
Travelers with physical limitations, but who do not rely on a wheelchair or scooter, have many options. It marks the entrance to Denali National Park and is host to most activities both outside and within the park. The Denali Park area is one of Alaska's most popular places to visit. Other, more adventurous, accessible travel activities in the area include a Talkeetna Wilderness Jetboat tour along the Susitna River, or, for those who cannot walk long distances but have better upper body mobility, a relaxed Denali Kayak Trip on Byers Lake. These hour-long flights work well for travelers with limited mobility, although they do require two or three steps up into a small plane. The best way to experience the mountain is via a fixed wing flightseeing tour. The quaint, historic village of Talkeetna is the base of activity for North America's tallest peak, Denali (formerly McKinley).
TRIPS TO ALASKA MANUAL
With advance notice, the tour operators can provide a manual wheelchair for use onboard as well as for assistance boarding.Ī visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska's prime marine wildlife rehabilitation facility, is a perfect complement to a day cruise. The boats cannot accommodate motorized wheelchairs or scooters. The two largest day tour operators both run boats accessible to manual wheelchairs. Many visitors opt to experience the park's coastal fjords, tidewater glaciers, and abundant marine wildlife aboard a day cruise. Seward, a small port town on the Kenai Peninsula, is the gateway to the stunning Kenai Fjords National Park. These include Prince William Sound Flightseeing from Anchorage (requires getting in and out of a small plane), Turnagain Arm Tour (requires stepping in and out of a van, limited walking), and the Chinitna Bay National Park Bear Viewing Flight from Anchorage (requires getting in and out of a plane, limited walking on slightly uneven terrain). This includes the Anchorage Museum, which can be visited at your own pace.įlightseeing and driving tours are an excellent option for travelers who have some mobility. Several of the city's favorite cultural sites and outdoor areas are fully accessible. AnchorageĪnchorage is Alaska's largest city and home to about 40 percent of the state's population. Each motorcoach can accommodate up to two wheelchair passengers at one time. Because seating needs to be reconfigured, travelers should notify the Park Connection at least 48 hours in advance if wheelchair accessibility is required. The Park Connection, a deluxe motorcoach transportation service, running between the Denali Park area and Seward, operates lift-equipped buses.

GoldStar Dome Alaska Railroad cars, and the Wilderness Express and McKinley Explorer private dome cars all have elevators to their second-level seating areas. Passenger trains are wheelchair accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Alaska Railroad provides wheelchair lifts at all stations.

And while it is still a remote, and oftentimes, wild place to visit, our tourism infrastructure has grown to accommodate travelers with mobility limitations. See All Advice Are there tour options in Alaska for people with limited mobility?Īlaska is a pristine state with unparalleled natural beauty that draws thousands of travelers from all over the world every year.
