By Gabby Sherwood and Duke Gonzales
No barrier should impede a person’s access to the spiritual wonder and inspiring experiences that nature provides.
Rocky Mountain Conservancy is committed to removing barriers for people to enjoy the park’s and Conservancy’s facilities, programs, and services. Every person deserves an equal opportunity to safely explore the wonders of Rocky Mountain National Park. Our parks and public lands belong to everyone.
Below are a few of the 2025 accessibility projects that have been made possible by the dedication of Conservancy staff, park staff, various partners, and the generosity of donors and members.
- Accessible Field Institute Bus – Thanks to the R.C. Kemper Charitable Trust and Foundation, this year we began using a new accessible bus that includes two wheelchair spaces, a wheelchair lift, and 12 standard seats. This allows us to expand our educational access to offer courses to individuals with mobility challenges who have previously been unable to take full advantage of education programs.
- Rocky Mountain National Park Accessibility Guide – When completed in 2026, this guide will provide individuals of varying abilities a “know before you go” roadmap to Rocky. The guide will include detailed location information such as distances, surfaces, and amenities that can be found across Rocky, with a focus on information that would be helpful for people with disabilities. A variety of park experiences will be discussed in the guide, including trails, scenic overlooks, picnic areas, and visitor centers. When complete, the visitor access guide will be available in several formats including PDF and print form, braille, large-print, and an audio description version with a written transcript.
- Accessible Picnic Tables in Rocky – With the goal of increasing universal accessibility at campsites, aging and failing picnic tables at campgrounds and picnic areas across the park will be replaced. Beginning in May, 135 new tables were installed at the Glacier Basin and Moraine Park Campgrounds. The tables, made of reinforced concrete with a 50-year life span, were made possible with support from the National Park Foundation.
- GRIT All-Terrain Wheelchairs – This spring, Rocky Mountain Conservancy worked with the Estes Park Mountain Shop to purchase three GRIT all-terrain wheelchairs. The GRIT chair is an all-terrain wheelchair to increase recreation access to individuals with mobility challenges. A total of four GRIT chairs are now available for use at no cost at the shop and can be used in the Estes Park area and in Rocky. Call the Estes Park Mountain Shop at 970-586-6548 to reserve a GRIT chair. This project was made possible by individual donors, the Sam Schneider Legacy Fund, and in collaboration with Estes Park Mountain Shop.
- Wheelchair Sledge – Rocky Mountain Conservancy funded the park education team’s purchase of a wheelchair sledge, which allows students in wheelchairs to attend and participate in the Conservancy’s winter field trip programs. The sledge is a platform and skis with an adjustable brake to maintain control over varied terrain, which can be pushed or pulled across the snow. It accommodates most manual wheelchairs and allows users to remain in their personal mobility devices without the need for transfers.
- West-Side Accessible Fishing Opportunities – In partnership with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), the Conservancy supports fly-fishing events on the west side of Rocky that are aimed at reducing accessibility barriers to this popular sport. In 2025, Rocky staff scheduled three of these events. This program is made possible in part with a grant from the National Park Foundation.
- Winter Speaker Series Videos – In response to many requests, Conservancy and park staff collaborated to produce videos of the Winter Speakers Series held at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at Rocky. Once reviewed and approved, the audio-described and captioned videos from the recorded presentations will be available for public viewing on Rocky’s web page. Stay tuned for details by following the Conservancy’s Facebook, Instagram, or signing up for our e-newsletter at www.RMConservancyorg/subscribe.
- American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for Park Staff – The Conservancy funds American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for park staff who use ASL for communication during mandatory meetings and trainings. The availability of ASL interpreters ensures that all employees have a sense of belonging and access to essential information. ASL interpretation is also available for the public with advance notice and coordination.
