If you’re looking for a vacation that combines the best of both worlds, look no further than Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park. These two national parks offer vastly different experiences that will leave you in awe and make you come back for more. Arches National Park is known for its otherworldly rock formations and desert landscapes, while Voyageurs National Park is a water lover’s paradise with its pristine lakes and untouched wilderness. Whether you’re looking for an adventure on land or water, these two national parks offer something for everyone. Join us as we dive deeper into the unique experiences that Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park have to offer, and help you decide which one to visit first!
Hiking Trails in Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park in Utah and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota offer a diverse range of hiking trails for visitors to explore.
Arches National Park has a variety of hiking trails ranging from easy, family-friendly hikes to strenuous backcountry routes. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include the Park Avenue Trail, which is a 1.5-mile round-trip hike that takes visitors through a narrow canyon with towering red rock cliffs on either side. Another easy hike is the Double Arch Trail, which is a 0.5-mile round-trip hike that takes visitors to two large natural arches. Some of the more challenging hikes in the park include the Devil’s Garden Trail, which is a 7.2-mile round-trip hike that takes visitors through a landscape of towering red rock fins and arches, and the Fiery Furnace, which is a strenuous 2-mile hike that takes visitors through a maze of narrow canyons and sandstone fins.
Voyageurs National Park, on the other hand, offers a range of hiking trails that take visitors through the park’s diverse landscape of forests, lakes, and wetlands. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include the Rainy Lake Trail, which is a 0.7-mile hike that takes visitors to a viewpoint overlooking Rainy Lake and the surrounding forest, and the Kettle Falls Trail, which is a 1.5-mile hike that takes visitors to the scenic Kettle Falls waterfall. Some of the more challenging hikes in the park include the Ash River Trail, which is a 7.2-mile hike that takes visitors through the park’s rugged backcountry and offers views of Ash River and the surrounding forest, and the Rockwood Trail, which is a challenging 8-mile hike that takes visitors through the park’s rugged backcountry and offers views of the surrounding wilderness.
In summary, Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park offer a diverse range of hiking trails for visitors to explore. Arches National Park has a variety of hiking trails ranging from easy, family-friendly hikes to strenuous backcountry routes, while Voyageurs National Park offers a range of hiking trails that take visitors through the park’s diverse landscape of forests, lakes, and wetlands. Both parks offer easy and challenging hikes, so visitors can choose the trail that best suits their abilities and interests.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Arches National Park
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delicate Arch Trail | 4988.954 | 186.8424 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
Devils Garden Loop Trail with 7 Arches | 12070.05 | 325.8312 | Hard | loop | 5 |
Double Arch Trail | 804.67 | 9.7536 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Fiery Furnace and Surprise Arch | 2735.878 | 132.8928 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
Landscape Arch Trail | 3057.746 | 78.9432 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail | 1931.208 | 51.816 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Balanced Rock Loop Trail | 482.802 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Park Avenue Trail | 2896.812 | 90.8304 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Sand Dune Arch Trail | 482.802 | 32.9184 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Wolfe Ranch and Petroglyph Trail | 804.67 | 4.8768 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Voyageurs National Park
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blind Ash Bay Trail | 5793.624 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail | 643.736 | 17.9832 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Cruiser Lake to Brown Lake and Anderson Bay | 14001.258 | 224.9424 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
Beaver Pond Overlook Trail | 482.802 | 1.8288 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
Kab-Ash Trail | 24461.968 | 406.908 | Easy | out and back | 3 |
Sullivan Bay Trail | 2092.142 | 27.7368 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail | 1931.208 | 22.86 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park are both home to a wide variety of wildlife, but the types of animals, birds, and plants you’ll see at each park are quite different.
At Arches National Park, you can expect to see a diverse array of desert wildlife, including coyotes, foxes, bighorn sheep, and a variety of reptiles and birds such as golden eagles and roadrunners. The park is also home to a wide variety of cacti and other desert plants.
Voyageurs National Park, on the other hand, is located in a boreal forest ecosystem and is home to a wide variety of forest wildlife, including black bears, wolves, beavers, and moose. The park is also home to a wide variety of birds such as Common Loon, Bald Eagles and Ospreys. The park is also home to a wide variety of wildflowers and other plants, including conifers, wild berries, and ferns.
