backcountry hikes. For your safety we recommend that you contact the park for current conditions of the trail you intend to use.
The use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs), while allowed, is restricted to persons with mobility disabilities and such use is allowed on trails and dirt roads where people without mobility issues are allowed. For your safety we recommend that you contact the park for current conditions of the trail you intend to use.
One such device is the Electric Personal Mobility Assistance Devices (EPMAD) like electric scooters, Segway devices which are a motor vehicle as defined in Title 36 CFR. “Electric personal assistive mobility device” or “EPMAD” means a self-balancing, non-tandem two-wheeled device, that is not greater than 20 inches deep and 25 inches wide and can turn in place, designed to transport only one person. Though it has an electric propulsion system averaging 12.5 mph, it may only travel at the speed of surrounding pedestrians for the purposes of safety. It may be used on the Keys Ranch tour and front and back country hikes. For your safety we recommend that you contact the park for current conditions of the trail you intend to use.
OPDMDs like golf carts and ATVs will not be allowed in the front country or back country due to damage to the natural resources due to its weight and emissions.
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
Visitor Centers
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center Located at: 6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Parking
The parking lot at the visitor center has:
2 standard accessible spaces
2 van-accessible spaces
30 other spaces
5 EV charging stations
Restrooms
The restrooms have:
grab bars are available in all larger stalls intended for wheelchair users,
running water,
a child-sized changing table are available in the women's restrooms.
The men's restroom has:
2 standard urinals,
1 lowered urinal,
2 standard stalls, and
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users
The women's restroom has:
5 standard stalls,
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users.
Information Desk
As you enter the building, there is an information desk to your left.
There is a lowered section of the counter so those in wheelchairs can ask questions of the park staff.
Exhibits
The visitor center features a museum with exhibits where you can learn about the local tribes that call this area home.
There is room to navigate around the exhibits in a wheelchair, as well as a bench to sit and view the artifacts.
Bookstore
There is a bookstore and gift shop in the visitor center.
There is room to navigate around the bookstore.
Assistance is available from bookstore staff to reach items on higher shelves.
Drinking Water
There are two water fountains and a water bottle filling station.
An information desk at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Located at: 6554 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Parking
The parking lot at the visitor center has:
2 standard accessible spaces
40 other spaces
Restrooms
The restrooms have:
grab bars are available in all larger stalls intended for wheelchair users,
running water.
The men's restroom has:
1 standard urinals,
1 lowered urinal,
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users
The women's restroom has:
3 standard stalls and
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users,
a child-sized changing table.
Information Desk
As you enter the building from the rear entrance, there is an information deskto your left.
There is a lowered section of the counter so those in wheelchairs can ask questions of the park staff.
Exhibits
The visitor center features a museum with exhibits where you can learn about the local tribes that call this area home.
There is room to navigate around the exhibits in a wheelchair, as well as a bench to sit and view the artifacts.
Bookstore
There is a bookstore in the visitor center.
There is room to navigate around the bookstore.
Assistance is available from bookstore staff to reach items on higher shelves.
Route to Black Rock entrance
Black Rock Nature Center
Located at: 9800 Black Rock Canyon Road, Yucca Valley, CA 92284
Parking
The parking lot at the visitor center has:
15 parking spots, none of which are designated as accessible
Route
There is a ramp leading up to the visitor center. There is a section just before the ramp that is unpaved.
Restrooms
The are two single stall restrooms, not designated by gender, that have:
grab bars,
running water,
there are no changing tables.
Information Desk
As you enter the building, there is an information desk to your right.
There is a lowered counter at the information desk.
Exhibits
The nature center features a rotation oif exhibits from artists-in-residence.
There is a padded bench. The bench does not have a back or arm rests.
Bookstore
There is a bookstore in the visitor center.
There is room to navigate around the bookstore.
Assistance is available from bookstore staff to reach items on higher shelves.
There is no lowered section of the sales counter.
Drinking Water
There is a water fountain and a water bottle filling station.
Cottonwood Information Desk
Cottonwood Visitor Center
Located at: Pinto Basin Road. Approximately 7 miles north of Interstate 10, exit 168
Parking
The parking lot at the visitor center has:
2 standard accessible spaces
20 other spaces
Restrooms
The restrooms are currently out of order. Portable restrooms are available.
Information Desk
In the exhibit area there is a lowered desk near the entrance for trip-planning, park maps, and quesitons.
