The Chesapeake region’s national parks, historic trails, and other special places offer a rich array of experiences for everyone, including visitors with accessibility needs.
The places that tell Chesapeake stories and represent its diverse resources vary greatly in their facilities, programs, and management. This page includes links to many of the places that offer features and programs that are accessible, or generally accessible—meaning they meet all or most of the current accessibility standards, with few barriers. This may apply to particular features rather than the site overall, so it is best to contact the sites directly for information on accessibility for specific needs.
There are more than 50 national park units in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information on a park’s accessibility is usually given in the “Plan Your Visit” section of the park’s website.
You can locate national parks in the Chesapeake watershed by visiting the Places to Go section, by downloading the free Chesapeake Explorer app, or by selecting a specific site at Find a Park. General information about accessibility in national parks is available here.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed includes parts of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Like national parks, agencies that manage public lands and facilities for the states are striving to improve access for all visitors.
Learn about accessible recreation opportunities at state parks in:
The National Park Service works with many partners to provide Chesapeake information and experiences, especially related to accessing the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Accessibility for visitors with disabilities at partner sites will vary. a href="/places">Find sites with accessible feeatures or contact places directly for specific information on accessibility.
