Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park are two of the most unique and breathtaking national parks in the United States. Both parks offer visitors the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes in the country, but they couldn’t be more different. Canyonlands, located in Utah, is a vast and rugged desert landscape with towering sandstone cliffs and deep canyons. Dry Tortugas, located in Florida, is a chain of remote coral islands surrounded by crystal-clear waters and teeming with marine life. Imagine the contrast between the red rocks, arches and canyons of Canyonlands and the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of Dry Tortugas. Picture yourself exploring the rugged backcountry of Canyonlands by foot or off-road vehicle, then imagine yourself snorkeling among colorful coral reefs and tropical fish in the waters around Dry Tortugas. These two parks are truly like night and day, and both are worth a visit for anyone who loves nature and adventure.
Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park has a variety of hiking trails that range from easy scenic walks to strenuous backcountry routes. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include:
– The Mesa Arch Trail: This easy, 0.5-mile round trip hike takes visitors to a viewpoint overlooking the White Rim Sandstone Formation and the Canyonlands landscape.
– The Upheaval Dome Trail: This 1.5-mile round trip hike takes visitors to a viewpoint of a unique geologic formation created by a meteor impact.
– The Grand View Point Trail: This easy, 1-mile round trip hike takes visitors to a viewpoint overlooking the park’s canyons and rock formations.
On the other hand, some of the most strenuous hikes in Canyonlands include:
– The Chesler Park Loop: This strenuous 11-mile hike takes visitors through a maze of sandstone fins and narrow canyons.
– The White Rim Trail: This strenuous 100-mile hike takes visitors through the heart of the park, along the White Rim Sandstone Formation, and offers spectacular views of the canyons and rock formations.
– The Druid Arch Trail: This strenuous 8-mile hike takes visitors to one of the park’s most iconic landmarks, the Druid Arch, a natural arch carved from the red sandstone.
Dry Tortugas National Park has a total of 6 hiking trails, with a mix of easy and strenuous trails. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include:
– The Garden Key Walk: This easy, 0.5-mile round trip hike takes visitors to the historic Fort Jefferson and Garden Key lighthouse.
– The Loggerhead Key Trail: This easy, 1-mile round trip hike takes visitors to the Loggerhead Key lighthouse and offers views of the park’s wildlife.
– The Long Key Trail: This easy, 0.5-mile round trip hike takes visitors to the Long Key lighthouse and offers views of the park’s crystal-clear waters.
On the other hand, some of the most strenuous hikes in Dry Tortugas include:
– The Windjammer Trail: This strenuous 3-mile hike takes visitors to a viewpoint of the Windjammer shipwreck and offers views of the park’s wildlife.
– The Yankee Freedom Trail: This strenuous 4-mile hike takes visitors to a viewpoint of the Yankee Freedom shipwreck and offers views of the park’s crystal-clear waters.
Both parks offer a mix of easy and strenuous hikes, with Canyonlands offering a wider variety of options, including some challenging backcountry routes and Dry Tortugas offering mainly easy hikes to historic sites and lighthouses, with some moderate hikes to shipwrecks.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Arch Trail | 965.604 | 18.8976 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Grand View Point Trail | 2896.812 | 52.7304 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chesler Park Loop Trail | 18668.344 | 589.788 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| False Kiva Trail | 3057.746 | 136.8552 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Upheaval Dome via Crater View Trail | 2414.01 | 91.7448 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Aztec Butte Trail | 2092.142 | 66.7512 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Druid Arch Trail | 15288.73 | 418.7952 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Shafer Trail | 30899.328 | 949.7568 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| White Rim Overlook Trail | 2896.812 | 48.768 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Syncline Loop | 13840.324 | 496.824 | Very Hard | loop | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Dry Tortugas National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Jefferson Loop | 804.67 | 0.9144 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park are both known for their diverse wildlife and natural habitats. However, the types of animals, birds, and plants that can be seen in each park are quite different due to the vastly different environments.
