Crabtree Adventures - Accessible Grand Canyon Railway Celebration Trip
Blog submitted by: Vanessa Crabtree (Feb 2024)
When my husband and I first started talking about taking a trip for our anniversary, we were still very new to the disability community. I’m a T-12 Paraplegic as of December 2022, and the pre-accident plans we had once imagined simply weren’t going to be possible anymore. Before my injury, our typical mode of travel was to stay at an Airbnb. Unfortunately, now that option felt uncertain and stressful, likely full of potential inconveniences—things like not knowing if doorways would be wide enough for my wheelchair, whether there would be steps at the entrance, or if the bathroom would have grab bars. Those unknowns were a little overwhelming. On top of that, we didn’t want to travel too far from our current home base in Phoenix. But after multiple weeks of 110+ degree temperatures, we absolutely, positively wanted to get out of Phoenix for a while!
At first, I suggested some kind of resort. At least in a larger hotel I could count on basics like wide doors and grab bars in the bathroom. My husband, being the wonderfully creative one, thought more about what we actually wanted to see and do together. We’ve always loved the outdoors—hiking, camping, and spending time in nature—and the Grand Canyon is one of those places we never hesitate to say “yes” to if the chance arises. When he asked me if I’d be willing to try riding a train to the Grand Canyon, he half-expected me to dislike the idea. Instead, I surprised him with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
I should admit: I’m a “typical millennial” when it comes to making phone calls. If I can avoid them, I will, and I usually do bookings online. My husband, on the other hand, is much quicker to just pick up the phone and talk to someone directly—and in this case, that really paid off. For our first anniversary trip as an interabled couple, the staff were incredibly helpful over the phone. They gladly explained which train cars would be accessible, and what options they had for packages that included a hotel room and meals. Honestly, the staff ended up being one of the highlights of this trip. Every single interaction was welcoming and warm, with a genuine curiosity about making sure my experience of the train as a wheelchair user was a good one.
The railway offers six classes of cars: Pullman, Coach, First Class, Observation Dome, Luxury Dome, and Luxury Parlor. On their website, only two are officially listed as ADA accessible—Coach and First Class. Both of these cars feature a transforming entry where the usual steps convert into a platform. A staff member then assists wheelchair users aboard with a portable, hand-crank lift. Once inside, you can wheel into the back section of the car, which has bathroom access and open seating space with large windows. It’s an inviting spot to travel. Unfortunately, the two-story observation domes remain inaccessible, as they can only be reached by a very narrow stairwell. It’s a shame, because spending time gazing out at the scenery is one of the most relaxing ways to pass a train ride. The luxury domes, however, can sometimes be accessed via wheelchair when they are the very last car on the train. According to staff we spoke with, it happens on occasion. The catch is that those cars don’t have accessible bathrooms, which I imagine is why they’re not listed on the website as ADA options. In practice, though, a trip could be managed without restroom access since the train ride itself is about two hours each way, with accessible bathrooms available on both ends of the journey.
For our trip, we decided to splurge a little and go First Class since we were celebrating our 10th anniversary. The extra space really made a difference—there was so much room between rows that I could easily wheel right up to our seats and position myself without trouble. It made transfers smooth and stress-free. When my husband went off exploring the train, I stretched out, propped my feet up on his seat, and reminded myself that my only real intention for this trip was to relax. My favorite part of First Class, though, had to be the included snacks. Since we were seated at the back of the car, the staff station (and snack station!) was right behind me. That meant I could either ask the staff to hand me a snack or simply roll back and help myself. It was a small thing, but it gave me an extra sense of independence.
There are actually several ways to experience the railway and the canyon. Some people take the train up, stay overnight at the Grand Canyon, and return the following day. For us, we stayed at the Railway Hotel for two nights, taking the train to the canyon and back on the middle day. That gave us a couple of hours to explore on our own at the rim. The day of the rail trip itself started with a theatrical wild-west show before boarding, setting a lighthearted tone right from the start. On the train there was musical entertainment, lively staff in each car providing assistance, instructions, jokes, and even bits of performance woven into the journey. Since so many people use this trip to celebrate something special—anniversaries, birthdays, and the like—the staff made it a point to recognize those occasions. Being celebrated and reminded of our anniversary all throughout the day added an extra layer of joy to the experience.
I’ll speed through the non-railway parts: the Railway Hotel was a great choice (though, as in many hotels, the carpet made pushing a wheelchair a little more of a workout). The included meals were buffet style, so depending on your tastes and needs, you might find them more or less worth it. At Grand Canyon National Park, the accessible buses were fantastic for getting around, though I admit that if I’d had an e-assist device, I would have used it to help cover the distance between the bus stops and the rim. And of course, seeing the Grand Canyon itself was every bit as breathtaking as expected. The views never get old, and the overly friendly squirrels provided their own kind of entertainment.
Looking back, it’s the staff who really made this a standout experience. Their attentiveness, warmth, and encouragement turned a logistical trip into something truly memorable. I would highly recommend this to anyone considering a similar adventure. It was a wonderful introduction to traveling as an interabled couple, and it left us excited for more. Who knows—maybe for our 20th anniversary we’ll find ourselves trying out the Luxury Parlor!
On to Adventure,
Vanessa Crabtree
p.s. Don’t judge my push technique… it’s still a work in progress! 🙂
Find us here:
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Grand Canyon & Railway links:
https://www.thetrain.com/
https://www.thetrain.com/accessibility/
https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm
TWIA
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