Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are two completely different worlds. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is known for its rugged terrain and deep canyons, while White Sands is famous for its endless expanse of white gypsum dunes. Imagine standing at the edge of a 2,000-foot deep canyon, gazing at the sheer walls of the Gunnison River, and then driving a few hours to see the rolling dunes of White Sands, a landscape that looks like it belongs on another planet. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or just looking for a unique vacation experience, these two parks have something to offer everyone. So pack your bags and get ready to explore the best of what nature has to offer!
Hiking Trails in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are two vastly different national parks with distinct hiking experiences. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is known for its deep, steep-walled canyon that offers challenging and strenuous hikes. Some of the most popular trails include the Warner Point Nature Trail, which offers breathtaking views of the canyon, and the Gunnison Route, which is a strenuous hike that takes hikers to the bottom of the canyon. For a more challenging hike, the Chasm View Nature Trail is a 7-mile hike that takes hikers to the bottom of the canyon and offers stunning views of the Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in Colorado.
On the other hand, White Sands National Park offers a unique hiking experience on the white gypsum sand dunes. The park’s main trail, the Dunes Drive, is an 8-mile round-trip hike that takes hikers to the heart of the dunes. The Interdune Boardwalk is another popular trail that takes hikers through a desert oasis and offers beautiful views of the surrounding dunes. For a more challenging hike, visitors can take the Alkali Flat Trail, a 2-mile hike that takes hikers to the top of the highest dune in the park, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
In summary, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park offers challenging and strenuous hikes that take visitors to the bottom of the canyon, while White Sands National Park offers a unique and easy hiking experience on the white gypsum sand dunes.
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 White Sands 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 | 6 |
Wildlife in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are both home to a diverse array of wildlife, but the specific types of animals, birds, and plants found in each park are quite different. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is located in the mountains of Colorado and is home to a variety of animals such as bighorn sheep, elk, black bears, and mountain lions. The park is also home to a variety of bird species, such as eagles, falcons, and grouse. The park is also home to a wide variety of plant species, including wildflowers, conifers, and aspens.
White Sands National Park, on the other hand, is located in the desert of New Mexico and is home to a different set of animals and plants. The park is home to animals such as pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and desert tortoises. Birds commonly seen in the park include roadrunners, ravens, and golden eagles. The park is also home to a wide variety of cacti and other desert plants.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | White Sands 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 | White Sands 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 |
| Snowshoe Hare | Masked Shrew |
Fish
| Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Brown Trout | Longnose Sucker |
| Long-Nose Sucker | Green Sunfish |
| Northern Pike | Bluegill |
| Mottled Sculpin | Fathead Minnow |
| Speckled Dace | Golden Shiner |
| Lake Trout | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Ellpout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park | White Sands 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 | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Tiger Salamander | Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its deep and steep canyons, carved by the Gunnison River. One of the most famous landscapes in the park is the Painted Wall, which is the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado, rising 2,250 feet above the river. The park also features other dramatic landscapes such as the Chasm View, which offers a stunning view of the canyon and the Gunnison River. Additionally, the park features a variety of hiking trails that lead to scenic overlooks, such as the Warner Point Nature Trail, which offers a panoramic view of the canyon.
White Sands National Park, on the other hand, is known for its large expanse of white gypsum dunes. The most famous landscape in the park is the Dune Field, which covers over 275 square miles and is the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking and sledding on the dunes. The park also features a variety of trails such as the Alkali Flat Trail, which offers a view of the dunes, as well as the park’s unique plant and animal life. Additionally, the park offers ranger-led full moon hikes, where visitors can hike the dunes under the light of the full moon.
Things To-Do and Activities in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are both unique in their own ways and offer different types of activities for visitors.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its deep, steep canyon and offers activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and scenic drives. The park also has a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, deer, and elk.
On the other hand, White Sands National Park is famous for its large white sand dunes and offers activities such as hiking, sand sledding, and stargazing. The park also has various wildlife, including roadrunners, desert cottontails, and kit foxes.
Both parks are great for outdoor enthusiasts and families looking for a unique experience. However, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park may be more suitable for visitors who enjoy hiking and rock climbing, while White Sands National Park may be more suitable for visitors who enjoy sand dunes and stargazing.
Best Time to Visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are two very different national parks with vastly different climates and weather patterns. The Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is located in Colorado and has four distinct seasons. Spring is the best time to visit if you’re interested in wildflowers, while fall is the best time to see the changing leaves. Summer can be quite hot, with temperatures often reaching into the 90s, while winter can be cold and snowy. The park is typically open year-round, but some roads and trails may be closed during the winter due to snow.
White Sands National Park, on the other hand, is located in New Mexico and has a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is from late fall to early spring when temperatures are cooler. Summer temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the park closes during the hottest hours of the day for visitor safety. The park is open year-round, but some roads may be closed during the winter due to snow or ice.
In terms of hiking, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park offers a variety of trails that range from easy to strenuous. The park’s most popular hike is the Rim Rock Nature Trail, a 1.5-mile hike that offers stunning views of the canyon. For more experienced hikers, the Gunnison Route is a strenuous hike that descends into the canyon and requires technical climbing skills.
White Sands National Park offers a variety of trails that range from easy to moderate. The park’s most popular hike is the Alkali Flat Trail, a 2.2-mile hike that winds through the dunes. The park also offers a ranger-guided sunset hike that is a great way to experience the park’s unique landscape.
Overall, both parks offer a unique experience and are worth visiting. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is great for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a more alpine climate, while White Sands National Park is perfect for those looking to experience the beauty of the desert.
Family Friendliness of Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park and White Sands National Park are both beautiful and unique national parks, but they offer vastly different experiences for families. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park is known for its steep and rugged terrain, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The park features challenging hiking trails, steep cliffs, and narrow canyons that may not be suitable for young children. However, the park does offer a few short and easy trails, such as the Rim Rock Trail, that can be enjoyed by families.
On the other hand, White Sands National Park is known for its vast expanse of white gypsum sand dunes that stretch for miles. The park is a great destination for families with young children as the park features easy hiking trails, picnic areas, and a playground. The park’s soft white sand dunes are perfect for sand-play and many families enjoy sledding down the dunes. The park also offers a variety of ranger-led programs and activities, such as full moon hikes and stargazing programs, that are suitable for children.
In conclusion, White Sands National Park is a more family-friendly option as it offers easy hiking trails, playgrounds and ranger-led activities that are suitable for children. While Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park may be more suitable for adventure-seeking families with older children.