Arizona has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. Here are just a few of them.
Most of the links given were found through Internet search. Some places I have been able to visit and a few have been recommended to me by other people who have been there. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.
Loren Worthington produces an outstanding website for Arizona: www.accessingarizona.com
Federal
State
Local
Private
Miscellaneous
Federal
Grand Canyon National Park
There are a couple of accessible trails at this World Heritage Site. The Grand Canyon lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. In this semi-arid land of raised plateaus and structural basins, the Colorado River has cut an extensive canyon, averaging 4,000′ deep for 277. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest.Be aware that this is high country. The rim is nearly 7000′ above sea level. We visited the Grand Canyon in January. It was bitter cold (-6 F˚) but not very crowded. I was impressed how quickly the wheelchair accessible path was plowed.
Trail of Time 1.3-mile trail between Verkamp’s Visitor Center and Yavapai Geology Museum
Rim Trail 13 miles, mostly pavedAccessibility Accessibility Guide
South Rim Pocket Map North Rim Pocket Map
Visitors Center phone 928-638-7888
Grand Canyon National Park AZ overlook from wheelchair accessible path. 
Trail of Time, ADA Wheelchair accessible paved path Grand Canyon National Park AZ Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument has a couple of wheelchair accessible trails. The Monument preserves two volcanoes, one which erupted about 1085 and a smaller, older one. At the time of the last eruption the surrounding land was turned into a wasteland of cinders and basaltic lava. Over the years, vegetation has slowly re-established. The volcanic field and the surrounding pine forest are now habitat for a wide array of animal life.
Phone 928-526-0502 Here is the Monument’s website. Accessibility Hikes & Trails “Ancient Times”, the newspaper for Flagstaff Area National Monuments.
Lava Flow Trail 1 mile with a .25 mile accessible loop.Bonito Vista Trail (Facebook) 0.3 miles round trip from the Lava Flow Trail parking lot.Know more about Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails? Is any of the information given here incorrect? If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.
State
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Dead Horse Ranch State Park has some accessible and easy trails. The park is set by the Verde River, near the town of Cottonwood, Arizona. Set in the Cottonwood and Willow riparian gallery forest, it is a good place for hiking, horseback riding, camping and birdwatching. There are many species of mammals and a great variety of reptiles and amphibians.
See Malia’s Miles for a great description with photographs.
Phone 928-634-5283 Trails Maps Map & Brochure Here is the park website.
Canopy Trail 0.25 mile loops “under a Freemont Cottonwood tree canopy. Bird watching & wildlife viewing.”
There are accessible trails around each lagoon. They are West Lagoon 0.39 miles, Middle Lagoon 0.41 miles, and East Lagoon 0.72 miles.
? The Verde River Greenway is a shared-use trail along the river. From the photos and maps it appears that it might be easy walking, but be sure to check with the Ranger Station first. 928-634-5283Know more about Dead Horse Ranch State Park?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails? Is any of the information given here incorrect? If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.Kartchner Caverns State Park
The Kartchner Caverns are massive rooms dissolved from limestone and containing remarkable mineral formations. Throne Room contains one of the world’s longest soda straw stalactites and a 58-foot high column. The Big Room contains the world’s most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk.The cave tours at Kartchner Caverns State Park are wheelchair accessible, but there are a lot of restrictions as well as a requirement to book a tour, so be sure to call in advance. The number is 1-520-586-2283. Crutches and walkers are not allowed, so again, call to be sure a loaner wheelchair is available for you. Tours are $23 per adult. From their website: “Most above ground and below ground areas on the park are handicapped accessible excepting most parts of the hiking trails.” Here are some Google reviews for the park and its tours.
Accessibility Here is the park website.
Local
Arizona – Sonoran Desert Museum
The Arizona – Sonoran Desert Museum us mostly wheelchair accessible.
“The 98 acre Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium.” There are two miles of walking paths through desert habitats planted with 1,200 types of plants. 230 animal species live in this primarily outdoor museum. There is also a large mineral collection.
Their website says that, “96% of our exhibits are viewable by wheelchair. The Museum maintains a small fleet of manual wheelchairs, and child strollers available free of charge. A limited number of electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) are available for rent at our front ticket window on a first-come, first serve basis.” Here is a map of the trails and gardens and here is their website.
Phone 520-883-2702The city of Phoenix has some wheelchair accessible trails listed at their website.
Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden looks from their website to be wheelchair accessible.
Private
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists wheelchair accessible trails in Arizona.
Miscellaneous
8 Wheelchair-accessible Arizona Attractions. Thank you, JP Bruce, for bringing this article to my attention.
Accessing Arizona, by Loren Worthington, is an eMagazine about wheelchair-accessible events, sports & locations in Arizona.
Nature For The Blind has a directory of Braille trails for almost every state in the US and for many other countries.
Wheelchairtraveling.com is an outstanding resource.