Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park are two of America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, each offering a unique and captivating experience. While Death Valley is known for its scorching heat, barren landscapes, and towering sand dunes, Mammoth Cave is a labyrinth of underground tunnels and chambers that will leave visitors in awe. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker seeking adventure or a nature lover looking for a peaceful escape, these two parks offer something for everyone. So come explore the beauty of Death Valley and the mystery of Mammoth Cave, and discover why these two parks are must-see destinations for anyone looking to escape into the great outdoors.
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley and Mammoth Cave National Parks offer a variety of hiking experiences, each with its own distinctive features. Death Valley is a desert park with hot temperatures and dramatic landscapes, including sand dunes, canyons, and peaks. One of the easiest hikes is Mosaic Canyon, a moderate trail through a narrow canyon of polished marble walls. The toughest hike is Darwin Falls, a 9-mile round trip with rugged terrain and a waterfall destination.
On the other hand, Mammoth Cave is a forested park with rolling hills, and is famous for its extensive cave system, the longest in the world. The easiest hikes are Frozen Niagara, a short trail with cave formations, and Violet City Lantern, a guided tour of the caves. The most challenging hike is the Grand Avenue Tour, a strenuous journey through the caves with climbing, crawling, and tight passages.
Both parks offer a diverse range of hikes, from easy walks to challenging adventures. Whether you’re looking for scenic views, unique landscapes, or underground exploration, these parks offer something for every level of hiker.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail | 2896.812 | 2.7432 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail | 4506.152 | 62.7888 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Zabriskie Point | 643.736 | 15.8496 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dante’s View Trail | 2574.944 | 109.728 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Telescope Peak Trail | 19312.08 | 1012.8504 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral | 4667.086 | 174.9552 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop via Zabriskie Point | 9334.172 | 332.8416 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Mosaic Canyon Trail | 5632.69 | 324.9168 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Death Valley Natural Bridge Road | 6920.162 | 304.8 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Darwin Falls Trail via Old Toll Road | 3057.746 | 68.8848 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Mammoth Cave National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green River Bluffs Trail | 7242.03 | 169.7736 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Cedar Sink Trail | 2896.812 | 70.7136 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mammoth Cave National Park Scenic Drive | 17541.806 | 173.736 | Easy | point to point | 4.5 |
| Sinkhole Trail | 3862.416 | 108.8136 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Echo River Spring and Sinkhole Loop | 4988.954 | 122.8344 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Echo River and River Styx Springs Trail | 5471.756 | 129.8448 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Sal Hollow and Buffalo Creek Loop Trail | 8690.436 | 100.8888 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Dixon Cave Trail Loop | 2414.01 | 83.82 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| First Creek Lake Trail | 5793.624 | 158.8008 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| McCoy Hollow Trail | 19794.882 | 434.9496 | Hard | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley NP: desert wildlife- bighorn sheep, burros, coyotes, jackrabbits, bats, birds, reptiles (roadrunners, golden eagles, rattlesnakes). Hot, arid climate.
Mammoth Cave NP: cave/forest animals- bats, salamanders, crayfish. Above ground- white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, red foxes, migratory/resident birds (woodpeckers, warblers, vultures). Temperate climate, 4 seasons.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave 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
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Muskrat | American Beaver |
| Big Brown Bat | Muskrat |
| Bobcat | Big Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Bobcat |
| Deer Mouse | Striped Skunk |
| Raccoon | Little Brown Bat |
| Porcupine | Deer Mouse |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Raccoon |
| Hoary Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| House Mouse | Hoary Bat |
| Mountain Lion | Red Fox |
| Mule Deer | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Gray Fox | House Mouse |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Mink |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Gray Fox |
| Badger | Western Long-Eared Bat |
| Californian Myotis | River Otter |
| Fringed Myotis | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Common Shrew | White-Tailed Deer |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Virginia Opossum |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Meadow Vole |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Eastern Red Bat |
| Western Harvest Mouse | White-Footed Mouse |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Norway Rat |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Black Racer |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Ringneck Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Eastern Garter Snake |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Mourning Cloak | |
| Cabbage White | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Largemouth Bass |
| Goldfish | Green Sunfish |
| Bluegill | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| Common Carp | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Eastern Tiger Salamander |
| Canyon Treefrog | Bullfrog |
| Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley NP boasts Badwater Basin, the lowest point in NA, salt flats & towering mountains. Zabriskie Point offers views of Furnace Creek formations. Devil’s Golf Course is a popular spot for its large salt formations.
Mammoth Cave NP is famous for world’s longest known cave system, with stunning stalactites, stalagmites & formations. Green & Nolin rivers offer scenic views of park’s karst topography. Park offers hiking, camping, & wildlife viewing opportunities.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley and Mammoth Cave are both popular national parks, but offer vastly different experiences. In Death Valley, visitors flock to scenic drives, stargazing, and historical sites. Meanwhile, Mammoth Cave draws visitors for its famous underground cave system, hiking, and camping. While both parks have a lot to offer, Death Valley appeals to those who enjoy hot temperatures and wide-open spaces, while Mammoth Cave appeals to cavers, hikers and nature enthusiasts.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley National Park has extremely hot, dry summers and mild winters with occasional precipitation. The best time to visit is Oct-Apr, when temperatures cool and there’s a chance of rain that supports desert flora. Mammoth Cave National Park has moderate climate with warm summers, cold winters and regular rainfall Apr-Sep. Best time to visit is Sept-May, with mild temps, offered cave tours, and lush greenery.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Death Valley and Mammoth Cave both have family-friendly amenities, but Mammoth Cave is more suited for families with kids. It offers ranger-led tours for families, including a kid-only spelunking tour, and has facilities for families to relax and enjoy. Death Valley, known for its harsh desert environment, is less suitable for young children.