Accessibility in the Old Faithful Area

 
Crowds of people walking on a path leading to a geyser
Wheelchair-accessible walkways lead from parking areas and the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center to Old Faithful Geyser.

NPS/Jacob W. Frank

 

Facilities

Wheelchair Rental

Wheelchairs can be rented at the Old Faithful medical clinic for a $300 deposit and $10 per day. Manual wheelchairs are available for loan at all lodging facilities and the visitor center while in the area.

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center

Designated parking near entrance of visitor center. Accessible exhibits, including interactive displays with audio components, and open-captioned films. Evening programs are accessible. Others are noted in the schedule.

Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center

The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center highlights Native American artists, scholars, and presenters, providing an opportunity for Indigenous peoples to directly engage visitors through formal and informal education. The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is centrally located between Old Faithful Lodge and Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. Entrance and information desk are accessible.

Medical Clinic

Accessible Wheelchairs can be rented for $15 per day with a $300 deposit.

Post Office

Accessible. Designated accessible parking near entrance.

Backcountry Office and Backcountry Site

  • Office
    Located at Old Faithful Ranger Station. Accessible.
  • Goose Lake Backcountry Campsite (05D)
    The site is located between Madison and Old Faithful, is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Fountain Freight Road trailhead. The campsite is held for people with disabilities, or for people traveling by bicycle until 4 pm each day. After 4 pm, the campsite is released to be booked by the general public. The trail is a hard-packed, dirt, bike path. The campsite is one-quarter mile in from the main trail; wheelchair users may require assistance on the trail to the campsite and within the campsite. Call 307- 344-2160 for more details.

Food Service

  • Old Faithful Inn Dining Room
    Designated accessible parking in front and rear of building. Accessible restrooms. Dining room is accessible.
  • Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli
    Designated accessible parking in front and rear of building. Accessible restrooms.
  • Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria and Bake Shop
    Designated accessible parking in front of building. Accessible restrooms. Cafeteria and snack bar are accessible.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room
    Designated accessible parking in front of building. Accessible restrooms and dining.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Geyer Grill
    Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible.

Stores

  • Old Faithful Gas and Service Station - Lower
    Staffed seasonally during daylight hours and have call buttons at the pumps.
  • Old Faithful Gas and Service Station - Upper
    Staffed Seasonally during daylight hours and have call buttons at the pumps.
  • Old Faithful General Store - Lower
    Accessible.
  • Old Faithful General Store - Upper
    Accessible.
  • Old Faithful Lodge Gift Shop
    Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Gift Shop
    Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible.

Lodging

  • Old Faithful Inn
    Designated accessible parking in front and rear. Accessible restrooms and shower. Family restrooms on first floor. Eight accessible rooms.
  • Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins
    Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible restrooms and cafeteria. Two accessible cabins. Family restroom in lobby. Accessible shower house.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge
    Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible restrooms, dining room, and Geyser Grill. Five accessible rooms and one accessible cabin.

Picnic Areas

  • East Lot
    Accessible table.
  • Whiskey Flat (north of Biscuit Basin)
    Accessible table.

Learning About the Area

Films and Exhibits

The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, has accessible exhibits, including tactile displays with audio components, and open-captioned films.

Ranger-led Programs

The schedule is in the park newspaper, in the online calendar, and posted around the area. Evening programs are accessible; others as noted in the schedule.

What to See

Geyser Basins

  • Old Faithful Geyser and Upper Geyser Basin
    Accessible walkways lead from all parking areas to Old Faithful Geyser, and from the visitor center to other hydrothermal features. The paved path is also accessible from the Old Faithful Inn to the Lower General Store, and across the road into the geyser basin.
  • Black Sand Basin
    One mile (1.6 km) north of the Old Faithful intersection on the main road. Sidewalks leading to the boardwalk have slopes of 9% and 12%.
  • Biscuit Basin
    Three miles (5 km) north of the Old Faithful intersection on the main road. Boardwalks are accessible, but there is no curb cut at the parking lot.
  • Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring)
    Five and one-half miles (8.9 km) north of the Old Faithful intersection on the main road. Accessible parking, boardwalk, and vault toilets.
  • Grand Prismatic Overlook at Fairy Falls Trailhead
    Fountain Freight Road leads to steep uphill path to overlook. The running slope at the beginning of the trail is 14%, with grades up to 19%, and cross slopes up to 10%. Not accessible at this time.

