Jake Cain is an entrepreneur and writer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He spends his free time driving around the country in his late 90’s conversion van, affectionately known as the “Monster Van” with his wife and 3 boys.
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are two of the most unique and awe-inspiring national parks in the United States. Both parks offer visitors the chance to explore landscapes unlike anywhere else on earth, from the towering mesas and deep canyons of Canyonlands to the rolling dunes of White Sands. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or just looking for a peaceful escape, these two parks have something to offer for everyone. So buckle up and get ready to explore the wild and wonderful world of Canyonlands and White Sands!
Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are both popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts and offer a range of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy.
Canyonlands National Park is known for its diverse landscapes, including canyons, mesas, and buttes, which make it a popular destination for hiking. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include:
– Grand View Point Trail: A 1.5-mile trail that offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
– Mesa Arch Trail: A 0.5-mile trail that leads to a stunning arch with views of the surrounding canyons.
– Upheaval Dome Trail: A 2.4-mile trail that leads to a unique geological formation.
For more experienced hikers, Canyonlands National Park offers several challenging trails, including:
– Chesler Park Loop: A 11-mile trail that takes you through a scenic meadow and offers views of the surrounding canyons.
– The Needles District: A remote and rugged area of the park with several challenging trails, including the Elephant Hill Trail.
White Sands National Park is known for its unique landscapes, including vast dunes of gypsum sand, which make it a popular destination for hiking. Some of the easiest hikes in the park include:
– Dunes Drive: A scenic drive through the park that offers several short hikes and picnic areas.
– Alkali Flat Trail: A 1.5-mile trail that takes you through the heart of the dunes.
For more experienced hikers, White Sands National Park offers several challenging hikes, including:
– Backcountry Hikes: Visitors can explore the park’s remote and rugged backcountry on foot, but should be prepared for a strenuous hike through the dunes.
– Interdune Boardwalk: A 1-mile trail that takes you through a unique landscape of interdune valleys.
Both parks offer unique and unforgettable hiking experiences for visitors, whether they prefer easy walks or challenging adventures.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Arch Trail | 965.604 | 18.8976 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Grand View Point Trail | 2896.812 | 52.7304 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chesler Park Loop Trail | 18668.344 | 589.788 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| False Kiva Trail | 3057.746 | 136.8552 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Upheaval Dome via Crater View Trail | 2414.01 | 91.7448 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Aztec Butte Trail | 2092.142 | 66.7512 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Druid Arch Trail | 15288.73 | 418.7952 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Shafer Trail | 30899.328 | 949.7568 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| White Rim Overlook Trail | 2896.812 | 48.768 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Syncline Loop | 13840.324 | 496.824 | Very Hard | loop | 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 Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are both unique and offer their own unique wildlife experiences.
Canyonlands National Park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including desert animals such as coyotes, foxes, and rattlesnakes. The park is also home to several species of birds, including hawks, eagles, and vultures, which soar overhead and can be seen from the park’s scenic overlooks. The park is also home to several species of reptiles, including lizards and snakes, as well as a variety of mammals, such as deer and squirrels. Additionally, the park is home to several species of plants, including cacti, yucca, and other desert flora.
White Sands National Park, on the other hand, is home to a more limited variety of wildlife, as the park’s unique landscape of white sand dunes is not hospitable to many species. However, the park is home to several species of reptiles, such as the horned lizard, as well as several species of insects, such as ants and beetles. The park is also home to several species of birds, including roadrunners, which can often be seen running along the park’s dunes. Additionally, the park is home to several species of plants, including the creosote bush and other desert shrubs, which are well adapted to the park’s harsh environment.
In conclusion, both Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park offer unique wildlife experiences, with Canyonlands offering a greater diversity of wildlife and White Sands offering a more limited but unique experience. Whether you are a bird-watcher, wildlife enthusiast, or simply enjoy observing nature, both parks are well worth a visit.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Canyonlands 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 |
| 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
| Canyonlands 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 |
| Ermine | River Otter |
| California Myotis | Masked Shrew |
Fish
| Canyonlands National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Brown Trout | Longnose Sucker |
| Largemouth Bass | Green Sunfish |
| Green Sunfish | Bluegill |
| Bluegill | Fathead Minnow |
| Fathead Minnow | Golden Shiner |
| Common Carp | Lake Trout |
| Northern Pike | Northern Pike |
| Speckled Dace | Ellpout |
| Yellow Bullhead | Mottled Sculpin |
| Channel Catfish | Slimy Sculpin |
| Kokanee Salmon | Longnose Dace |
| Black Crappie | Black Crappie |
| Black Bullhead | Black Bullhead |
| Mosquitofish | Creek Chub |
| Smallmouth Bass | Brown Bullhead |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Canyonlands National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
| Eastern Racer | |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Common Kingsnake | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Amphibians
| Canyonlands National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Tiger Salamander | Wood Frog |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are both known for their stunning landscapes and natural wonders.
