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All-terrain wheelchairs from Utah manufacturer Extreme Motus are available to visitors at Zion and Arches national parks, according to park information cited by The Drive. The unpowered chairs are offered first-come, first-served and require identification, proof of insurance and ranger training; details about broader availability are not confirmed.
All-terrain wheelchair rentals are now available at Zion and Arches national parks in Utah, giving some visitors an option for traveling over rougher paths, according to park information reported by The Drive. The chairs are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and require identification, proof of insurance and a short training session with a ranger.
Zion National Park announced that rentals began in August in a post on its official Instagram account, The Drive reported. The report also said that Arches National Park, near Moab, lists the chairs on its website. The available information does not establish whether other national parks have adopted the program.
The chairs are made by Extreme Motus, a Utah-based manufacturer. The model described in the report has large tires and a reclined seat, with a 47-inch wheelbase intended to aid stability. It measures 72 inches long in use and can fold to 30 inches using two quick-release pins. The chair weighs 55 pounds without a passenger.
The units are unpowered and lack push rims, so a visitor will likely need another person to push the chair. Extreme Motus lists versions rated for users weighing up to 250 pounds on its website, but the report does not specify which model or capacity each park supplies. The manufacturer says the chair can float in shallow water; that is a company claim, not a guarantee that a particular route or water crossing is safe.
Access Depends on More Than the Chair
Rough or unpaved terrain can limit access for visitors who use conventional wheelchairs, even where a park’s landscapes and trails are open to the public. A loaned all-terrain chair may let some visitors and their companions travel over surfaces that would otherwise be difficult to navigate, without requiring them to buy equipment for occasional use.
But the rentals do not make every trail accessible to every visitor. Because the chairs are not powered, their practical use depends on having someone able to push them, and on the terrain, distance and user’s needs. The reported 55-pound chair weight is in addition to the passenger’s weight. The service is best understood as another access option, not a universal solution or a promise that visitors can go anywhere.
Cost is one reason park loans may matter. The Drive reported that Extreme Motus chairs retail for about $4,500. Buying specialized equipment for a single trip or occasional outdoor use may be out of reach for some visitors, while a rental can provide access without that purchase. The report does not state whether the park rentals are free or what, if any, fees apply.
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A Limited Utah Parks Rollout
National parks preserve landscapes where trails and other routes may have limited mobility infrastructure. The National Park Service’s reported introduction of all-terrain chairs at Zion and their listing at Arches address part of that access challenge by making specialized equipment available at the destination.
The Utah rentals are not the only example of parks offering mobility equipment. The Drive cited Michigan’s state parks, which began offering tracked power chairs at some sites in 2021. Tracked powered equipment and the unpowered Extreme Motus chairs work differently, and each has limits; the comparison shows that outdoor-access programs can involve different equipment rather than one standard solution.
For the Utah rentals, the reported process includes a visitor or assistant showing identification and proof of insurance, followed by a brief ranger-led training. Availability is first-come, first-served, so visitors should not assume a chair will be waiting when they arrive. The cited information does not provide a reservation system or a detailed list of trails suitable for the equipment.
“The chair can float in “shallow water.””
— Extreme Motus
Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair
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Availability and Trail Limits
The available reporting does not say how many chairs each park has, whether visitors can reserve one, whether rentals carry a fee, or how long a visitor may use a chair. It also does not identify the specific trails or conditions for which each park recommends the equipment. Those details may affect whether the option is useful for a particular trip.
It is also unclear whether parks beyond Zion and Arches offer the same chairs or whether the program is planned to expand. The Drive describes the chairs as unpowered and notes the need for a helper, but individual visitors’ ability to use them will vary. Visitors should not assume the equipment is suitable for every person, route or water crossing based only on the manufacturer’s description.
off-road wheelchair for outdoor adventures
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Check With Parks Before Visiting
Visitors considering a rental should contact Zion or Arches directly before traveling to confirm current availability, any fees, eligibility and the required documents. They can also ask whether staff can advise on routes and terrain suitable for the chair. Because the reported arrangement is first-come, first-served, checking ahead may clarify options but does not guarantee a unit.
The next public information to watch for is whether either park publishes more detail about reservations, trail guidance and rental terms, and whether other parks add similar equipment. The source material reports availability at the two Utah parks but does not confirm a wider National Park Service rollout.
accessible outdoor mobility equipment
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Key Questions
Which national parks are reported to offer the chairs?
Zion and Arches in Utah are reported to have them. The source does not confirm availability at other national parks.
Can visitors reserve an all-terrain wheelchair?
The reported rentals are first-come, first-served. The source does not describe a reservation system, so visitors should contact the park for current procedures.
What does a visitor need to rent one?
The reported requirements include identification from the user or an assistant, proof of insurance and a brief training session with a park ranger.
Can the wheelchair move without someone pushing it?
The described Extreme Motus chair is unpowered and has no push rims. The report says users will likely need another person to push it, particularly on unpaved terrain.
Does the chair make every park trail accessible?
No. The equipment may help on some rough surfaces, but the reporting does not identify suitable trails or claim that every route is accessible. Ask the park about terrain, route conditions and current equipment availability.
Source: rss
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