Overall, both Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park offer visitors the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife and plants, but the types of wildlife and plants you’ll see at each park are quite different. If you’re interested in seeing desert wildlife and plants, Arches National Park is the better choice, while if you’re interested in seeing forest wildlife and plants, Voyageurs National Park is the better choice.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
Arches National Park | Voyageurs 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
Arches National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
---|---|
Coyote | Coyote |
American Beaver | American Beaver |
Muskrat | Muskrat |
Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
Bobcat | Bobcat |
Striped Skunk | Striped Skunk |
Little Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
Deer Mouse | Deer Mouse |
Raccoon | Raccoon |
Black Bear | Black Bear |
Porcupine | Porcupine |
Silver-Haired Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
Hoary Bat | Hoary Bat |
Red Fox | Red Fox |
Long-Tailed Weasel | Long-Tailed Weasel |
House Mouse | House Mouse |
Mountain Lion | Mountain Lion |
American Mink | Mink |
Mule Deer | Common Gray Fox |
Common Gray Fox | Plains Wolf |
Long-Legged Myotis | American Badger |
Long-Eared Myotis | Ermine |
American Badger | Snowshoe Hare |
California Myotis | River Otter |
Northern River Otter | Masked Shrew |
Reptiles
Arches National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
---|---|
Gophersnake | |
Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
Eastern Racer | |
Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
Side-Blotched Lizard | |
Nightsnake | |
Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
Milksnake | |
Striped Whipsnake | |
Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
Tree Lizard | |
Western Whiptail | |
Eastern Collared Lizard |
Amphibians
Arches National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
---|---|
Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
Tiger Salamander | Wood Frog |
American Bullfrog | |
Woodhouse’s Toad | |
Red-Spotted Toad | |
Canyon Treefrog |
Fish
Arches National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
---|---|
Largemouth Bass | Largemouth Bass |
Green Sunfish | Longnose Sucker |
Bluegill | Green Sunfish |
Fathead Minnow | Bluegill |
Common Carp | Fathead Minnow |
Speckled Dace | Golden Shiner |
Yellow Bullhead | Lake Trout |
Northern Pike | |
Ellpout | |
Mottled Sculpin | |
Slimy Sculpin | |
Longnose Dace | |
Black Crappie | |
Black Bullhead | |
Creek Chub | |
Brown Bullhead | |
Smallmouth Bass |
Beautiful Landscapes in Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park is known for its otherworldly rock formations, including the iconic Delicate Arch, which is the park’s most famous and photographed landmark. Visitors can also see over 2,000 natural stone arches, including the famous Landscape Arch, which is the longest arch in the world. The park also has beautiful red rock formations and canyons, as well as the famous Windows section, which features three large arches and a variety of other rock features.
Voyageurs National Park, on the other hand, is known for its beautiful lakes and waterfalls. The park is home to over 400 islands and is dotted with pristine lakes, including Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, and Namakan Lake. Visitors can enjoy boat tours, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on these lakes. The park also features several waterfalls, including the beautiful Kettle Falls, which is a series of cascading waterfalls that drop over 40 feet. The park also offers a variety of landscapes including wetlands, forests, and rugged cliffs, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers.
Things To-Do and Activities in Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park are both incredibly diverse and offer a wide range of activities for visitors to enjoy.
Arches National Park is known for its stunning natural arches, which are the main attraction for many visitors. Hiking is a popular activity here, with trails that range from easy to strenuous. Some of the most popular hikes include the Delicate Arch Trail and the Park Avenue Trail. In addition to hiking, visitors can also enjoy rock climbing, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Voyageurs National Park, on the other hand, is known for its water-based activities. The park is home to over 400 islands and thousands of miles of shoreline, making it a popular destination for boating, fishing, and canoeing. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including beavers, wolves, and loons.
Both Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park are great options for families, but the type of activities that will be most enjoyable for children will depend on their interests. If your children enjoy hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing, then Arches National Park would be a great option. On the other hand, if your children enjoy boating, fishing and canoeing, then Voyageurs National Park would be a great option. Both parks offer various ranger-led programs, educational activities, and other family-friendly options.
Best Time to Visit Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park in Utah and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota have very different seasonal weather patterns, which can affect when is the best time of year to visit each park.
Arches National Park is located in the desert, and the weather is generally hot and dry, with high temperatures often reaching into the 90s during the summer months. The park receives very little rainfall, and the heat can be intense, making it challenging to hike during the middle of the day. The best time to visit the park is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are milder, and wildflowers are in bloom.
Voyageurs National Park, on the other hand, is located in northern Minnesota, and the weather is generally cooler and more moderate. The park receives a significant amount of rainfall, and the summers are generally mild, with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and canoeing in the summer, but the fall is also a great time to visit the park, when the forest turns into a colorful display of fall foliage. Winters in the park can be harsh, with heavy snowfall and low temperatures.
In summary, Arches National Park’s weather is generally hot and dry, making it best to visit during the spring and fall, when temperatures are milder. Voyageurs National Park is located in a cooler and more moderate climate, making the summer and fall the best time to visit, when visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, canoeing and fall foliage. Winter in Voyageurs National Park can be harsh, with heavy snowfall and low temperatures.
Family Friendliness of Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Arches National Park and Voyageurs National Park are both incredibly beautiful and offer unique landscapes and experiences for visitors. However, they are quite different in terms of family-friendliness.
Arches National Park, located in Utah, is known for its stunning red rock formations, including over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, some of which are suitable for families with children. However, many of the trails can be quite strenuous and require some level of physical fitness. Additionally, the park can get quite hot during the summer, which may not be suitable for small children.
Voyageurs National Park, located in Minnesota, is known for its beautiful lakes, forests, and wildlife. The park offers a variety of activities such as boating, fishing, and camping, which can be enjoyed by families with children. There are also many easy hiking trails that are suitable for children. Additionally, the park’s climate is more moderate, with cooler temperatures in the summer, making it a more comfortable place for families to visit during the summer months.
Overall, Voyageurs National Park is likely to be a more family-friendly option as it offers a variety of activities suitable for children, a more moderate climate, and easy hiking trails. However, if your family is looking for an adventure and is interested in exploring the stunning natural arches, Arches National Park can also be a great option.