Bryce Canyon City, UT, USA - Hotel (Bryce Canyon Lodge)

These wheelchair access and travel notes refer to the Xanterra operated Bryce Canyon Lodge in Bryce Canyon National Park. This is the only accomodation within the park itself. The advantage of staying here compared to one of the numerous hotels and motels outside the park is that once you're here, you're here! You can park you car and never touch it again until you are ready to leave. Against that, it is pricey for what you get, and there is an additional $25 charge to bring your car into the park.

Arriving at the lodge, there is a sign for 15 minute registration parking. Don't park here if you use a wheelchair, as the accessible entrance is actually on the other side of the building from this parking area! I arrived in the dark and stumbled around for 15 minutes trying to get in. Park instead in the lot on the other side.

The lodge itself is accessible via ramp, The restaurant and shop by registration are all accessible and there are handicapped toilets. The lodge has four wheelchair accessible rooms. My room was located in Sunrise Lodge, and you will need to get back in the car and drive to it after checking in.

My room (two queen beds, accessible, roll-in shower) was a large with good circulation space. However, I could not get the wheelchair between the beds, and had to move the table to get access to any bed. These rooms are pitched at travellers interested in hiking and viewing nature so they lack some of the things you might expect such as a TV or internet access. However, the room had a coffee-maker that was easily accessible. The room had heating and the controls were located at a comfortable height, and a fan that was accessible. A small balcony off the room was also accessible (the small step was ramped) and offered a very pleasant vista of trees and quite nature ( though not of the canyon itself). 

The bed was a perfect height and transfers in and out were easy. Bedside light could not be reached without hauling yourself up from the bed, and the room lights could not be turned off from in bed. The open closet space was easy to use.

The bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. The grab-rails by the toilet were well positioned. The toilet itself was of the raised ADA type, a little high but transferring on and off was easy enough. My room had a roll-in shower. There was a wall mounted shower seat (fold up type) and grab rails. The shower hose was hand-held and mounted on a rail that was easily reached from a wheelchair and from the shower seat. The shower controls could be easily reached. The shower should have been good, even perfect, except for a design flaw that I have seen in many places and infuriates me. One grab rail was mounted on the wall, running along behind the shower seat. So when you are sitting in the seat, the grab rail is driving into your back and constantly pushing you off. For those of us whose condition leads to impaired balance, it makes the whole showering experience an uncomfortable one, with the constant impression that you are about to topple off the seat.

Towels were placed a little high for comfort but I was able to reach them at a push.

The sink was located outside the shower/toilet room. There was plenty of knee space underneath the sink and it was easy to use with towels conveniently located beside it. 

The lodge is located just a short distance from the rim walk. However, the shortest path there is rough and difficult ot negotiate by chair (see other notes about Bryce Canyon Park here).

Bryce Canyon Lodge does offer usable accomodation for the lone wheelchair user. However the room (and the park itself) would be a lot more enjoyable and easy to use if you are travelling with a wlkie that can assist you.