Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are two of the most unique and captivating national parks in the United States. Both parks offer a diverse range of landscapes, from the underground caves of Carlsbad to the explosive volcanic activity at Lassen. Whether you’re an adventurer seeking an exciting new challenge or a nature lover looking for breathtaking views, these two parks have something for everyone. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Carlsbad Caverns and Lassen Volcanic, comparing their landscapes, wildlife, activities, and seasonal weather to help you decide which park is the best fit for your next adventure. So buckle up, grab your hiking boots, and get ready to explore the unique beauty of Carlsbad Caverns and Lassen Volcanic National Parks.
Hiking Trails in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park both offer a range of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy. At Carlsbad Caverns, the Big Room Trail is one of the most popular and easiest hikes, offering a 1.25-mile loop through the largest underground chamber in the Western Hemisphere. For those seeking a more challenging hike, the Left Hand Tunnel Trail is a strenuous 4-mile round trip hike that leads to a remote section of the caverns.
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a range of hikes, from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. The park’s most popular hike is the Bumpass Hell Trail, a 3-mile round trip hike that takes visitors through a landscape of boiling mud pots, steaming vents, and colorful sulfur formations. For those seeking a more challenging hike, the Lassen Peak Trail is a strenuous 8-mile round trip hike that takes visitors to the top of the park’s most iconic volcano. Both parks offer unique and rewarding hiking experiences, making them popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park Trail | 1287.472 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 5 |
| North Slaughter Canyon Trail | 17863.674 | 469.6968 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Carlsbad Caverns Highway to Carlsbad Caverns National Park | 23657.298 | 309.9816 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Juniper Ridge Trail | 3057.746 | 140.8176 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Yucca Canyon Trail | 6115.492 | 443.7888 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail | 1609.34 | 140.8176 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Rattlesnake Canyon | 8690.436 | 207.8736 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Walnut Canyon Trail | 482.802 | 7.9248 | Easy | out and back | 2.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Peak | 8207.634 | 599.8464 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Kings Creek Falls Trail | 4345.218 | 143.8656 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cinder Cone Nature Trail | 7724.832 | 317.9064 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| Brokeoff Mountain Trail | 12230.984 | 786.9936 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Mill Creek Falls Trail | 6115.492 | 237.744 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Manzanita Lake Loop | 3057.746 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Devil’s Kitchen Trail | 7402.964 | 187.7568 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chaos Crags Trail | 6437.36 | 301.752 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cluster Lakes Loop Trail | 16737.136 | 451.7136 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Boiling Springs Lake Loop Trail | 3701.482 | 75.8952 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are both home to diverse wildlife. At Carlsbad Caverns, visitors may see species such as bats, mule deer, and rattlesnakes. The park is also known for its unique species of blind cave-dwelling insects. On the other hand, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a variety of mammals such as black bears, mountain lions, and coyotes, as well as birds like the American dipper and the Clark’s nutcracker. In terms of vegetation, Carlsbad Caverns is located in the Chihuahuan Desert and is characterized by cacti and other desert plants, while Lassen Volcanic is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and features a mix of conifer forests and meadows. Both parks offer a chance to see unique and diverse wildlife, but the specific species and landscapes will vary depending on the park you visit.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic 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 | 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 |
| Bald Eagle | Bald Eagle |
| Song Sparrow | Song Sparrow |
| European Starling | European Starling |
| Northern Pintail | Northern Pintail |
| American Wigeon | American Wigeon |
| Green-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | American Beaver |
| American Beaver | Muskrat |
| Muskrat | Bobcat |
| Big Brown Bat | Striped Skunk |
| Bobcat | Raccoon |
| Striped Skunk | Black Bear |
| Deer Mouse | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Raccoon | Hoary Bat |
| Black Bear | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Porcupine | Mountain Lion |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Mink |
| Hoary Bat | Mule Deer |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Gray Fox |
| House Mouse | Wolf |
| Mountain Lion | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Mule Deer | Snowshoe Hare |
| Common Gray Fox | Fringed Myotis |
| Gray Wolf | Western Harvest Mouse |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Yuma Myotis |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Bighorn Sheep |
| American Badger | Montane Shrew |
| California Myotis | Long-Tailed Vole |
