Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are two of America’s most stunning natural treasures, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors. Big Bend, located in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas, is known for its rugged terrain and stunning vistas, while Olympic National Park, located in the Pacific Northwest, boasts a diverse landscape of rainforests, beaches, and snowcapped peaks. Whether you’re a hiking enthusiast, a wildlife lover, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, these two parks have something for everyone. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to explore the best that nature has to offer at Big Bend and Olympic National Parks.
Hiking Trails in Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park both offer visitors a wide variety of hiking trails to explore, but the types of trails and difficulty levels can vary greatly due to the vastly different landscapes and environments present at each park.
Big Bend National Park is known for its rugged desert landscape and offers visitors over 150 miles of hiking trails to explore. Some of the easiest trails in the park include the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, which is a 0.5-mile loop that offers an introduction to the park’s desert landscape and wildlife, and the Santa Elena Canyon Trail, which is a 2.5-mile round-trip trail that leads to the base of the Santa Elena Canyon. Some of the hardest trails in the park include the Emory Peak Trail, which is a 8.5-mile round-trip trail that leads to the highest peak in the park, and the Outer Mountain Loop Trail, which is a 34-mile backpacking trail that offers a challenging and remote backcountry experience.
Olympic National Park, on the other hand, is known for its diverse landscape and offers visitors over 600 miles of hiking trails to explore. Some of the easiest trails in the park include the Spruce Nature Trail, which is a 0.5-mile loop that offers an introduction to the park’s old-growth forest and wildlife, and the Kalaloch Beach Trail, which is a 2-mile round-trip trail that leads to the beach. Some of the hardest trails in the park include the Hurricane Ridge Trail, which is a 7.5-mile round-trip trail that leads to the summit of Hurricane Ridge and offers panoramic views of the park, and the Seven Lakes Basin Trail, which is a 14-mile round-trip trail that offers a challenging and remote backcountry experience.
Overall, both Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park offer visitors a wide variety of hiking trails to explore, but the types of trails and difficulty levels can vary greatly due to the vastly different landscapes and environments present at each park. So, depending on what kind of hiking one is looking for, both parks can be great options to visit.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Big Bend National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Mine Trail | 6759.228 | 334.9752 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| South Rim Trail – Boot Springs Trail | 17702.74 | 709.8792 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| The Window Trail | 8368.568 | 288.9504 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Emory Peak Trail | 13679.39 | 731.8248 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Santa Elena Canyon Trail | 2414.01 | 185.928 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Balanced Rock Trail | 3057.746 | 70.7136 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Boquillas Canyon Trail | 1931.208 | 69.7992 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Hot Springs Canyon Trail | 8851.37 | 280.7208 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Outer Mountain Loop | 38785.094 | 1739.7984 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Big Bend Hot Springs Trail | 1770.274 | 38.7096 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Olympic National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge | 4988.954 | 242.9256 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Storm King | 6276.426 | 638.8608 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail | 2574.944 | 77.724 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Moss | 1609.34 | 23.7744 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Marymere Falls Trail | 2735.878 | 90.8304 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Hoh River Trail | 52786.352 | 1558.7472 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| High Divide – Seven Lakes Basin Loop | 30577.46 | 1617.8784 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| Ruby Beach | 2253.076 | 20.7264 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Staircase Rapids Loop | 3379.614 | 64.9224 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Spruce Railroad Trail: Lake Crescent | 18024.608 | 131.9784 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park both offer visitors the chance to see a diverse array of wildlife. Big Bend National Park is known for its desert wildlife, including species such as the desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, black bears, and mountain lions. Visitors may also see a variety of reptiles, such as the desert tortoise and the Gila monster. Additionally, birders will find the park offers a wide variety of bird species, including golden eagles, roadrunners, and peregrine falcons.
Olympic National Park, on the other hand, is known for its lush, temperate rainforest and coastal ecosystems. Some of the most commonly seen wildlife in the park include black bears, elk, and mountain goats. Visitors may also see a variety of bird species such as the marbled murrelet, spotted owl, and osprey. Additionally, the park is home to a diverse array of fish, including salmon and steelhead, as well as aquatic mammals such as the river otter. The park also has a diverse range of plant life, including old-growth forests, wildflower meadows and subalpine parklands.
