During my recent trip to Idaho, I was blown away by the wheelchair accessibility within the state. Sometimes when traveling, I find that I may have a difficult time managing rough terrain, using uneven crosswalks, or even making it up steep hills in my power wheelchair, but in Idaho this was certainly not the case. I found so many accessible activities here that I just can’t keep them all to myself. I want to share some of my favorite wheelchair-friendly things to do in Idaho with you, so that you can have as much fun as I did.
Visit Otherworldly Sights at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve located in Arco is completely unlike any other place in the U.S. that I have visited. The landscape is filled with lava and sagebrush, and it looks like you have just landed on the moon. You have to see it to understand this vast area and admire the beauty of it all.
During my visit, I started at the visitor center. This gave me an overall idea of the layout of the park and I was able to find that there are three wheelchair-accessible trails that I could easily maneuver. I also enjoyed the gift shop here and was able to grab a refrigerator magnet to add to my collection. From the visitor center, my mom and I drove to each of the three accessible trails and I was able to roll through them all.
North Crater Flow Trail
This trail is completely wheelchair accessible and is about 1/3 mile long. It is a paved, raised path that winds through the most amazing views of the lava landscape. There is plenty of accessible parking at the base of the trail and the photo ops are incredible!
Devils Orchard Trail
Devils Orchard Trail is a 1/2 mile paved loop that winds through vast areas and gorgeous views of lava and sagebrush. It is wheelchair accessible the entire way and I even found several benches along the path where you could stop and take a break if needed. I was too anxious to see more of the pathway to take a break, but I did stop just to take in all the sights and sounds of this incredible place. I also enjoyed the plaques along the trail that explain what you are looking at and I love that they have wheelchair accessible restrooms and an accessible picnic table located near the parking area.
Snow Cone Trail
Although Snow Cone Trail is a short 1/10 mile long, this wheelchair-accessible paved path leads you to an exciting end! Not knowing what to expect as I rolled along the trail, I reached the end fairly quickly and wondered what everyone had gathered around and were looking down into. To my surprise, it was actually the base of a cinder cone, which is a small volcano covered with snow in it’s base. This particular spot is known for having year-round snow even if you are visiting like I did in the middle of June.
View the Breathtaking Shoshone Falls
Known as the “Niagara of the West”, Shoshone Falls absolutely took my breath away! With wheelchair-accessible parking and viewing platforms that I could easily access in my powered wheelchair, I sat for over an hour and just admired Shoshone Falls. They are mesmerizingly taller than Niagara! The falls are 200 feet tall and 900 feet wide, and located in Twin Falls. The viewing area sits along the Canyon Rim Trail, which is six miles long in total. It is fully paved and can be a bit steep in some areas, but where the falls are located, it is completely smooth and flat. I also loved that there was a small shop located near the parking/viewing area, where you could buy a drink or snack and even some awesome postcards and souvenirs.
Roll Along the Prison Grounds at Old Idaho Penitentiary
I will be honest, when I considered visiting the Old Idaho Penitentiary, I thought to myself that an old prison wouldn’t be that exciting, but I was so wrong. This place is fascinating! Upon arrival, I was able to park near the entrance in a wheelchair-accessible spot and immediately saw the stoic prison with beautiful flowers planted all around. I quickly found my guide inside after showing my tickets and my accessible tour began. This prison housed both men and women and was in operation from 1872-1973. What really blew me away was that even children were imprisoned here! That’s right, the youngest child to be held here was only 10 years old. Thankfully, times have changed, but it was really interesting to learn some of the prisoners’ stories while listening to our guide. He really brought it to life, so much so that I had an eerie feeling as I rolled through the cell holding areas. Most all of the buildings are accessible and I felt like I saw so much. I also enjoyed seeing old photos along the way that were posted inside some of the buildings. If you’re in Boise, this is definitely a must-see!
Enjoy the Outdoors at Amazing Parks
Esther Simplot Park
Located in Boise, Esther Simplot Park covers 55 acres, including 23 acres of water. I was able to park in wheelchair-accessible parking and roll along a smoothly paved pathway around the waterfront beach areas. The views of the water are stunning and I really enjoyed watching the ducks that crossed the pathway and went into the water. People were having fun with their families and enjoying swimming, kayaking, and wading to stay cool and I also found several picnic tables near the water. The beaches have ramps leading down to them and this park is a perfect way to spend any day in Boise.
Kathryn Albertson Park
Kathryn Albertson Park is a gorgeous area found near downtown Boise. I was happy to see that this 41-acre park included wide paved pathways and paved loop trails that wheelchair users could easily traverse. The main loop is one mile long and also one of my favorite trails. I was able to enjoy the wildlife and hear the birds, see the wildflowers, and roll along the water during my visit. I was happy to see plenty of benches here as well, just in case you may want to take a break and enjoy the sights and sounds in this outdoor space. The wheelchair-accessible parking is located near the main trail entrance, and there are also accessible restrooms located at the parking area.
