Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are two of the most iconic national parks in the United States, each offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience. Badlands National Park, located in South Dakota, is known for its rugged, otherworldly landscapes and is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in the country. North Cascades National Park, located in Washington state, is renowned for its rugged and glaciated mountain ranges, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and old-growth forests. Both of these parks are sure to take your breath away and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re a nature lover, an outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for a place to relax and unwind, these two parks have something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as we take you on a journey to compare Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park.
Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park both offer visitors a wide range of hiking trails to explore, but the types of trails and the level of difficulty vary between the two parks.
Badlands National Park offers several designated hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate. The park’s most popular trail is the Badlands Loop Road, which is a paved, 8-mile road that offers visitors the opportunity to see the park’s unique geologic formations, such as layered rock formations, canyons, and prairie grasslands. The park also offers a variety of shorter, interpretive trails, such as the Fossil Exhibit Trail, which is a 0.25-mile boardwalk trail that leads visitors through a fossil-rich area. Another popular trail is Door Trail, which is a 0.75-mile hike that leads visitors to a unique rock formation known as the “Door.”
North Cascades National Park, on the other hand, offers a wide range of hiking trails that vary in difficulty from easy to strenuous. The park has over 300 miles of maintained trails, with several options for those who are looking for a more challenging hike. One of the most popular trails is the Cascade Pass Trail, which is a moderate 5.4-mile hike that leads visitors to stunning views of the park’s peaks and glaciers. Another popular hike is the Maple Pass Loop Trail, which is a 6.2-mile hike that offers visitors the opportunity to see alpine meadows, mountain lakes and waterfalls. The park also offers a number of more challenging hikes, such as the Eldorado Peak Trail, which is a strenuous 8.8-mile hike that leads to the summit of Eldorado Peak and offers panoramic views of the park’s peaks.
In summary, both Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park offer visitors a wide range of hiking trails to explore, but the types of trails and the level of difficulty vary between the two parks. Badlands National Park offers several designated hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate, while North Cascades National Park offers a wide range of hiking trails that vary in difficulty from easy to strenuous.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notch Trail | 2092.142 | 39.9288 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Castle Trail | 16898.07 | 95.7072 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| The Door Trail | 1287.472 | 10.9728 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Saddle Pass Trail | 1126.538 | 65.8368 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Medicine Root Loop Trail | 7242.03 | 102.7176 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| The Window Trail | 321.868 | 1.8288 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Cliff Shelf Nature Trail | 804.67 | 19.812 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Fossil Exhibit Trail | 643.736 | 3.9624 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Sage Creek Loop | 36692.952 | 245.9736 | Hard | loop | 4 |
| Sheep Mountain Table Road | 23496.364 | 180.7464 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in North Cascades National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Lake Trail | 8529.502 | 291.9984 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Trail | 17541.806 | 1175.9184 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Sourdough Mountain Trail | 14644.994 | 1555.6992 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cascade Pass Trail to Cottonwood Camp | 25588.506 | 1422.8064 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Cascade Pass Trail | 10460.71 | 542.8488 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Sahale Arm Trail to Quien Sabe Glacier | 19955.816 | 1651.7112 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk | 3057.746 | 21.9456 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Fourth of July Pass via Panther Creek Trail | 14966.862 | 759.8664 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Ruby Mountain Summit via Fourth of July and Thunder Creek Trail | 23335.43 | 1949.8056 | Hard | out and back | 4 |
| Gorge Creek Falls Trail | 804.67 | 11.8872 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
Wildlife in Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are both home to a wide variety of wildlife, but the types of animals and birds you’ll see at each park are quite different due to the different habitats and ecosystems found in each park.
At Badlands National Park, visitors can expect to see a variety of mammals such as bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and coyotes. Additionally, the park is also home to a variety of bird species including the golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, and the swift fox. The park also has a rich variety of plant life, including the Badlands sagebrush, cacti, and wildflowers that bloom in the spring.
On the other hand, North Cascades National Park is home to a wide variety of mammals such as black bears, mountain goats, and wolves. Additionally, the park is also home to a variety of bird species including the western tanager, the American dipper and the gray jay. The park also has a rich variety of plant life, including the western red cedar, Douglas fir and subalpine larch.
