Via Oregon - September/October 2021 - 26

access to the otherworldly basalt landscape. Take the
rest stop's southbound exit to an accessible, interpretive
boardwalk trail right into the lava flow, situated on Bureau
of Land Management federal land. Particularly gorgeous
when lit up in the yellows and reds of sunset, the boardwalk
crosses through the unusual vegetation that survives
the harsh conditions.
One of the crown jewels in the National Park system,
Yellowstone National Park is also considered one of
the best of its type for accessibility features. It provides
extensive options in various areas of the nearly 3,500-acre
park (1 percent of which is located in Idaho). Its website
includes several versions of the official park map for
visual- or hearing-impaired explorers. You can also download
a dedicated NPS Yellowstone app or purchase a book
on accessibility features at several locations. From Idaho,
travelers arrive at the West Entrance and can check conditions
at the helpful West Yellowstone Visitor Information
26 VIA | SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2021
clockwise from top: Esther Simplot Park; Thompson's Mills State
Heritage Site; Shore Acres State Park.
Center before making the drive to the Old Faithful Visitor
Education Center, which offers open-captioned films
and interactive exhibits with tactile components. Rent a
wheelchair to explore the thermal areas, including spouting
geysers and bubbling mud pits. Many of the geyser
basins have flat boardwalks for at least part of the route.
» State Parks: Salty wind, water
power, and dunes
In Oregon and Idaho, state parks have taken pains to augment
their websites with accessibility information in the
past few years. They continually improve documentation,
such as photos and videos of access from parking lots, restCLOCKWISE
FROM TOP: COURTESY CITY OF BOISE, GREG VAUGHN / ALAMY, GREG VAUGHN
Via Oregon - September/October 2021

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