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.
Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park are two of America’s most magnificent national parks, each offering its own unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor recreation. From the rugged landscapes of Capitol Reef to the rolling hills and lush forests of Shenandoah, these parks offer visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse themselves in the great outdoors. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, a nature lover, or simply looking for a peaceful getaway, these parks have something for everyone. So, buckle up, pack your bags, and get ready for an adventure as we compare and contrast the captivating Capitol Reef National Park and the enchanting Shenandoah National Park!
Hiking Trails in Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park both offer a range of hiking trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry treks. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, these parks have something to offer everyone. In this section, we’ll compare and contrast some of the easiest and hardest hikes at each park.
At Capitol Reef, the easiest hikes include the Capitol Gorge Trail, which takes visitors on a scenic walk through a narrow canyon, and the Grand Wash Trail, which follows a gentle stream through a colorful sandstone canyon. For those looking for a bit more of a challenge, the park offers several strenuous hikes, including the Upper Muley Twist Canyon Trail and the Cassidy Arch Trail.
At Shenandoah National Park, the easiest hikes include the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which takes visitors to a stunning waterfall, and the Old Rag Mountain Trail, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. For those looking for a more strenuous hike, the park offers several challenging trails, including the Whiteoak Canyon Trail and the Rose River Falls Trail.
In conclusion, Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park both offer a range of hiking trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry treks. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, these parks have something to offer everyone. So, grab your backpack, lace up your hiking boots, and hit the trails at these two magnificent national parks!
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Capitol Reef National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickman Bridge Trail | 2735.878 | 129.8448 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cassidy Arch Trail | 4667.086 | 213.9696 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Grand Wash Trail via Northeast Trailhead | 7081.096 | 121.92 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chimney Rock Loop Trail | 5310.822 | 241.7064 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Cohab Canyon Trail | 4828.02 | 241.7064 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Navajo Knobs Trail | 14001.258 | 650.748 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Goosenecks & Sunset Point | 4023.35 | 165.8112 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Capitol Gorge Trail | 7242.03 | 113.9952 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Sulphur Creek Route | 18507.41 | 427.9392 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rim Overlook Trail | 6598.294 | 320.9544 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Shenandoah National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Rag Mountain Loop | 13840.324 | 736.7016 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| White Oak Canyon and Cedar Run Trails Loop | 14484.06 | 722.9856 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Dark Hollow Falls Trail | 2253.076 | 171.9072 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Bearfence Mountain Trail | 1609.34 | 73.7616 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Hawksbill Gap Loop via Appalachian Trail | 4184.284 | 228.9048 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Rose River Trail | 5632.69 | 256.9464 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| White Oak Canyon Trail | 15288.73 | 733.9584 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Stony Man via Appalachian Trail | 2414.01 | 97.8408 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| South River Falls Trail | 7402.964 | 387.7056 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Little Stony Man Loop via Appalachian Trail | 5471.756 | 263.9568 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park:
– Animals: Bighorn sheep, pronghorns, coyotes, kit foxes, deer, and rock squirrels are commonly seen.
– Birds: Golden eagles, ravens, turkey vultures, and peregrine falcons are some of the bird species that can be seen.
– Plants: Pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, and Utah agave are some of the plant species commonly found in the park.
Shenandoah National Park:
– Animals: Black bears, white-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels are commonly seen.
– Birds: Turkey vultures, hawks, falcons, and various species of songbirds are commonly seen.