Canyonlands National Park is located in the desert region of Utah and is home to a wide variety of desert animals such as:
– Desert Bighorn Sheep
– Desert Tortoise
– Rattlesnake
– Gila Monster
– Coyote
– Desert Cottontail
– American Kestrel
– Golden Eagle
– Peregrine Falcon
– Great Blue Heron
– Great Horned Owl
– Plant life include creosote bush, yucca, agave, and Joshua tree.
Dry Tortugas National Park is located in the Florida Keys and is known for its marine wildlife and birdlife. Some of the animals, birds, and plants commonly seen in the park include:
– Sea Turtles
– Manatees
– Dolphin
– Tarpon
– Goliath Grouper
– Great White Heron
– Reddish Egret
– Roseate Spoonbill
– Anhinga
– Wood Stork
– Osprey
– White-crowned Pigeon
– Black-whiskered Vireo
– Black-crowned Night Heron
– Sooty Tern
– Great Frigatebird
– Royal Tern
– Brown Pelican
– Plant life include mangroves, seagrass, and various coral species.
In summary, Canyonlands National Park is known for its desert wildlife and birdlife, while Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its marine wildlife, birdlife, and plant life such as sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, various fish species, various bird species and mangroves, seagrass, and coral species.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Canyonlands National Park | Dry Tortugas National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Mallard | Mallard |
| Canada Goose | Canada Goose |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| American Robin | American Robin |
| Great Horned Owl | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Northern Flicker |
| Northern Flicker | Merlin |
| Merlin | Barn Swallow |
| Barn Swallow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Great Blue Heron |
| Great Blue Heron | Hermit Thrush |
| Hermit Thrush | American Kestrel |
| American Kestrel | Song Sparrow |
| Bald Eagle | European Starling |
| Song Sparrow | Northern Pintail |
| European Starling | Green-Winged Teal |
| Northern Pintail | American Pipit |
| American Wigeon | Swainson’s Thrush |
| Green-Winged Teal | Killdeer |
Mammals
| Canyonlands National Park | Dry Tortugas National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | House Rat |
| American Beaver | |
| Muskrat | |
| Big Brown Bat | |
| Bobcat | |
| Striped Skunk | |
| Little Brown Bat | |
| Deer Mouse | |
| Raccoon | |
| Black Bear | |
| Porcupine | |
| Silver-Haired Bat | |
| Hoary Bat | |
| Red Fox | |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | |
| House Mouse | |
| Mountain Lion | |
| American Mink | |
| Mule Deer | |
| Common Gray Fox | |
| Long-Legged Myotis | |
| Long-Eared Myotis | |
| American Badger | |
| Ermine | |
| California Myotis |
Fish
| Canyonlands National Park | Dry Tortugas National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | |
| Brown Trout | |
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Bluegill | |
| Fathead Minnow | |
| Common Carp | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Kokanee Salmon | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Canyonlands National Park | Dry Tortugas National Park |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
| Eastern Racer | |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Common Kingsnake | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Amphibians
| Canyonlands National Park | Dry Tortugas National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Tiger Salamander | |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park both offer unique and beautiful landscapes that are worth visiting.
Canyonlands National Park is known for its vast and colorful canyons, mesas, and buttes, that were carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Some of the most famous landscapes in the park include:
– The Island in the Sky district, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding canyons and mesas from several overlooks.
– The Needles district, which is known for its striking red rock spires and towers.
– The Maze district, which is a remote and rugged area that is known for its challenging hikes and unique rock formations.
– Upheaval Dome, a unique geological feature that is believed to have been formed by a meteor impact.
Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its crystal-clear waters and colorful coral reefs. Some of the most famous landscapes in the park include:
– Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century fort that is located on Garden Key, which is the largest of the Dry Tortugas islands.
– The Dry Tortugas islands, which are home to a variety of bird species and are known for their white sandy beaches.