Exhibits
The visitor center feautreus a museum with exhibits hwere you can learn about the landscapes of the desert.
Bookstore
There is a bookstore and gift shop in the visitor center.
There is room to navigate around the bookstore.
Assistance is available from bookstore staff to reach items on higher shelves.
Drinking Water
There is a water fountain and a water bottle filling station.
Quail Springs Picnic Area
Picnic Areas with Accessible Features
Additional picnic areas without accessibility features can be found on the park map.
Quail Springs
This picnic area is on Park Boulevard, approximately 6 miles southeast of the Joshua Tree Entrance Station.
Parking
1 standard accessible space
2 van-accesible space
31 other spaces
Restrooms
There are vault toilets
No running water
Grab bars available in both restrooms
There is a 2 inch gap from the ground to the contrete pad the vault toilet sits on.
Paths
There is a designated path between the parking area and one section with two picnic tables accessed by a ramp from the parking lot and paved sidewalk.
Picnic Tables
There is 1 picnic table with an extended top intended for people using wheelchairs and a raised grill.
There are 8 other picnic tables and 6 other grills in this picnic area.
Drinking Water
Drinking water is not availalbe at this picnic area, or within the park. The closest drinking water fountain is at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center (approximately 11 miles away).
Hidden Valley Picnic Area
Hidden Valley
This picnic area is on Park Boulevard, approximately 9 miles southeast of Joshua Tree Entrance Station.
Parking
2 standard accessible spaces near Hidden Valley Trailhead
26 other spaces near the picnic area
52 other parking spaces closer to trailhead
Restrooms
There are vault toilets,
No running water.
Grab bars available in all restrooms.
Picnic Tables
There are 24 picnic tables and 11 grills in this area. None of the picnic tables or grills are accessible.
Drinking Water
Drinking water is not availalbe at this picnic area, or within the park. The closest drinking water fountain is at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center (approximately 14 miles away).
Indian Cove Accessible Site
Campgrounds
There are 9 campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park. To learn more, visit our Campgrounds Page.
Indian Cove Campground
68917 Indian Cove Circle, Twentynine Palms CA 92277
This campground has 101 sites available by reservation on Recreation.gov. The campground features:
vault toilets,
an amphitheater, and
access to hiking areas.
Campsites
All campsites have a picnic table, grill, and flat space for a tent.
Campsite 1 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. The site has a concrete surface throughout. This site includes:
picnic table
a fire ring
a parking spot, and
a tent pad area
Restrooms
Directly across from campsite 1, a paved path leads to a vault toilet that is designated as accessible. There are often sandy patches on the road and paths, and conditions may change in wet or windy weather. There are other vault toilets throughout the campground.
The vault toilets have:
No running water
Grab bars
There are a few parking spaces by each restroom
Amphitheather
The amphitheater is used for ranger programs. There is parking nearby. The ground in the amphitheater area is mostly flat and level but is made up of loose sand and gravel.
Located on Park Boulevard about 8 miles south of the North Entrance Station (Twentynine Palms).
This campground has 124 sites available by reservation on Recreation.gov. The campground features:
vault toilets,
an amphitheater, and
access to hiking areas.
Campsites
All campsites have a picnic table, grill, and a flat space for a tent.
Campsite 122 is listed as accessible on Recreation.gov. The site has a concrete surface throughout. This sites includes:
picnic table with an extended section to allow someone in a wheelchair to pull underneath,
a fire ring with a manual liftable grate for grilling,
a parking spot, and
a tent pad area.
Restrooms
Directly across from campsite 1, a paved path leads to a vault toilet that is designated as accessible. There are often sandy patches on the road and paths, and conditions may change in wet or windy weather. There are other vault toilets throughout the campground.
The vault toilets have:
No running water
Grab bars
There are a few parking spaces by each restroom.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater is used for ranger programs. There is parking nearby. The ground in the amphitheater area is mostly flat and level but is made up of loose sand and gravel.
The trailhead is on Pinto Basin Road approximately 5.6 miles south of Cottonwood Visitor Center.
Stats
Length: 0.25 miles
Surface material: hard-packed sand
Elevation gain: 20 feet
This is a loop trail.
Description
Walk on a bajada and discover plants of the Colorado Desert on this easy path. Along the trail are interpretive signs highlighting different plants and their adaptations and uses.
