Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are two of the most iconic and awe-inspiring national parks in the United States, each offering its own unique set of natural wonders and outdoor adventures. While they may seem vastly different at first glance, these two parks share a few key similarities that make them both must-see destinations for nature enthusiasts and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
On one hand, you have Bryce Canyon, with its otherworldly hoodoos and vibrant red, orange and pink hues, set against a backdrop of stunning blue skies. Imagine yourself standing on the rim of the canyon, looking down at the spires of rock that seem to stretch on forever, and you’ll understand why Bryce Canyon is often referred to as a “fairyland.”
On the other hand, Denali National Park & Preserve, with its rugged, untamed wilderness and towering peaks, presents a completely different but equally stunning landscape. Imagine yourself gazing up at the majestic Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, and you’ll understand why Denali is often referred to as the “Wilderness of the North.”
Both parks offer endless opportunities for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and more, but they each have their unique characteristics and offer different experiences. Whether you’re looking for a more whimsical, fantasy-like adventure or a rugged, untamed wilderness experience, these two national parks offer something for everyone. So pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through two of America’s most treasured natural wonders.
Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are both known for their beautiful landscapes and hiking trails. However, the hiking trails at these two parks offer different experiences and challenges.
Bryce Canyon National Park has a variety of hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. Some of the easiest hikes at the park include the Rim Trail, which is a paved trail that offers stunning views of the hoodoos and the surrounding landscape, and the Bristlecone Loop, which is a short, easy trail that winds through a forest of ancient bristlecone pines. The park’s more challenging hikes include the Fairyland Loop, which is a 8-mile hike that takes visitors through a variety of landscapes and offers a close-up look at the hoodoos, and the Peek-a-Boo Loop, which is a 5-mile hike that includes steep climbs and narrow paths.
Denali National Park & Preserve offers a wide range of hiking trails that vary in difficulty from easy to very difficult. Some of the easiest hikes at the park include the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which is a 1.5-mile hike that offers beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding landscape, and the Roadside Trail, which is a 2.5-mile hike that follows the park road and offers scenic views of the park’s wildlife and landscape. The park’s more challenging hikes include the Mount Healy Overlook Trail, which is a 7-mile hike that gains 2,000 feet in elevation and offers stunning views of the park’s mountains and glaciers, and the Stony Dome Trail, which is a 17-mile hike that takes visitors through remote wilderness and offers a chance to see Dall sheep and grizzly bears.
Overall, both Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve offer a variety of hiking trails that range in difficulty. Bryce Canyon National Park has a more diversified range of trail options, while Denali National Park & Preserve has more difficult and remote trails, but also offers some easy hikes that are suitable for families with children.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail | 4184.284 | 189.8904 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Fairyland Loop Trail | 11909.116 | 469.6968 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Peekaboo Loop Trail | 8368.568 | 442.8744 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Navajo Loop Trail | 2253.076 | 139.9032 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop Trail | 4988.954 | 175.8696 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Sunset Point to Sunrise Point | 1770.274 | 24.9936 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mossy Cave Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail | 1609.34 | 35.9664 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Queen Victoria via Queen’s Garden Loop | 3379.614 | 123.7488 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Tower Bridge Trail | 5471.756 | 251.7648 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure Eight Trail) | 10138.842 | 456.8952 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Denali National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Healy Overlook Trail | 6920.162 | 507.7968 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Horseshoe Lake Trail | 3379.614 | 119.7864 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Triple Lakes Trail | 29772.79 | 1124.712 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Bison Gulch | 11265.38 | 1178.9664 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rock Creek Trail | 7081.096 | 287.7312 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Taiga Trail | 2574.944 | 62.7888 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| McKinley Station Trail | 4667.086 | 113.9952 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Mount Thorofare Ridge Loop | 6598.294 | 507.7968 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| McKinley Bar Trail | 7402.964 | 295.9608 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Tiaga Loop and Horseshoe Lake Trail to Beaver Dam | 4828.02 | 158.8008 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are both home to diverse and unique wildlife, but the types of animals and plants that are commonly seen in each park are quite different.
Bryce Canyon National Park is home to a wide variety of animals, including mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The park is also home to many small mammals, such as the American pika, yellow-bellied marmot, and several species of chipmunks. Birds commonly seen in the park include the American dipper, mountain bluebird, and the common raven.
Denali National Park & Preserve, on the other hand, is home to a wider range of large mammals such as grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, lynx and Dall sheep. The park is also home to smaller mammals such as red fox, marten and beaver. The park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 169 bird species including the Golden eagle, Gyrfalcon and the beautiful Willow ptarmigan.
Both parks also have a rich variety of plants. Bryce Canyon National Park is home to a diverse array of plants, including many species of cacti, wildflowers, and shrubs. Denali National Park & Preserve is home to a wide variety of tundra plants such as mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs, as well as a variety of wildflowers and berries that can be found throughout the park.
