Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve are two of the most unique and diverse national parks in the United States. Both parks offer visitors the chance to experience awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a wide range of recreational activities. If you’re looking for a vacation that combines natural beauty, adventure, and fun, then Bryce Canyon and Great Sand Dunes are the perfect destinations for you. Whether you’re a nature lover, a hiker, a camper, or a photographer, these parks have something to offer for everyone. In this article, we will take a closer look at these two national treasures and see how they compare in terms of landscapes, wildlife, activities, and weather. Get ready for an unforgettable journey and discover the best that Bryce Canyon and Great Sand Dunes have to offer.
Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve both offer a variety of hiking trails for visitors to explore.
At Bryce Canyon National Park, the most popular hike is the Rim Trail, which offers breathtaking views of the hoodoos and other unique rock formations. This trail is considered easy and is accessible for most visitors. Another popular hike is the Navajo Loop Trail, which takes visitors through a slot canyon and offers a more strenuous hike.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve also offers a variety of hiking trails, but the most popular is the Medano Pass Primitive Road. This trail leads to the top of the dunes and offers a moderate hike. Another popular trail is the Sand Ramp Trail, which is considered easy and allows visitors to hike to the base of the dunes. The High Dune hike is considered strenuous and offers a challenging climb to the top of the dunes.
Both parks offer a range of easy to difficult hikes, allowing visitors to choose their level of difficulty. However, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is more suitable for experienced hikers and those looking for a challenge.
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 Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Dune Trail | 4828.02 | 191.7192 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Mosca Pass Trail | 10299.776 | 444.7032 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dunes Trail from Pinyon Flats | 7242.03 | 290.7792 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Sand Dunes Loop Trail | 8046.7 | 225.8568 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail | 11909.116 | 598.932 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Medano Lake Trail | 12713.786 | 697.992 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Montville Nature Trail | 804.67 | 26.8224 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Dunes Overlook Sand Ramp Trail | 2414.01 | 80.772 | Moderate | out and back | 3.5 |
| Little Medano Creek Trail to Medano Lake | 40394.434 | 1079.9064 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Wellington Ditch Trail | 2896.812 | 47.8536 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve are both home to a diverse array of wildlife, but the types of animals, birds, and plants you’ll see at each park are quite different.
At Bryce Canyon National Park, visitors can expect to see a variety of mammals, including mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Birds such as the peregrine falcon, red-tailed hawk, and great horned owl can also be found in the park, as well as a number of reptile and amphibian species. Plants that are commonly seen at Bryce Canyon National Park include juniper, pinyon pine, and sagebrush.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, on the other hand, is home to a different set of animals, birds, and plants. Visitors can expect to see a variety of mammals such as mule deer, coyotes, and black bears. Birds that can be found in the park include the mountain plover, burrowing owl, and golden eagle. The park is also home to a variety of reptiles and amphibians, including the Great Basin Spadefoot and the Great Basin Gophersnake. Plants commonly seen at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve include sagebrush, piñon pine, and juniper.
Overall, Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its diverse array of wildlife and plants, while Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is primarily known for its sand dunes and desert ecosystem.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Sand Dunes 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 | 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 Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| 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 | Mule Deer |
| Mountain Lion | Gray Fox |
| Mule Deer | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Common Gray Fox | Long-Eared Bat |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Badger |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Ermine |
| American Badger | Snowshoe Hare |
| Ermine | Masked Shrew |
| California Myotis | Water Shrew |
| Snowshoe Hare | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
Reptiles
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | Bull Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Western Prairie Rattlesnake |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Greater Short-Horned Lizards |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | Milksnake |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Nightsnake | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink |
Fish
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout |
| German Brown Trout | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Tiger Salamander | Tiger Salamander |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations created by the erosion of limestone. The park’s main attraction is the Bryce Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater filled with thousands of hoodoos. The park also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape including the Paunsaugunt Plateau, the Aquarius Plateau, and the Kaiparowits Plateau.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, on the other hand, is famous for its giant sand dunes, which are the tallest in North America. The park’s main attraction is the dunes themselves, which can reach up to 750 feet in height. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as sandboarding, hiking, and camping. The park also offers a glimpse of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Medano Creek, and the wetlands of Zapata Ranch.
Things To-Do and Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve offer very different experiences for visitors. Bryce Canyon is known for its unique geologic formations, including the colorful hoodoos that give the park its name. Visitors to Bryce Canyon can enjoy hiking and sightseeing on the park’s many trails, as well as ranger-led programs and stargazing.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, on the other hand, is known for its vast expanse of sand dunes, some of the tallest in North America. The park offers a variety of activities for visitors, including hiking, sandboarding, and sand sledding on the dunes, as well as camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. The park also has a visitor center and a number of ranger-led programs, including guided hikes and Junior Ranger activities.
In terms of family-friendly activities, both parks offer a variety of options for families. Bryce Canyon has easy and moderate hiking trails, as well as ranger-led programs for children and stargazing programs. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve also has easy and moderate hiking trails, as well as the sand dunes which can be fun for kids to play on and explore. Both parks have picnic areas, campground and visitor centers. Overall, both parks offer unique and exciting experiences for visitors, and families can have fun and enjoy the nature at both parks depending on their interests and preferences.
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve are both located in the western United States and offer visitors a wide range of outdoor activities. However, the seasonal weather at each park is quite different, which can affect when is the best time of year to visit.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah and has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The park is open year-round but the best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the temperatures are milder. Summer can be hot, with temperatures reaching into the 90s, which can make hiking and other outdoor activities uncomfortable. Winter can be very cold, with snow and ice on the trails, making them difficult to navigate.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is located in southern Colorado and has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The park is open year-round but the best time to visit is during the spring, summer and fall when the temperatures are milder. It is not recommended to visit during the winter as the park is covered in snow and the weather can be harsh.
In summary, the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is during the spring and fall, while the best time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is during the spring, summer and fall.
Family Friendliness of Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Bryce Canyon National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve offer unique outdoor experiences for families. Bryce Canyon is known for its hoodoo rock formations, which can be viewed from various hiking trails and scenic drives. The park also offers ranger-led programs and a Junior Ranger program for children. Great Sand Dunes, on the other hand, is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America and offers opportunities for sand sledding, sandboarding, and hiking. Both parks offer a variety of activities for families to enjoy, but Bryce Canyon may be more suitable for families with younger children, as the park has paved trails and accessible viewpoints, while Great Sand Dunes has more strenuous activities such as sand dune climbing and backcountry camping.