– The coral reefs, which are home to a wide variety of marine life such as fish, sea turtles, and manatees.
– Loggerhead Key, which is home to the Dry Tortugas Lighthouse, which was built in 1858 and is still in operation.
In summary, Canyonlands National Park is known for its vast and colorful canyons, mesas, and buttes, while Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its crystal-clear waters and colorful coral reefs, historical Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas islands, birdlife and lighthouse.
Things To-Do and Activities in Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park:
– Hiking: The park offers a variety of trails, from easy scenic walks to strenuous backcountry routes, that take visitors through the park’s canyons and rock formations.
– Camping: The park has several designated campsites for visitors to set up camp and spend the night.
– Rafting/Kayaking: The Colorado and Green Rivers run through the park, providing opportunities for visitors to paddle through the canyons.
– Sightseeing: Visitors can drive or take a guided tour to see the park’s many scenic vistas and rock formations.
Dry Tortugas National Park:
– Snorkeling/Scuba diving: The park’s crystal-clear waters offer excellent opportunities for visitors to explore the park’s marine life and shipwrecks.
– Fishing: The park’s waters are home to a variety of fish species, making it a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts.
– Camping: The park has a designated campsite on Garden Key for visitors to set up camp and spend the night.
– History: The park is home to the historic Fort Jefferson, which visitors can explore and learn about the park’s rich history.
Both parks offer great outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, but Canyonlands is more popular for water activities like rafting/kayaking and Dry Tortugas for water activities like snorkeling/scuba diving and fishing, also for its historic sites.
Best Time to Visit Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park are located in vastly different regions of the United States, and as such, have vastly different weather patterns.
Canyonlands National Park, located in southern Utah, has a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. The park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the spring and fall when temperatures are more moderate. Summer temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, making hiking and outdoor activities extremely challenging. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at night, but during the day they are usually mild. The park offers many hiking trails, 4-wheeling and scenic drives that are very popular during the spring and fall.
Dry Tortugas National Park, located in Florida, has a tropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The park is also open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the winter and spring when the weather is cooler and less humid. Summer temperatures can reach over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity can be oppressive. The park offers many activities such as snorkeling, swimming, bird watching, fishing and the famous Fort Jefferson, all those activities are very popular during winter and spring.
In summary, Canyonlands National Park is best visited during the Spring and Fall, with hot summers, while Dry Tortugas National Park is best visited during the Winter and Spring, with hot and humid summers. Both parks offer different activities that are best enjoyed during the best season to visit each one.
Family Friendliness of Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
Canyonlands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park both offer unique and beautiful landscapes and experiences, however, they have different accessibility and activities for families.
Canyonlands National Park is a large and rugged park that offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for families. Some of the family-friendly activities in the park include:
– Hiking on well-maintained trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding canyons and mesas.
– Ranger-led programs that are designed for families and offer a fun and educational way to learn about the park’s natural and cultural history.
– Scenic drives that offer panoramic views of the park’s landscapes.
However, Canyonlands National Park is not suitable for children who are not comfortable with rugged terrain and heat, and it is important to be prepared for desert conditions and to have plenty of water and sunscreen.
On the other hand, Dry Tortugas National Park is an excellent destination for families who are looking for a more relaxed and laid-back experience. Some of the family-friendly activities in the park include:
– Snorkeling and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the park’s coral reefs.
– Birdwatching and wildlife viewing on the Dry Tortugas islands.
– Exploring Fort Jefferson, which is a 19th-century fort that offers a glimpse into the past.
However, Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or seaplane and it can be quite costly to visit the park.
In summary, Canyonlands National Park is a good option for families who are looking for an active and adventurous vacation, but it’s important to be prepared for the heat and rugged terrain. While Dry Tortugas National Park is a good option for families who are looking for a more relaxed and laid-back vacation, but it can be quite costly to visit the park.