Accessible Guide to Hiking and Backpacking the North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park

In June 2010, our family discovered that the Grand Canyon's quieter North Rim offered not only breathtaking scenery but also an unforgettable wilderness adventure that could include Kellisa every step of the way. While most visitors experience the canyon from busy overlooks, we combined spectacular accessible viewpoints with a memorable night camping in the backcountry, creating one of the most unique experiences of our travels.

2015 (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

The little girl who wasn't supposed to survive more than a few hours at most turned 16-years-old in May 2015. Kellisa endured 22 surgeries, countless seizures, and too many medical appointments and tests to count or even make an educated guess before arriving at her milestone birthday. 

 

Left & Middle- Blue Springs State Park

Right- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Kellisa's first wilderness experience happened on January 1, 2000, with a hike while attached to Lisa in a baby carrier at Blue Springs State Park, FL. 15 years later, to the day, we returned to the park for our first outdoor excursion of the year. We stopped at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge the following day on our drive back home.

2014 (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

 

Lisa was in the final stretch of completing her master’s degree and needed as much peace and quiet in the house as possible. I knew it would be easier to travel with both girls than to try and keep them quiet in the house. 

 

Egypt not only wanted to join her sister on her adventures, but it had become clear that Egypt also shared the same passion for travel, hiking, camping, and wildlife observations.

 

2013 (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

After Kellisa's cancer scare at the end of 2012, I wanted 2013 to be a big year for Kellisa. I had the idea of hiking a trail in all 50 states in one year and decided to make an attempt at that goal. 

 

We started with a 25K race across the desert in Big Bend National Park in January. Kellisa was the first wheelchair finisher in the history of the race. 

 

2012 (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

 After three surgeries in 2011, Kellisa was able to go another year without a surgery. 

 

We started the year off on the 1st of January with a day trip to the Okefenokee Swamp followed by a few local hikes, and Kellisa's first driving lesson in a golf cart.

 

Top Left- Chasing Egypt (Okefenokee Swamp)   Top Right- Julington-Durbin, Jacksonville, FL   Bottom- Golf cart driving lessons, Peace River, FL

 

2011 (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

 The year started off on a high note as Egypt’s adoption was finalized in January. 

36 National Parks Visited

 

Arches, Big Bend, Biscayne, Canyonlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Channel Islands, Congaree, Crater Lake, Cuyahoga Valley, Death Valley, Denali, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, Haleakala, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Mammath Cave, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Pinnacles, Redwoods, Rocky Mountain, Theodore Roosevelt, Saguaro, Shenandoah, Voyageurs, White Sands, Wind Cave, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion

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Jackson Lake Scenic Cruise

 Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming

August 2023

We only had one full day in Grand Teton National Park and we decided to take the Jackson Lake Scenic Cruise based on how much Kellisa enjoyed the nearby Lake Yellowstone boat tour from an earlier trip to the area. The excursion wasn't exactly accessible, but with some assistance from the incredible staff, we were able to make it work. I did have to carry Kellisa up a few stairs (pictures below) and we made the decision to sit outside the main seating area. This seating arrangement meant we were exposed to the elements and on this day, it was the sun that was relentless. It was the worst time to leave my hat back in our cabin.

I could have carried Kellisa down a few more stairs, through a tight door, and then maneuver her to a seat inside the boat, but this seemed a little too risky for my liking. Maybe 20 years ago when Kellisa was smaller and I was filled with "youthful determination" but we don't have anything to prove at this point along Kellisa's Path. 

Plus, Kellisa has always enjoyed wind in her face and our views of the surrounding mountains towering high through the clouds were less obscured from our outdoor vantage point.

Kellisa made fast friends with our accommodating crew and enjoyed spending a few private moments with them as I retrieved her chair upon our return to the dock. I could have stored the chair on the boat, but that was extra lifting and I'm in a "Lift only as needed" mode in life. 

After our feet and wheels were back on the ground, we headed a short distance to enjoy a relaxing lunch which would power us through our planned afternoon hike along the shore of Jackson Lake. 

BOAT RIDES

NATIONAL PARKS

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Historic Mountain Cabin at Colter Bay Village

 Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming

August 2023

Kellisa and her father had 2 nights and 1 day available to spend in Grand Teton National Park. The only lodging available at the last minute was a regular cabin in Colter Bay Village with 2 beds. If we wanted to stay inside the park, we needed to select this non-ADA cabin. The benefits of not spending time we didn't have driving, we knew we could make it work, especially since it was just two nights. 

The route from our parking spot was a little rough and the entrance was narrow with an immediate tight turn, but once inside our cabin, we found it plenty big enough for Kellisa to maneuver around in her manual wheelchair. This was Kellisa's first visit to Grand Teton National Park and we would have loved to stay in the park longer. Maybe next time, we can plan further out and book an accessible cabin for at least a week. 

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Canyonlands National Park

 Utah

July 2023

Egypt Days

National Parks

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Arches National Park

 Utah

July 2023

EGYPT DAYS

NATIONAL PARKS

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