Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park are both natural wonders, each offering a unique and breathtaking experience for visitors. Bryce Canyon is known for its hoodoos, colorful spires of rock, that rise from the ground like sculptures. Great Basin, on the other hand, is home to the ancient bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Both parks offer a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking to stargazing, and are perfect for nature enthusiasts looking for a new adventure. Whether you’re looking to explore a desert landscape or a mountain range, these two parks have something for everyone. So pack your bags and get ready to explore two of America’s most beautiful national parks.
Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park offers a variety of hiking trails that range in difficulty, from easy rim walks to strenuous overnight backpacking trips. Some popular hikes include the easy Queens Garden Trail, a 1.8-mile round trip that leads to the iconic Queen Victoria formation, and the more challenging Peekaboo Loop, a 5.5-mile round trip that offers stunning views of the park’s hoodoos.
Great Basin National Park also offers a range of hiking trails, from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. Some popular hikes include the easy Bristlecone Pine Trail, a 0.5-mile round trip that takes visitors through a grove of ancient bristlecone pines, and the strenuous Alpine Lakes Loop, a 12-mile round trip that takes hikers through rugged terrain to beautiful alpine lakes.
In summary, both Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park offer a wide range of hiking trails that cater to different levels of difficulty. Visitors to Bryce Canyon can enjoy scenic rim walks and view the iconic hoodoos, while visitors to Great Basin National Park can explore ancient bristlecone pines, alpine lakes and rugged terrain.
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 Great Basin National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Peak Trail via Stella Lake Trail | 13196.588 | 885.7488 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail | 7242.03 | 322.7832 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Alpine Lakes Trail | 4345.218 | 142.9512 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Lehman Cave | 643.736 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop | 8529.502 | 308.7624 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive | 37497.622 | 1175.9184 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Baker Lake Trail | 16737.136 | 813.816 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Teresa Lake | 2414.01 | 92.964 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop | 20760.486 | 1330.7568 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Lexington Arch Trail | 4667.086 | 340.7664 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its diverse array of wildlife, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, and pronghorn. The park also supports a variety of bird species, such as golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and turkey vultures. In addition to these larger animals, visitors can also spot smaller mammals like squirrels and chipmunks, as well as a variety of reptiles and amphibians. The park also has a wide variety of plant life including pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, and various wildflowers.
Great Basin National Park is home to a diverse array of wildlife including mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and mountain lions. The park is also home to a large population of bat species including the Townsend’s big-eared bat, the spotted bat, and the western small-footed bat. Birds commonly seen in the park include the American dipper, the white-tailed ptarmigan, and the great horned owl. The park also supports a wide variety of plants, including sagebrush, aspen, and coniferous forests. Visitors may also spot wildflowers such as the sagebrush buttercup and the Great Basin wild rye.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin 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 |
| 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 |
Mammals
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin 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 | 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 | Lion |
| Mountain Lion | Mink |
| Mule Deer | Mule Deer |
| Common Gray Fox | Gray Fox |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Gray Wolf |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
| American Badger | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Ermine | Badger |
| California Myotis | Ermine |
| Snowshoe Hare | Californis Myotis |
Reptiles
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | Racer |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Greater Short-Horned Lizard |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Rubber Boa |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | Eastern Collared Lizard |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Nightsnake | Long-Nosed Snake |
| Striped Whipsnake | Desert Spiny Lizard |
| Tree Lizard | Western Fence Lizard |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink |
Fish
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Rainbow Trout |
| Brook Trout | |
| Brown Trout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Tiger Salamander |
| Tiger Salamander | Woodhouse’s Toad |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Insects
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Mourningcloak | |
| Cabbage White | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Beautiful Landscapes in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its hoodoos, which are colorful spires of rock that rise from the ground like sculptures. These hoodoos are formed by the erosion of limestone and sandstone and are a unique and breathtaking sight. Visitors can explore the hoodoos on the park’s many hiking trails, including the popular Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop trails. In addition to the hoodoos, the park also offers a variety of other natural wonders such as the Bryce Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater carved out of the rock, and Inspiration Point, a viewpoint that offers panoramic views of the hoodoos.
Great Basin National Park is known for its ancient bristlecone pines, which are some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. These trees can live for thousands of years and are found in the park’s high elevation forests. Visitors can hike to the bristlecone pines on the park’s Bristlecone Pine Trail. The park also offers the opportunity to explore the Lehman Caves, which is a limestone cave system with intricate and colorful rock formations. In addition to the bristlecone pines and Lehman Caves, the park also offers a variety of other natural wonders such as the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, which offers views of the park’s mountain ranges, and the Stella Lake Trail, a trail that circles around a mountain lake.
Things To-Do and Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park offer a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some popular activities at Bryce Canyon include hiking, stargazing, and wildlife viewing. The park features a number of scenic hiking trails that wind through the colorful hoodoos and offer breathtaking views. The park’s dark skies make it an ideal spot for stargazing and the park offers ranger-led stargazing programs during the summer. Visitors can also see a variety of wildlife including mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep.
Great Basin National Park offers similar activities such as hiking, stargazing, and wildlife viewing. The park’s most popular hike is the Lehman Caves tour, which takes visitors through the intricate limestone caves. The park also offers a variety of outdoor activities such as backpacking, horseback riding, and fishing in the park’s alpine lakes. Great Basin is also home to a variety of wildlife including pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and black bears. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy stargazing and ranger-led programs during the summer.
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park have vastly different seasonal weather patterns. Bryce Canyon, located in southern Utah, has hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the temperatures are milder and the crowds are smaller. On the other hand, Great Basin National Park, located in eastern Nevada, has much cooler temperatures and heavier snowfall. The best time to visit Great Basin is during the summer months of June through August when the snow has melted and the temperatures are milder.
Visiting Great Basin National Park during the winter months can be challenging due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold temperatures. While the park’s higher elevations offer great opportunities for winter sports, it also poses danger to visitors who are not prepared for such conditions. It’s also important to note that many of the park’s roads and trails may be closed or inaccessible during the winter.
Bryce Canyon’s main hiking trails are relatively easy and can be hiked by most visitors, with an exception of some steep and rocky terrain. Some of the most popular trails include the easy 2.8-mile Rim Trail and the challenging 8.9-mile Riggs Spring Loop Trail. On the other hand, Great Basin National Park offers a variety of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. Some of the easiest trails include the 2-mile Bristlecone Pine Trail and the 2.5-mile Lehman Creek Trail. The toughest hike in Great Basin is the 13-mile Wheeler Peak Trail, which climbs over 3,000 feet to the summit of Wheeler Peak.
Family Friendliness of Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park are both great destinations for families, but they offer different types of experiences. Bryce Canyon is known for its striking hoodoos and vibrant sunsets, and is a popular spot for hiking, stargazing and scenic drives. It also has a variety of easy and moderate trails that are suitable for families with children, such as the Mossy Cave Trail and the Rim Trail.
Great Basin National Park, on the other hand, is a more remote and rugged destination, known for its impressive limestone caves, ancient bristlecone pines and alpine scenery. There are several family-friendly trails, such as the Bristlecone Pine Trail and the Glacier Trail, but these trails are longer and more strenuous than the trails at Bryce Canyon. Great Basin is also a great destination for stargazing, as it is one of the darkest parks in the country.
Overall, both parks are family-friendly and offer unique experiences, but Bryce Canyon is a better option if your family is looking for shorter and more accessible hikes, while Great Basin is a better choice if your family is looking for a remote and rugged outdoor adventure.