Overall, both parks offer visitors the chance to see a wide array of unique and diverse wildlife, with Big Bend National Park offering a desert-like experience, and Olympic National Park offering a more forested and coastal experience.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic 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 | 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
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Striped Skunk |
| Striped Skunk | Little Brown Bat |
| Deer Mouse | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Black Bear | Black Bear |
| Porcupine | Porcupine |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Hoary Bat | Red Fox |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| House Mouse | House Mouse |
| Mountain Lion | Wolf |
| Mule Deer | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Common Gray Fox | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Gray Wolf | California Myotis |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Snowshoe Rabbit |
| American Badger | North American River Otter |
| California Myotis | Fringe-Tailed Myotis |
| Fringed Myotis | Masked Shrew |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | Water Shrew |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Western Big-Eared Bat |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Bushy-Tailed Woodrat |
Reptiles
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Sonoran Gophersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Common Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Rubber Boa |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Western Fence Lizard |
| Desert Kingsnake | |
| Texas Nightsnake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Mexican Milksnake | |
| Central Texas Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Amphibians
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Barred Tiger Salamander | Bullfrog |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Southwestern Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Fish
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Steelhead/Rainbow Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Brook Trout |
| Bluegill | Largemouth Bass |
| Fathead Minnow | Salish Sucker |
| Common Carp | Coho Salmon |
| Longnose Dace | Chinook Salmon |
| Yellow Bullhead | Longnose Dace |
| Channel Catfish | Speckled Dace |
| Mosquitofish | Threespine Stickleback |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Insects
| Big Bend National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Honey Bee |
Beautiful Landscapes in Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are two of the most diverse and breathtaking parks in the United States. Both are known for their stunning landscapes and natural wonders, but each park offers a unique experience. Big Bend National Park, located in Texas, offers a desert landscape with rugged mountains and canyons, while Olympic National Park, located in Washington, offers a lush and verdant landscape with towering mountains, ancient forests, and rugged coastline. At Big Bend, visitors can witness the beauty of the Chisos Mountains and the Rio Grande River, while at Olympic National Park, visitors can explore the Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, and the stunning beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Whether you’re a nature lover, an outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for a peaceful escape, both Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park offer something for everyone.
Things To-Do and Activities in Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are both known for their stunning natural beauty and diverse outdoor activities. However, the types of activities that are popular at each park are quite different.
At Big Bend National Park, the most popular activities include hiking, backpacking, and camping. The park offers over 150 miles of hiking trails, including the strenuous and rewarding Chisos Mountain Trail and the scenic Santa Elena Canyon Trail. Additionally, the park also offers backpacking trips in the park’s backcountry, and there are several campgrounds available.
On the other hand, Olympic National Park is known for its variety of outdoor activities. The park is home to a diverse range of landscapes, including rainforests, beaches, and snow-capped peaks, which offer a wide range of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Some of the most popular activities at the park include hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring the park’s many wilderness areas. The park’s popular attractions include Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Hot Springs, and the Hoh Rainforest. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy swimming, kayaking and fishing in the park’s many lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean.
In summary, while both Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are great places to explore the great outdoors, Big Bend is more of a hiking and backpacking destination, whereas Olympic National Park offers a wider range of activities for visitors of all interests.
Best Time to Visit Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park have vastly different seasonal weather patterns, which can greatly affect when is the best time of year to visit each park.
Big Bend National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert and is known for its hot and dry summers and mild winters. The summer months of June, July, and August are the hottest and driest, with daytime temperatures often reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and little to no rainfall. The winter months of December, January, and February are the mildest, with daytime temperatures averaging in the 60s and 70s and occasional rainfall. The best time to visit Big Bend National Park is during the spring and fall months of March, April, May, September, October, and November, when temperatures are mild and there is a chance of occasional rainfall.
Olympic National Park, on the other hand, is located in the Pacific Northwest and is known for its rainy and mild summers and snowy and cold winters. The summer months of June, July, and August are the driest and mildest, with daytime temperatures averaging in the 60s and 70s and occasional rainfall. The winter months of December, January, and February are the snowiest and coldest, with daytime temperatures averaging in the 30s and 40s and heavy snowfall at higher elevations. The best time to visit Olympic National Park is during the spring and fall months of March, April, May, September, October, and November, when temperatures are mild and there is a chance of occasional rainfall.
Overall, the seasonal weather patterns at Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park can greatly affect when is the best time of year to visit each park. Big Bend National Park is best visited during the spring and fall months when temperatures are mild and there is a chance of occasional rainfall. On the other hand, Olympic National Park is best visited during the summer months when it is drier and milder.
Family Friendliness of Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park
Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are both great options for families looking to experience the great outdoors. Both parks offer a wide variety of activities and natural wonders that are sure to delight visitors of all ages.
Big Bend National Park is known for its rugged desert landscapes and diverse wildlife. Visitors can hike through the Chisos Mountains, take a scenic drive along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, or explore the Rio Grande by boat. The park also has a number of ranger-led programs and junior ranger activities that are perfect for families.
Olympic National Park, on the other hand, is known for its beautiful coastal beaches, lush rainforests, and snow-capped peaks. Visitors can hike through the Hoh Rainforest, take a scenic drive along the Hurricane Ridge Road, or explore the tide pools at Kalaloch Beach. The park also has a number of ranger-led programs and junior ranger activities that are perfect for families.
Both Big Bend National Park and Olympic National Park are great options for families, but the best choice may depend on the specific interests of your family. If you’re looking for a desert adventure with rugged landscapes, Big Bend National Park may be the better choice. If you’re looking for a more diverse range of landscapes and activities, Olympic National Park may be the better choice.