In conclusion, both Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are home to a wide variety of wildlife, but the types of animals, birds and plants you’ll see at each park are quite different. Badlands National Park is known for its rugged and otherworldly landscapes, with layered rock formations, deep canyons, and towering spires and it is home to a variety of mammals such as bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and coyotes. While North Cascades National Park is known for its rugged, snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and alpine meadows. It is home to a wide variety of mammals such as black bears, mountain goats, and wolves.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades 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 | 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 | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades 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 |
| Porcupine | Black Bear |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Porcupine |
| Hoary Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Red Fox | Hoary Bat |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Red Fox |
| House | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Mountain Lion | House Mouse |
| Mule Deer | Puma |
| Gray Fox | Mink |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Black-Tailed Deer |
| Northern Myotis | Wolf |
| Badger | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Weasel | Western Long-Eared Bat |
| North American River Otter | Ermine |
| Common Shrew | California Myotis |
| Pacific Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Snowshoe Hare |
Reptiles
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Racer | Western Yellowbelly Racer |
| Western Rattlesnake | Prairie Rattlesnake |
| Common Garter Snake | Common Garter Snake |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | Rubber Boa |
| Milksnake | Western Fence Lizard |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Insects
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Monarch | Red Admiral |
| American Painted Lady | Mourning Cloak |
| Red Admiral | Silvery Blue |
| Morning Cloak | Clouded Sulphur |
| Cabbage White | Honey Bee |
| Silvery Blue | Purplish Copper |
| Common Check-Skipper | Anise Swallowtail |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Badlands National Park | North Cascades National Park |
|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | Redband Trout |
| Golden Shiner | Brook Trout |
| European Carp | Largemouth Bass |
| Longnose Dace | Longnose Sucker |
| Yellow Bullhead | Lake Trout |
| Channel Catfish | Burbot |
| Black Bullhead | Silver Salmon |
| Creek Chub | King Salmon |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Kokanee | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Beautiful Landscapes in Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Badlands National Park is known for its rugged and otherworldly landscapes, which are characterized by deep canyons, towering spires, and layered rock formations. The park’s most famous landscape is the Badlands Loop Road, which offers visitors a scenic drive through the heart of the park, taking in some of the most spectacular views of the Badlands. The Pinnacles Overlook, is a must-see spot, offering panoramic views of the Badlands formations. The park is also home to many hiking trails, including the Badlands Loop Road and the Castle Trail, which offer visitors the opportunity to explore the park’s rugged terrain on foot.
North Cascades National Park is famous for its rugged and glaciated mountain ranges, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and old-growth forests. The park’s most famous landscape is the North Cascades Highway, which offers visitors a scenic drive through the heart of the park, taking in some of the most spectacular views of the North Cascades. The Park Service Road is also a must-see spot, offering panoramic views of the Cascade Range. The park is also home to many hiking trails, including the Cascade Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail, which offer visitors the opportunity to explore the park’s rugged terrain on foot. The Park is also home to many beautiful waterfalls, such as the Goodell Creek and Ladder Creek Falls, which are must-see spots for visitors.
Things To-Do and Activities in Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are both popular tourist destinations, each offering a unique set of activities for visitors to enjoy.
At Badlands National Park, some of the most popular activities include hiking and backpacking, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives. The park offers a variety of hiking trails that range in difficulty, from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. Visitors can also explore the park’s backcountry on foot, bike or horseback. Wildlife viewing is also a popular activity, as the park is home to a variety of mammals such as bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and coyotes. The Badlands Loop Road is a must-do for visitors, offering spectacular views of the park’s rugged landscapes and layered rock formations.
On the other hand, North Cascades National Park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, and climbing. The park is home to some of the most rugged and remote wilderness in the lower 48 states. The park offers more than 300 miles of maintained trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail, that range from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. Visitors can also explore the park’s backcountry on foot, bike or horseback. Fishing is also a popular activity, as the park is home to a variety of fish species such as rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden. The park also offers a variety of climbing opportunities for those looking for a more challenging experience.
In conclusion, both Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are popular tourist destinations, each offering a unique set of activities for visitors to enjoy. Badlands National Park is known for its hiking and backpacking, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives, while North Cascades National Park is known for its hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing and climbing. Both parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities that will cater to different interests and skill levels, making them great options for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are both great destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, but they have very different climates and weather patterns.
Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota and has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The park experiences very little precipitation throughout the year, with most of it falling in the form of snow during the winter months. The best time to visit Badlands National Park is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and the park is less crowded. Summer can be very hot, making it less pleasant for outdoor activities, and the park’s facilities and roads may be closed due to snow during the winter.
North Cascades National Park, on the other hand, is located in Washington State and has a much wetter and colder climate. The park experiences high levels of precipitation throughout the year, with most of it falling as snow in the higher elevations during the winter. The park is also home to many glaciers, which are a popular destination for visitors. The best time to visit North Cascades National Park is during the summer when the snow has melted and the weather is mild, making it perfect for hiking and other outdoor activities. However, visitors should be prepared for rainy and chilly weather at any time of year.
In summary, if you’re looking for a hot and dry destination, Badlands National Park is the best choice. But if you’re looking for a wet and chilly destination with great hiking, North Cascades National Park is the best choice.
Family Friendliness of Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park
Both Badlands National Park and North Cascades National Park are great options for families looking for an outdoor adventure. However, depending on the age and interests of your children, one park may be a better fit than the other.
Badlands National Park is a great option for families with children of all ages. The park has a variety of easy and accessible trails, such as the Badlands Loop Road and the Castle Trail, that are suitable for children. The park also offers a Junior Ranger program, which allows children to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources through interactive activities. Additionally, the park has several picnic areas and a visitors center that provides educational exhibits and ranger-led activities.
North Cascades National Park can be a bit more challenging for families with young children, as many of the park’s trails are more strenuous and are not suitable for young children. However, the park offers a variety of easy and accessible trails such as the Cascade Pass, which is a relatively short hike with great views of the surrounding mountains. The park also offers a Junior Ranger program, which allows children to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources through interactive activities. Additionally, the park has several picnic areas and a visitors center that provides educational exhibits and ranger-led activities.
Overall, while both parks offer a great family-friendly experience, Badlands National Park may be a better option for families with young children, while North Cascades National Park would be better for older children and families looking for more challenging hikes.