– Plants: Oak-hickory forest, Appalachian hardwood forest, and pine forests are some of the plant communities found in the park.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah 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
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah 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 | 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 | Gray Fox |
| American Mink | River Otter |
| Mule Deer | Masked Shrew |
| Common Gray Fox | Water Shrew |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Red Squirrel |
| Long-Eared Myotis | White-Tailed Deer |
| American Badger | Virginia Opossum |
| Ermine | Marten |
| California Myotis | Northern Flying Squirrel |
Fish
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Rainbow Trout |
| Brown Trout | Brook Trout |
| Bluegill | Brown Trout |
| Mottled Sculpin | Largemouth Bass |
| Speckled Dace | Green Sunfish |
| Black Bullhead | Bluegill |
| Cutthroat Trout | Common Carp |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | Black Racer |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Ringneck Snake |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Common Garter Snake |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Common Kingsnake |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | Milksnake |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Common Kingsnake | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Amphibians
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Tiger Salamander | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Insects
| Capitol Reef National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch | |
| American Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Mourning Cloak | |
| Cabbage White | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered Skipper | |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Beautiful Landscapes in Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park:
1. Waterpocket Fold: a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth’s crust
2. Grand Wash: a scenic canyon with towering cliffs
3. Chimney Rock: a tall, thin rock formation
4. Hickman Bridge: a natural arch
5. Goosenecks Overlook: offers views of the meandering San Juan River.
Shenandoah National Park:
1. Skyline Drive: a scenic road that runs the length of the park
2. Old Rag Mountain: a popular hike with panoramic views
3. Dark Hollow Falls: a 70-foot waterfall
4. Hawksbill Mountain: the highest peak in the park
5. Bearfence Mountain: a challenging rock scramble with views of the surrounding landscape.
Things To-Do and Activities in Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park:
– Hiking: Popular trails include Capitol Gorge, Grand Wash, and Cassidy Arch.
– Scenic drives: Scenic drive along the park’s scenic drive offers breathtaking views of the park’s landscapes.
– Rock formations: Exploring the park’s rock formations, such as the Waterpocket Fold, is a popular activity.
– Camping: Camping is available in designated campgrounds and backcountry areas.
– Wildlife viewing: Bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and other wildlife can be seen in their natural habitats.
Shenandoah National Park:
– Hiking: Over 500 miles of trails, including the famous Appalachian Trail, offer a range of hiking experiences.
– Scenic drives: Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road that runs through the park, offers scenic views of the park’s landscapes.
– Camping: Camping is available in designated campgrounds and backcountry areas.
– Wildlife viewing: Black bears, white-tailed deer, and other wildlife can be seen in their natural habitats.
– Picnicking: Picnicking is a popular activity in the park, with several designated picnic areas available.
Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park are located in different regions of the country, resulting in distinct seasonal weather patterns that can greatly impact the best time of year to visit each park. In this section, we’ll compare and contrast the seasonal weather at Capitol Reef and Shenandoah and how it affects when is the best time to visit each park.
Capitol Reef National Park is located in southern Utah and experiences hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters. Summer temperatures can reach well into the 90s, making it a great time of year to visit the park for outdoor activities such as hiking and rock climbing. Winter temperatures are generally mild, with occasional snowfall, making it a great time of year for scenic drives and wildlife viewing.
Shenandoah National Park is located in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and experiences four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are popular times of year to visit the park, as temperatures are mild and the park is ablaze with colorful foliage. Summer temperatures can reach into the 80s, making it a great time of year for hiking and camping, while winter temperatures can drop below freezing, making it a great time of year for winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
In conclusion, the seasonal weather at Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park can greatly impact the best time of year to visit each park. Whether you’re looking to escape the heat, enjoy the fall foliage, or hit the slopes, both parks offer a range of outdoor activities and scenic beauty throughout the year. So, pack your bags, grab your gear, and head out to explore the great outdoors at Capitol Reef and Shenandoah National Parks!
Family Friendliness of Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Capitol Reef National Park and Shenandoah National Park are both family-friendly, but with different offerings.
Capitol Reef National Park has a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and scenic drives. It also has a Junior Ranger program for children, which is an educational and interactive way for kids to learn about the park.
Shenandoah National Park has a wide range of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. It also has a Junior Ranger program and a scenic drive, Skyline Drive, that offers stunning views of the park.
Both parks have picnic areas, ranger-led programs, and visitor centers.
Ultimately, both parks are great for families, but if you’re traveling with children, Shenandoah National Park may be a better choice as it has more kid-friendly activities and a scenic drive.