Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park may seem vastly different at first glance, but both offer unique and breathtaking experiences for visitors. The Black Canyon, located in western Colorado, boasts deep and steep gorges carved by the Gunnison River, offering awe-inspiring views from overlooks and challenging hikes for the adventurous. Meanwhile, Hot Springs National Park, located in Arkansas, offers a relaxing and rejuvenating experience with its thermal hot springs and historic bathhouses. Both parks offer the opportunity to connect with nature, whether it be through rugged outdoor adventure or soothing natural hot springs. So, whether you’re looking for a thrilling outdoor adventure or a relaxing getaway, these two parks have something for everyone and are definitely worth a visit.
Hiking Trails in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park both offer a variety of hiking trails for visitors to explore.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has several trails that vary in difficulty and length, ranging from easy, short walks to strenuous, full-day hikes. The park’s most popular hike is the South Rim Road, which offers several overlooks and short trails that provide stunning views of the canyon and the Gunnison River. Another easy hike is the Chasm View Nature Trail, a short and paved trail that leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Painted Wall, the highest sheer cliff in North America. For more experienced hikers, the North Rim Trail is a strenuous hike that descends into the canyon and offers a unique perspective of the park’s geologic features.
Hot Springs National Park, on the other hand, has shorter and less strenuous trails than Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The park’s most popular hike is the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, a short hike that leads to an observation tower with a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Another easy hike is the Sunset Trail, a one-mile trail that leads to a viewpoint overlooking the city of Hot Springs. The park also has a few moderate hikes, such as the Gulpha Gorge Trail, which winds through a rocky gorge and past a small waterfall.
In summary, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers a range of hiking trails from easy to strenuous, with the South Rim Road and Chasm View Nature Trail as the easiest hikes. Hot Springs National Park has shorter and less strenuous trails, with the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and Sunset Trail as the easiest hikes. Both parks offer a unique hiking experience, but Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park may be more challenging for hikers.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warner Point Nature Trail | 2414.01 | 123.7488 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Oak Flat Loop Trail | 2092.142 | 94.7928 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
Gunnison Route Trail | 2896.812 | 542.8488 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
Painted Wall View Trail | 321.868 | 1.8288 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Chasm View Nature Trail | 965.604 | 32.9184 | Easy | loop | 5 |
Exclamation Point | 4667.086 | 110.9472 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Green Mountain Summit Via North Vista Trail | 10460.71 | 373.9896 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Gunnison Point Overlook | 321.868 | 23.7744 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Rim Rock Nature Trail | 2414.01 | 56.9976 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Warner Route | 6759.228 | 924.7632 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Hot Springs National Park
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunset Trail | 20921.42 | 722.9856 | Hard | loop | 4 |
West Mountain Trail | 3057.746 | 107.8992 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Goat Rock Trail | 3862.416 | 115.824 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Gulpha Gorge Trail | 1931.208 | 116.7384 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
The Grand Promenade and Side Trails | 1931.208 | 33.8328 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
Dead Chief Trail | 4345.218 | 121.92 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Hot Springs Mountain Trail | 5310.822 | 204.8256 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Peak Trail | 2092.142 | 108.8136 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Via Sunset Trail | 11426.314 | 592.836 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Goat Rock via Dead Chief Trail | 2092.142 | 87.7824 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park are two vastly different parks with unique wildlife experiences. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife such as mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and many species of birds including the golden eagle and the peregrine falcon. The park is also home to a number of reptiles and amphibians such as the western rattlesnake and the boreal chorus frog.
On the other hand, Hot Springs National Park is known for its diverse plant life and many species of birds. The park is home to a wide variety of birds such as the wood duck, the prothonotary warbler and the Louisiana waterthrush. Visitors can also spot animals like deer, raccoons, and squirrels. The park also has a variety of wildflowers and native plants such as the Ozark witch hazel, the wild rose and the baneberry.
