Accessibility

The National Park Service strives to make Scotts Bluff National Monument as universally accessible as possible. If your questions concerning accessibility are unanswered after reading information in this section of our website, please contact us.

Visitor Center

The visitor center parking lot features two accessible spaces at its west end. There is a marked aisle for van access in between the two spaces.

The sidewalk from the accessible parking spaces to the visitor center is about 40 yards (36 meters). There are two benches near the entrance doors.

Visitor center main entrance is a manual double door that opens out.

The visitor center front desk is approximately three yards straight ahead from the entrance doors. It features a lowered interaction space on its right side.

Restrooms are accessed by going left of the information desk in the visitor center lobby. As you reach a long hallway, make a right. The men's room is straight ahead while the ladies room is to the left. The men's room door is a manual push open door. The ladies' room door has a pull handle. Both restrooms have baby changing stations. There is a bench without a back or arm rests outside the restrooms.

Drinking water is available from a chilled and filtered water bottle filling station and drinking fountain just outside of the restrooms in the visitor center.

Park film theater seating is made of movable chairs, with ample space available for wheelchairs and other mobility devices. The park film is open captioned.

Benches with backs and armrests are available in the two main visitor center exhbit rooms.

Exhibits in the two main exhibit rooms have wide aisles and approaches.

A wheelchair and walker are available for use in the visitor center and on the paved trails.

Picnic Tables

Three picnic tables are available beneath shade structures on the east side of the visitor center parking lot. There is one accessible parking space, closest to the middle table.
The middle table has space on one end for individuals using mobility devices.

Summit Road and Trail System

Two accessible parking spaces are located at the summit parking area. From the parking lot, paved trails lead to two summit overlooks.

The South Overlook is approximately 300 yards (274 meters) from the parking lot. Access to the North Overlook is by a 16% uphill path of about 60 yards (55 meters). It will take you to a level looping trail system which is about 150 yards (137 meters) long. Several overlooks from the summit will reveal the North Platte Valley. The remaining 100 yards (91 meters) includes a steep downhill grade of 19% with dropoffs on either side.

Saddle Rock Trail

The paved trail is 1.6 miles long (2.4 km) and leads from the visitor center parking lot to the top of Scotts Bluff. The first 700 yards (630 meters) is accessible for a wheelchair as it crosses prairie grasslands to a juniper ravine near the base of the bluff. Beyond this point is not recommended for wheelchair use as the trail rises steeply for over 1700 yards (1554 meters) with sharp dropoffs .

Oregon Trail Pathway

Following the paved trail west of the museum 50 yards (45 meters) you come to the eroded original Oregon Trail depressions (swales). Along the way you pass three covered wagon replicas. From the east end of the trail depressions, the trail is unpaved for 380 yards. The paved trail then resumes. The next 106 yards (97 meters) is uphill with a 13% grade. The Jackson campsite is approximately 107 yards (98 meters) further.

Monument Brochure

The monument's official brochure is available in text-only, audio described, and Braille formats.

Access Pass

The Access Pass is a free lifetime entrance pass to those federal areas which charge an entrance fee. It is available at the information desk to all United States citizens or permanent residents who have been medically determined to have a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely limits one or more major life activities.

Sign Language Interpreters

Available for ranger programs with three weeks notice. Call 308-436-9700 or email us. This length of time and specificity is needed because there are limited American Sign Language interpreters available in the vicinity of Scotts Bluff National Monument.