| Fringed Myotis | Ringtail |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | Virginia Opossum |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Wolverine |
Reptiles
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Sonoran Gophersnake | Gopher Snake |
| Eastern Racer | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Green Prairie Rattlesnake | Racer |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Common Gartersnake | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Common Garter Snake |
| Desert Kingsnake | Common Kingsnake |
| Texas Nightsnake | Rubber Boa |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | Striped Whipsnake |
| New Mexico Milksnake | Western Whiptail |
| Striped Whipsnake | Western Skink |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | Western Fence Lizard |
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Amphibians
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Barred Tiger Salamander | Bullfrog |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Fish
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Brook Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brown Trout |
| Fathead Minnow | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| Silver Salmon | |
| King Salmon | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Brown Bullhead |
Insects
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Buckeye | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is famous for its underground caves and stunning formations of stalactites and stalagmites. The park is home to over 119 caves, including the famous Big Room which is the largest underground chamber in North America. Visitors can explore the caves through self-guided tours, ranger-led tours, and even bat flights.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is famous for its volcanic activity and geothermal features. The park is home to the largest plug dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak, which last erupted in 1915. Visitors can also see boiling mud pots, steam vents, and hot springs, as well as hike to the summit of Lassen Peak for panoramic views of the surrounding area. Both parks offer unique and stunning landscapes that are sure to leave visitors in awe.
Things To-Do and Activities in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park both offer unique and exciting activities for visitors.
At Carlsbad Caverns, popular activities include cave tours, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can explore the caves on self-guided tours, ranger-led tours, and even bat flights. Hiking trails range from easy to strenuous and offer scenic views of the surrounding desert landscape. Wildlife viewing opportunities include observing bats, mule deer, and other desert animals.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is known for its volcanic and geothermal features. Popular activities include hiking, camping, and exploring the park’s geothermal features such as boiling mud pots, steam vents, and hot springs. Visitors can also hike to the summit of Lassen Peak, a 10,457-foot volcano, for panoramic views of the park. Winter activities include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Both parks offer a range of activities for visitors, but Lassen Volcanic National Park is more focused on outdoor recreation and exploring geothermal features, while Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers a unique cave exploration experience and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Best Time to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park have different seasonal weather patterns, which affect the best time of year to visit each park.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert of southeastern New Mexico and has a hot, arid climate with low humidity and high temperatures in the summer months, ranging from 90-100°F. Winter temperatures are mild, ranging from 50-60°F. The park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is from April to October when temperatures are more comfortable for outdoor activities.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in northern California and has a much different climate, with higher humidity and cool temperatures throughout the year. Summer temperatures average in the 60-70°F range, while winter temperatures can drop to below freezing. The park is also open year-round, but the best time to visit is from June to September when the snow has melted and roads and trails are accessible. Winter months bring snow and ice, making some areas of the park inaccessible.
In conclusion, while both parks offer unique landscapes and experiences, the best time to visit each park will depend on your preferred weather conditions and the activities you plan to do.
Family Friendliness of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are both family-friendly parks, but each offers a different experience. Carlsbad Caverns is known for its underground caves and vast underground chambers, which can be a unique and exciting experience for families. The park offers several ranger-led tours, including the Big Room Tour, which is suitable for families with children.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, on the other hand, is known for its geothermal activity and volcanic landscapes. The park offers several easy hikes, including the Bumpass Hell Trail, which is a paved trail that leads to a geothermal area. The park also offers several ranger-led programs and educational opportunities, making it a great choice for families who want to learn about geothermal activity and volcanic landscapes.
Both parks offer plenty of opportunities for families to explore and learn about the unique natural features of each park. However, for families with young children, Carlsbad Caverns may be a better option, as it offers more accessible and educational activities.