Barriers
Transitioning from the parking lot to the ramp and then off the ramp onto the trail may involve changes in level exceeding 1 inch, depending on weather conditions. There is a narrow section of the trail where you must go over a boardwalk section.
Parking
There are:
1 standard accessible spaces
10 other spaces
Restrooms
The nearest restroom is at Cottonwood Visitor Center, approximately 5.6 miles to the north on Pinto Basin Road.
The trailhead is on Keys View Road, just south of the intersection with Park Boulevard.
Stats
Length:0.4 miles
Width: 36 inches on average
Surface material: hard-packed sad
Elevation gain: 20 feet
This is a loop trail
Description
Cap Rock Trail winds through Joshua trees, Mojave yuccas, and spectacular granite rock formations. Aliong the trail, there are benches to rest on and interpretive signs showing information about plants and wildife.
Barriers
The hard-packed sand may be loose and deeper in some sections depending on the weather. There are few places where large boulders overhang the trail and may be a barrier.
Parking
There are:
2 standard accessible spaces
25 other spaces
Restrooms
There is a vault toilet near the parking lot. This toilet has:
No running water
Grab bars
There is a 2-inch change in level between the concrete pad the vault toilet is on and the surrounding ground.
Cholla Cactus can easily become attached to clothing, shoes, skin, and the wheels of a wheelchair.
Cholla Cactus Garden will be closed December 2024 through March 2025 to improve the conditions of the loop trail to meet accessibility standards set by the Architectual Barriers Act. The trailhead is on Pinto Basin Road, approximately 10 miles south fo the intersection with Park Boulevard.
Stats
Length: 0.25 miles
Surface Material: hard-packed sand, boardwalks
Elevation gain: 10 feet
This is a loop trail.
Description
This walk meanders through a dense patch of teddy bear cholla on the edge of the Pinto Basin and provides views of the basin and surrounding mountains.
Barriers
The hard-packed sand may be loose and deeper in some sections depending on the weather. There are often 1-2" gaps between the ground and the boardwalks. Sections of cactus are often found on the trail and can easily become attached to clothing, shoes, skin, and the wheels of a wheelchair. The cactus can be removed using a comb.
Parking
There are:
1 standard accessible spaces
21 standard parking spaces
Restrooms
The nearest restroom is at Live Oak Picnic Area, approximately 12 miles to the north on Park Boulevard.
The trailhead is located at: 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Stats
Length: 0.5 miles
Surface material: paved sidewalk
Elevation gain: minimal
This is a loop trail.
Description
This trail provides an easy opportunity to visit a desert oasis and the increased chance to see desert wildlife with the rare water source that the oasis provides. There are interpretive panels along the way to learn about the oasis. Along the loop, there are nine benches, including one backless bench and eight benches with backs and armrests.
Parking
There are:
2 van accessible spaces
45 standard parking spaces
Restrooms
The restrooms have:
grab bars are available in all larger stall intended for wheelchair users,
running water
a child-sized changing table are available in the women's restroom.
The men's restroom has:
1 standard urinals
1 lowered urinals
1 standard stall, and
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users.
The women's restroom has:
3 standard stalls and
1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users.
Drinking Water
There is a drinking fountain and water bottle filling station near the restrooms.
View from the Upper Keys View viewpoint slope to the parking area
Viewpoints
Keys View
There are two areas in Keys View: the Upper Keys View and the Lower Keys View. Both have views looking out over the Coachella. There are tactile maps and exhibits that offer details about the geology of the area. Upper Keys View has a steep, paved path that may be a concern for visitors in a wheelchair. Visitors with mobility concerns will want to visit Lower Keys View.
Parking
The Upper Keys View parking lot has:
2 van accessible spaces and one near the restroom
38 other spaces
The Lower Keys View parking lot has:
2 van accessible spaces
Path to Lower Keys View
Paths
The path between the parking area and the Upper Keys View viewpoint is:
Length: 0.25 miles loop
Surface material: paved sidewalk
Elevation gain: 25 feet (7.6m)
The path between the parking area and the Lower Keys View viewpoint is:
Length: 0.1 miles
Surface material: paved sidewalk
Elevation gain: minimal
Restrooms
There is a vault toilet near the Upper Keys View parking lot. This toilet has:
No running water
Grab bars
There is a 2-inch change in level between the concrete pad the vault toilet is on and the surrounding ground.
Last updated: October 30, 2024
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms,
CA
92277-3597
