Accessible Alaska

Because of the undeveloped character of Alaska [1], much of the state is not readily accessible to those with disabilities. This is particularly true in parts of bush Alaska, where even having a flush toilet may be a luxury, and entering small aircraft is a major challenge. Despite this, many towns and cities—particularly those that see an influx of seniors as cruise ship passengers each summer—have made great strides in recent years. Even in remote areas, some Forest Service and State of Alaska cabins have wheelchair ramps, outsized outhouses, and fishing platforms. In addition, quite a few trails around Alaska have been built for wheelchairs, including popular ones in Ketchikan [2], Juneau [3], and Anchorage [4]. Hotels, buses, trains, cruise ships, tour boats, and ferries throughout the state all have some sort of accommodation for travelers in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

A good place for travelers with disabilities is Access Alaska (907/248-4777 or 800/770-4488, www.accessalaska.org [5]), a nonprofit independent-living center in Anchorage that can assist travelers with specific needs, including wheelchair-accessible hotels and restaurants, along with accessible horseback rides and river trips. Other independent-living centers are in Fairbanks [6] (907/479-7940 or 800/770-7940) and Juneau [3] (907/586-4920).

In Anchorage, Hertz (800/654-3131, www.hertz.com [7]) has rental cars with hand controls, and Alaska Cab (907/563-5353) offers lift-equipped van service.