Overall, both Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park offer unique wildlife experiences, with Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park offering a more rugged and mountainous environment, while Hot Springs National Park offers a more lush and diverse plant life.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | Hot Springs 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 |
Great Blue Heron | Savannah Sparrow |
Hermit Thrush | Great Blue Heron |
American Kestrel | Hermit Thrush |
Bald Eagle | American Kestrel |
Song Sparrow | Bald Eagle |
European Starling | Song Sparrow |
Northern Pintail | European Starling |
American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
Green-Winged Teal | American Wigeon |
American Pipit | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | Hot Springs 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 | Silver-Haired Bat |
Silver-Haired Bat | Hoary Bat |
Hoary Bat | Red Fox |
Red Fox | Long-Tailed Weasel |
Long-Tailed Weasel | House Mouse |
House Mouse | Mink |
Mountain Lion | Gray Fox |
American Mink | North American River Otter |
Mule Deer | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
Common Gray Fox | White-Tailed Deer |
Long-Legged Myotis | Virginia Opossum |
Long-Eared Myotis | Eastern Red Bat |
American Badger | White-Footed Mouse |
California Myotis | Norway Rat |
Snowshoe Hare | Eastern Cottontail |
Fish
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | Hot Springs National Park |
---|---|
Rainbow Trout | Largemouth Bass |
Brown Trout | Green Sunfish |
Long-Nose Sucker | Bluegill |
Northern Pike | Fathead Minnow |
Mottled Sculpin | Golden Shiner |
Speckled Dace | European Carp |
Yellow Bullhead | |
Graceful Catfish | |
Black Crappie | |
Black Bullhead | |
Mosquitofish | |
Creek Chub | |
Brown Bullhead | |
Goldfish | |
Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | Hot Springs National Park |
---|---|
Gophersnake | |
Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
Milksnake | |
Striped Whipsnake | |
Tree Lizard | |
Eastern Collared Lizard |
Amphibians
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | Hot Springs National Park |
---|---|
Northern Leopard Frog | Bullfrog |
Tiger Salamander |
Beautiful Landscapes in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its deep and narrow gorge, created by the Gunnison River. The park features steep cliffs and rock formations, including Painted Wall, which is the tallest cliff in Colorado at 2,250 feet. Other notable landscapes in the park include the Gunnison River, which runs through the bottom of the canyon and offers opportunities for fishing and white-water rafting, and the North Rim, which offers panoramic views of the canyon.
Hot Springs National Park is known for its hot springs, from which the park gets its name. The park features natural hot springs, such as the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and the Fordyce Bathhouse, as well as several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Other notable landscapes in the park include the Ouachita Mountains, which offer opportunities for hiking and backpacking, and the Hot Springs Creek, which is a popular spot for fishing.
Things To-Do and Activities in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park offer visitors a wide range of activities to enjoy. The two parks are quite different in terms of their natural features, which leads to different types of activities being popular at each location.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is known for its steep and rugged canyon walls, and as a result, hiking and rock climbing are popular activities. Visitors can take a variety of trails that offer different levels of difficulty, from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry hikes. The park also offers opportunities for fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Hot Springs National Park, on the other hand, is known for its hot springs and thermal pools. As a result, the park offers visitors a variety of hot springs that they can soak in. The park also has several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the surrounding area, and visitors can also take guided tours of the historic bathhouses. Fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing are also popular activities at the park.
In summary, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is best for those who enjoy hiking and rock climbing, while Hot Springs National Park is best for those who want to relax in natural hot springs and explore historic bathhouses. Both parks are great for camping, wildlife viewing and fishing. Both parks are family-friendly and offer plenty of opportunities for children to explore and learn about nature.
Best Time to Visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park both have distinct seasonal weather patterns that can affect when is the best time to visit each park.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in western Colorado, at an elevation of around 8,000 feet. The park experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters and mild summers. During the winter, the park receives heavy snowfall and the temperature drops well below freezing. This can make the park’s roads and trails impassable, and the park’s facilities may be closed or have limited hours. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the park, as the weather is mild and the park’s wildflowers and fall colors are at their best. However, summer is also a good time to visit, but it can be hot during the day, so it’s important to bring sunscreen, water, and a hat.
Hot Springs National Park, on the other hand, is located in central Arkansas and has a milder climate than Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The park experiences hot summers and mild winters, with occasional snowfall. The park’s facilities and trails are open year-round, but summers can be extremely hot, with temperatures reaching into the 90s, so it’s important to bring sunscreen and water. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the park, as the weather is mild and the park’s waterfalls, wildflowers, and fall colors are at their best. Winters are mild and the park is generally less crowded, making it a good time to visit as well.
In summary, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is best to visit in the spring and fall, while Hot Springs National Park is best to visit during spring and fall. However, Hot Springs National Park can be visited year-round, while Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is closed during the winter season. Both parks have unique weather patterns that can affect the visitor’s experience, so it’s important to check the forecast and pack accordingly.
Family Friendliness of Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Both Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Hot Springs National Park are family-friendly, but they offer different types of experiences.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a great destination for families who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping. The park has a variety of hiking trails that are suitable for different skill levels, including the easy South Rim Road, which offers spectacular views of the canyon. The park also has a campground that is perfect for families who want to spend the night under the stars.
Hot Springs National Park is also a great destination for families. The park is home to several natural hot springs, which are perfect for soaking in after a long day of hiking. The park also features several hiking trails, including the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, the park has a visitor center and a museum that provide educational opportunities for children.
Overall, Hot Springs National Park may be a better choice for families with children as it has more facilities and activities that are suitable for children, such as the visitor center and the museum, as well as the hot springs. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is more suitable for families who are looking for outdoor activities and nature.