Ann Morrison Park
Ann Morrison Park sits in downtown Boise and has the most spectacular views of the Boise River. This park is housed within 150 acres and includes plenty of paved hiking, biking, and wheelchair-accessible pathways. I am also thrilled that this park is home to an inclusive playground that has easy access for people who use wheelchairs.
Admire Street Art at Freak Alley Gallery
Who doesn’t like to see art for free? Such a fun stop when in downtown Boise is Freak Alley Gallery. This is the perfect spot to enjoy art and totally immerse yourself in the beauty and the colors. This area is the largest northwest open-air multi-artist mural gallery and when I say it’s large… I mean large! This gallery is open to the public 24/7 and is absolutely free and wheelchair accessible. The outdoor gallery can be found between 8th and 9th streets and Bannock and Idaho Streets. The murals, graffiti, and artwork is in an alley between streets and provides the most beautiful backdrop for selfies and fun photo ops.
Immerse Yourself in Outdoor Theatre at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is not your ordinary theater. I was absolutely blown away when I visited this gorgeous outdoor amphitheater situated alongside the Boise River. It is open May through September, and tickets sell out quickly, so get yours as early as possible before your visit. The wheelchair-accessible seating in the amphitheater is in a great location, as there isn’t a bad seat under the stars. All the walkways are paved and easily manageable from the parking area to your seats. I also enjoyed a pre-show mini-concert on the Meadow Stage with a live band, while eating a quick dinner of chicken salad that I purchased from Shakespeare’s Marketplace on site. Inside the Marketplace, you can purchase appetizers, drinks, desserts, and even a tasty dinner. If you choose, you are also allowed to bring in your own food and beverages. I was ecstatic to see that “Murder on the Orient Express” was on stage during the time of my visit and it certainly did not disappoint. The actors were great and had me enthralled the entire show. No matter what show is taking stage during the time of your visit, this is a must-do when you are in the area!
View Stars with the World’s Largest Fully Wheelchair-Accessible Public Telescope
The College of Southern Idaho’s Centennial Observatory is located at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. During my visit, I was in disbelief of how accessible this place is. Usually, when I am rolling my wheelchair up to a telescope to try to position my eye to the scope, I can never seem to get in the correct spot to actually see through it. But here, that was certainly not the case. This observatory has an elevator that takes visitors to the upper floor. Once there, a wheelchair lift is available to take you to the observation deck. As the ceiling opened up, this enormous telescope allowed me to remain in my wheelchair and roll over to it, and look through a “periscope” which then gave me the views of a lifetime. I can’t even believe how easy this process was for me as normally I have such a hard time maneuvering the scope only to be disappointed with my view. I was able to see objects in the sky further than the human eye can even see, all from inside the building, while seated in my wheelchair. This is such a great experience and I would highly recommend if you are in the area. Oh, and no worries, there’s even a large, companion care restroom inside the observatory as well, so stay as long as you like!
Eat Your Way Around Boise on a Delicious Food Tour
In any city that I visit, I love trying local restaurants and Boise did not disappoint! The best and most fun way to enjoy local foods during a visit to Boise is with an accessible food tour with Indulge Boise. The Capital City Culinary & Cultural Tour was easy to book online and just as the welcome email said, our knowledgeable tour guide Bob met us promptly at the scheduled time. He was very polite and friendly, and after our introductions, we began walking and rolling through downtown Boise to our first stop on our list, Boise Fry Company. Here, they have a variety of burgers and fry choices with lots of seasonings and dipping sauces, including blueberry ketchup! Actually, it was pretty tasty but their own special sauce was absolutely divine! After devouring my meal, the next stop we rolled to was Ansots. Here, I tried the chorizo and chicken croquettes and the owner even came out to say hello. I really loved this place and felt welcomed. I was already getting full, but when we rolled further to the third stop and I could smell the aroma of Italian food, I was immediately ready for another treat. The staff were super friendly and the meatballs were out of this world! Thinking this was the final stop, as I didn’t even know if I would be able to eat anything else, Bob said ice cream was up next for our last stop of the tour. Since dessert goes in a separate stomach, or so they say, whoever “they” are, I rolled inside Stella’s. Stella’s blew me away! They have 16 vegan ice cream options to choose from and many more milk-based ice creams as well. I quickly chose the vegan ice cream birthday cake, and it was probably better than any that I’ve ever eaten. Spending the day with Bob was super fun and the food in Boise is absolutely scrumptious! He knew where all the crosswalks were, he was knowledgeable about the location of the accessible toilets, and even where to enter the restaurants with easy access. This is such a fun way to get a taste of Boise!
As you can see, Idaho has some fantastic wheelchair-accessible experiences to offer. I never dreamed that Idaho had so much more than delicious potatoes, but I already want to plan my next visit to see even more of the state.
Feature image credited to Cory Lee.
Published on July 26, 2024
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