Fountain Paint Pot and Firehole Lake Drive

  • Fountain Paint Pot
    Nine miles (14.5 km) north of Old Faithful. Designated-accessible parking, but there is no curb cut at the first space. The first part of the trail is wheelchair accessible and perfectly level. It is easily accessible to Silex Spring. Other areas of the boardwalk have steep portions and stairs. Check the map in the Fountain Paint Pot Trail Guide.
  • Firehole Lake Drive
    Eight miles (12.6 km) north of the Old Faithful intersection on the main road. Boardwalks are accessible; no restrooms.

Kepler Cascades

  • Three and one-half miles (5.6 km) southeast of the Old Faithful overpass on the main road. A level boardwalk leads to a view of Kepler Cascades. Accessible parking is provided.

Winter at Old Faithful

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center

Accessible exhibits, including interactive displays with audio components, and open-captioned films. Evening programs are accessible. Others are noted in the schedule.

Medical Clinic

Emergency: Dial 911. Not open in winter.

Warming Huts

None of the warming huts are accessible at this time. The lobby of the Canyon Visitor Education Center is open during the winter and is accessible and has accessible restrooms.

Food Service

  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room
    Accessible restrooms and dining.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Geyer Grill
    Accessible.

Stores

  • Old Faithful Gas and Service Station - Lower
    Not staffed in winter. However, gas is available.
  • Old Faithful Gas and Service Station - Upper
    Not staffed in winter. However, gas is available.
  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge Gift Shop and Bear Den Ski Shop
    Accessible.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Accessible restrooms, Obsidian Dining Room, Geyser Grill, gift shop, and Bear Den Ski Shop. Five accessible rooms and one accessible cabin.

Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk

Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk conditions vary in the winter from clear in warm areas, to hard packed snow. Inquire at the visitor center for open areas of boardwalk.

Groomed Ski Trails

  • An easy, flat, groomed road that parallels the oversnow travel road begins just outside the front entrance of the Snow Lodge. Inquire at the Bear Den Ski Shop located inside the Old Faithful Snow Lodge Gift Shop for trail conditions.
  • Black Sand Basin Ski Trail
    A groomed, 4 mile (6.4 km) round trip, easiest trail that takes you from the Upper Geyser Basin to Black Sand Basin.
  • Lone Star Geyser Ski Trail
    A 9 mile (14.4 km) round-trip, easy, machine-groomed trail that takes skiers along the Firehole River to Lone Star Geyser.

Accessibility Map

 
Map showing the location of services and the accessibility levels of trails.
Map depicting the accessibility options around the Old Faithful Area.

NPS

 
Visitors sitting around tables eating and kids playing on furniture.
Accessibility in the Canyon Area

Learn about the accessible opportunities and options around Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Bright yellow, three-story hotel building standing in the conifer forest next to a deep, blue lake.
Accessibility in the Lake Area

Learn about the accessibility options in the Lake area.

A visitor used a mobility aid to travel along the boardwalks at Midway Geyser Basin.
Accessibility in the Madison Area

Learn about the accessibility options in the Madison area.

A terraced hot spring of whites, yellows, and oranges with steam rising from it.
Accessibility around Mammoth Hot Springs

Learn about the accessibility options in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.

A boardwalk winds through a forested area, providing views on a stark, gray, steaming landscape.
Accessibility in the Norris Area

Learn about accessibility options in the Norris Geyser Basin area.

Photo of crowds at Old Faithful
Accessibility

Peruse information about accessibility in Yellowstone's major areas.

Bison and pronghorn grazing in green, grassy plains of with forested hills in the distance.
Accessibility in Tower–Roosevelt Area

Learn about accessibility options in the Tower–Roosevelt area.

Visitors walk along a boardwalk between hydrothermal features and a lakeshore.
Accessibility in the West Thumb Area

Learn about accessibility options in the West Thumb, Grant Village, and southern part of the park.

Last updated: May 16, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168

Phone:

307-344-7381

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