Grand Canyon ideas wanted
 

I am planning a trip to the Grand Canyon in late April. Will be staying in Flagstaff probably for 4 nights after flying into Phoenix. I will be travelling with my parents, one of them is confined to a wheel chair and not able to walk. I am looking for things to do in the surrounding areas that are wheelchair accessible. Our main purpose is the Grand Canyon but have time to see other sights and attractions. As far as the Grand Canyon goes, I would like to know if some lookouts or stops are better then the others. Our stops will be limited due to the fact that my father is in a wheelchair and it is a effort for him to get in and out of the car. Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated

I recommend you plan your stops to include a) the area near the village & hotels (El Tovar, Bright Angel, etc) and perhaps b) near the visitor center.

Both offer a long walking path so you can get multiple vantage points without having to drive. At the village you can stop in shops, have a chance to see the condors soar, and get a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or coffee shop in Bright Angel, all without having to get in/out of car. You can drive up very, very close to the path by pulling up behind the Bright Angel cabins, or use the El Tovar Hotel drop off circle.

I'd start at the village first as it offers far more to do for all. If he is ok in wheelchair for a while, one can stay with him while others wander a bit.

Take a helicopter tour.

For the G.Canyon I would not stay all the time in Flagstaff but stay two days in Tusayan close to the park entrance.Paul

Many of the viewpoints are handicap accessible and if you have a handicap plate you can drive your own car (check with the rangers) along the rim trail past Bright Angle and stop at the best viewing places. Dad could stay in the car or get out as you see fit and the rest of you could hike out or wheel him to get the good views. If he is willing to sit in the lobby of the el Tovar or on its front patio and watch for condors or the view, you could take time for a short hike down Bright Angel trail. Outside of Flagstaff is a place called Walnut Canyon, it is not very handicap accessible but has great ancient habitats. A drive from Flagstaff to Sedona would give you some great viewing of red rock.

Take a look at the Grand Canyon's accessibility page on their website:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm

Scroll down about halfway and there is a link to a PDF file which has a lot of info. It does say the guide is out of date but I suspect most of the info is still reliable - there are accessibility ratings with info on door width, restrooms, etc. I believe the Rim Trail east of the main village at the South Rim is paved and accessible.

Other places to look into are:
- Montezuma Castle, just off I-10 about 45 miles south of Flagstaff. I think almost the entire trail is wheelchair accessible. http://www.nps.gov/moca/
- Drive through Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument just a little ways north of Flagstaff. You can see quite a bit from your vehicle, and some trails are somewhat wheelchair accessible.
http://www.nps.gov/sucr
http://www.nps.gov/wupa/