Accessibility

Limberlost Trail is made of crushed greenstone, making it an accessible surface.

 

Parkwide Facilities

Restrooms and Buildings - Most restrooms and buildings are accessible, or accessible with assistance.

Lodging - Accessible overnight lodging is available at Lewis Mountain, Skyland Resort, and Big Meadows Lodge.

Picnic Grounds and Campgrounds - Accessible sites are available at all park picnic grounds and campgrounds. Accessible shower and laundry facilities are available at Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain Campgrounds. Restrooms at all picnic grounds are accessible, or accessible with assistance.

Skyline Drive Overlooks - The majority of overlooks along Skyline Drive have an accessible parking area for visitors to take in the spectacular views from their vehicle.

Service Animals

In accordance to National Park Service guidance on service animals, dogs are the only animals that can be classified as service animals, and they must perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. If the service dog meets this criteria, they are legally permitted anywhere that visitors can go. Owners are strongly encouraged to identify their working service dog in order to help prevent unwarranted complaints from other visitors.

If you bag your service dog's waste, be sure to have a bag or canister to put it in until you can find a trash can. Do not leave dog waste bags in trees, on trail posts, or discarded in the woods. If there’s no trash can immediately available, take it with you until you find one.

Visitor Services

Park Brochure - The Park brochure is available in braille at entrance stations and visitor centers. You can also download the brochure in Braille Ready Format (brf).

Ranger Programs - Many of Shenandoah's ranger-led programs are accessible, as indicated on the ranger program schedule.

National Park Service Mobile App - The mobile app offers a fully accessible experience with tools to benefit visitors with accessibility needs, such as audio descriptions of exhibits along trails and roads and in visitor centers.

Assistive Listening Devices - Assistive listening devices are available for loan at both visitor centers for ranger programs and park films. Please visit the information desk for assistance. Audio description is available for exhibits through the National Park Service app.

Virtual Tours - Many of our exhibits and visitor centers are available as virtual tours, which can be viewed from anywhere.

Hiking Trails

Limberlost Trail - Limberlost Trail is a fully-accessible circuit hike that passes through a beautiful section of forest. Since 1996, several organizations have donated labor, equipment, supplies, and funding to help Shenandoah staff make the trail accessible.

All-terrain Wheelchairs and Accessibility Hiking Carts - All-terrain wheelchairs and accessibility hiking carts are permitted anywhere foot travel is allowed, including trails and wilderness. Any device "designed solely for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion, that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area," is permitted.

How can I reserve an accessibility hiking cart? - Please contact Community Gear Library by sending an email to [e-mail] for information about reserving an accessibility hiking cart at no cost.

 

Accessibility hiking cart with a passenger and carrier on a trail.

Community Gear Library | Harriet Flynn