In summary, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to a wide variety of animals, including mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and small mammals. The park also has a diverse array of plants. Denali National Park & Preserve, on the other hand, is home to a wider range of large mammals such as grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, lynx and Dall sheep, and a birdwatcher’s paradise. The park also has a rich variety of tundra plants.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Swainson’s Thrush |
Mammals
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Black Bear |
| Striped Skunk | Porcupine |
| Little Brown Bat | Red Fox |
| Deer Mouse | Mink |
| Raccoon | Wolf |
| Black Bear | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Porcupine | Snowshoe Hare |
| Silver-Haired Bat | River Otter |
| Hoary Bat | Common Shrew |
| Red Fox | Water Shrew |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Red Squirrel |
| House Mouse | Montane Shrew |
| Mountain Lion | Lynx |
| Mule Deer | Wolverine |
| Common Gray Fox | American Marten |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Northern Flying Squirrel |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Grizzly Bear |
| American Badger | Meadow Vole |
| Ermine | Moose |
| California Myotis | Least Weasel |
| Snowshoe Hare | Pygmy Shrew |
Reptiles
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink |
Fish
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Longnose Sucker |
| Lake Trout | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Burbot | |
| Coho Salmon | |
| Chinook Salmon | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Wood Frog |
| Tiger Salamander |
Beautiful Landscapes in Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations created by erosion. Some of the most famous landscapes include the Bryce Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater filled with hoodoos, and the Thor’s Hammer, a unique hoodoo that stands alone. Other natural features of the park include the Bristlecone Loop Trail, which offers views of ancient Bristlecone Pine trees, and the Rim Trail, which provides panoramic views of the park.
Denali National Park & Preserve is famous for its 20,310-foot tall Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain peak in North America and one of the Seven Summits. The park also features the Savage River, a beautiful wild river that runs through the park. Other natural features include the Toklat River, which offers views of Dall sheep and grizzly bears, and the Eielson Visitor Center, which provides panoramic views of the park’s glaciers, valleys and mountain ranges.
Things To-Do and Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are both popular outdoor destinations in the United States. Both parks offer a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, but there are some notable differences between the two.
Activities at Bryce Canyon National Park:
– Hiking: Bryce Canyon is known for its diverse hiking trails, which range from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. The most popular trail is the Rim Trail, which offers panoramic views of the park’s famous hoodoos.
– Photography: Bryce Canyon’s unique rock formations and colorful sunsets make it a popular spot for photographers.
– Camping: There are several campgrounds within the park, allowing visitors to spend the night and experience the park’s night skies.
– Scenic drives: Visitors can take a drive along the park’s scenic road to see the park’s hoodoos and other natural features.
Activities at Denali National Park & Preserve:
– Hiking: Denali National Park & Preserve offers a range of hiking trails, with the most popular being the Mount McKinley Trail. This trail offers hikers the chance to see North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley.
– Wildlife viewing: Denali National Park & Preserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and caribou. Visitors can take a tour to see these animals in their natural habitat.
– Camping: The park offers several campgrounds, including a backcountry camping option for those who want to spend the night in the wilderness.
– Scenic drives: Visitors can take a drive along the park’s scenic road to see the park’s mountains and other natural features.
In summary, both Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve offer a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and scenic drives for visitors. However, Bryce Canyon is known for its unique hoodoos and colorful sunsets, which makes it a popular spot for photography, while Denali is known for its wildlife viewing and hiking to see North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley.
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are both located in different regions of the United States, and as such, have vastly different seasonal weather patterns.
Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, has a semi-arid climate with cold winters and hot summers. The park is generally dry, with the majority of precipitation falling during the summer months. The best time to visit Bryce Canyon is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the park’s famous hoodoos are at their most vibrant. During the summer months, temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, making it too hot for most visitors. Winter months can be very cold with snow, making it difficult to access the park.
Denali National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, has a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and short summers. The park receives heavy snowfall during the winter months, making it difficult to access the park. The best time to visit Denali is during the summer months, from June to September, when the weather is milder and the snow has melted, making it possible to access the park’s many hiking trails. During the summer months, the park’s wildflowers are in full bloom, and the park’s wildlife is more active.
In summary, the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and the park’s famous hoodoos are at their most vibrant. While the best time to visit Denali National Park & Preserve is during the summer months, from June to September, when the weather is milder and the snow has melted, making it possible to access the park’s many hiking trails and the park’s wildlife is more active.
Family Friendliness of Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve are both family-friendly, but they offer different types of experiences.
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its unique rock formations and hoodoos, as well as its hiking trails and scenic drives. The park also has a visitors center with educational exhibits and ranger-led programs for children. This park is better for families who are looking for a more traditional outdoor experience with hiking and sightseeing opportunities.
Denali National Park & Preserve is known for its wilderness and wildlife, including the opportunity to see grizzly bears, moose, and caribou. The park also offers bus tours, which are a great way to see the park and learn about the wildlife and the ecosystem. This park is better for families who are looking for a more remote, wilderness experience and the opportunity to see wildlife.
In summary, if you are traveling with children and looking for a more traditional outdoor experience with hiking and sightseeing opportunities, Bryce Canyon National Park would be the better choice. If you are traveling with children and looking for a more remote, wilderness experience and the opportunity to see wildlife, Denali National Park & Preserve would be the better choice.