At Canyonlands National Park, visitors can explore the towering mesas and deep canyons that make up the park’s unique landscape. The park is divided into four districts – the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the Rivers – each with its own unique features and landscapes. Some of the most famous landscapes at Canyonlands include the Mesa Arch, which offers a stunning view of the surrounding canyons, and the Upheaval Dome, a unique geological formation believed to be the result of a meteor impact.
White Sands National Park, located in southern New Mexico, is known for its rolling dunes of pure white gypsum sand. The park’s unique landscape was formed over thousands of years as wind and water eroded the surrounding mountains and deposited the gypsum in the valley below. Visitors to White Sands can explore the dunes on foot, by sled, or by taking a scenic drive through the park. Some of the most famous landscapes at White Sands include the Dune Field, which covers over 275 square miles, and the Alkali Flat, a large, flat expanse of white sand surrounded by towering dunes.
In conclusion, both Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are known for their stunning landscapes and natural wonders. Whether you’re exploring the towering mesas and deep canyons of Canyonlands or the rolling dunes of White Sands, you’re sure to be amazed by the beauty of these unique and awe-inspiring parks.
Things To-Do and Activities in Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park both offer a variety of popular activities for visitors to enjoy.
Canyonlands National Park is a popular destination for hiking, with several trails ranging from easy walks to challenging backcountry treks. The park’s scenic overlooks, such as Mesa Arch, are also popular destinations for sightseers and photographers. The park is also a popular destination for rock climbing and canyoneering, with several routes offering challenging and rewarding experiences. Additionally, the park’s rivers, such as the Green and Colorado, offer opportunities for rafting and kayaking, making Canyonlands a popular destination for water enthusiasts.
White Sands National Park is a popular destination for hiking, with several trails that take visitors through the park’s unique landscape of white sand dunes. The park is also a popular destination for sledding, with visitors often bringing sleds to enjoy the park’s soft, white sand dunes. Additionally, the park is a popular destination for stargazing, with its remote location and clear night skies offering breathtaking views of the stars. The park is also a popular destination for photography, with its unique landscape of white sand dunes offering a stunning backdrop for photos.
In conclusion, both Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park offer a variety of popular activities, with Canyonlands offering a greater variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, rock climbing, and rafting, and White Sands offering a more unique experience, with its focus on hiking, sledding, stargazing, and photography. Whether you are an outdoor adventurer, a nature lover, or simply looking for a unique and memorable experience, both parks are well worth a visit.
Best Time to Visit Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are both unique destinations with distinct seasonal weather patterns that affect when is the best time of year to visit.
Canyonlands National Park is located in Utah and is characterized by its arid desert climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The park experiences the most visitors in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and comfortable for outdoor activities. Summer temperatures can reach over 100°F, making it challenging for visitors to spend extended periods of time outside. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, making it difficult for visitors to access some parts of the park.
White Sands National Park is located in New Mexico and is characterized by its hot and dry desert climate. The park experiences the most visitors in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and comfortable for outdoor activities. Summer temperatures can reach over 90°F, making it challenging for visitors to spend extended periods of time outside. Winter temperatures can be mild, but strong winds and occasional snowstorms can make it difficult for visitors to access some parts of the park.
In general, the best time of year to visit Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park is in the spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and conditions are most favorable for outdoor activities. Visitors should be prepared for extreme temperatures and weather conditions, regardless of the time of year, and should always check the local forecast before heading out into the park.
Family Friendliness of Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park
Both Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are family-friendly, but each park offers a different experience for families traveling with children.
Canyonlands National Park is a great destination for families who enjoy outdoor activities and exploring unique landscapes. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, scenic drives, and ranger-led programs that are suitable for families. Some popular family-friendly activities at Canyonlands include exploring the easy trails in the Island in the Sky district, such as the Mesa Arch trail, and participating in ranger-led programs like Junior Ranger activities. However, it is important to note that some of the more strenuous hikes and backcountry activities at Canyonlands may not be suitable for younger children.
White Sands National Park, on the other hand, is a great destination for families who enjoy playing in the sand and exploring unique landscapes. The park’s rolling dunes are perfect for sledding, sandboarding, and building sandcastles, and the park also offers ranger-led programs and guided walks for families. Some popular family-friendly activities at White Sands include exploring the Dune Field on foot or by sled and participating in ranger-led programs like the Sunset Stroll.
In conclusion, both Canyonlands National Park and White Sands National Park are family-friendly, but each park offers a different experience for families traveling with children. If your family enjoys outdoor activities and exploring unique landscapes, Canyonlands National Park may be a better choice, while if your family enjoys playing in the sand, White Sands National Park may be the better option.