Zion National Park launches free all-terrain wheelchair program

Zion National Park has launched a new program to increase trail accessibility for visitors with disabilities, mobility challenges, or injuries. The park is the first in the United States to own accessibility equipment, such as an Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair, that is available for public use. While other national parks may have similar equipment, it is typically owned by nonprofit organizations rather than the parks themselves.

The Extreme Motus chair is available to borrow at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The chair is designed to navigate difficult terrain but is not self-powered and requires an assistant to push it. Because the chair is too large for the Zion Canyon shuttle, the National Park Service provides an accessibility pass allowing users to drive and park on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during shuttle season.

Recommended trails for the chair include the Pa’rus Trail, Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock Trail, and Lower Emerald Pools Trail. The program was made possible through support from the Zion Forever Project and donations facilitated by the nonprofit 2Live4.