“Step into two worlds of wonder – Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Both offer a chance to explore unique landscapes, but the similarities stop there. The Channel Islands are a string of eight islands off the coast of California, showcasing a tropical-like paradise with clear turquoise waters and diverse wildlife. Meanwhile, Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska is a sprawling wilderness of glaciers, mountains, and valleys, where you can witness the power of nature at its rawest. So, buckle up and get ready to compare these two vastly different national parks, each with its own captivating allure.”
Hiking Trails in Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve offer diverse hiking experiences for nature lovers. Channel Islands, located off the California coast, features trails like the 1.5-mile Cavern Point Loop Trail with ocean views and the 7-mile rugged Scorpion Canyon Trail. For a more strenuous hike, try the 6-mile Anacapa Island Trail to the top for panoramic views.
Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska offers a range of trails, from easy like the 4-mile Root Glacier Trail to the strenuous 16-mile Mount Sanford Trail to the summit of 16,237-foot mountain. Another challenging option is the remote 47-mile Nabesna Road hiking trail through the park’s heart.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Channel Islands National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potato Harbor Trail | 7885.766 | 183.7944 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Smugglers Cove Trail | 12391.918 | 426.72 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Scorpion Bay to Cavern Point Loop | 2574.944 | 84.7344 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| El Montanon Trail | 13679.39 | 569.976 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Santa Cruz Island: Pelican Bay And Prisoners Harbor Trails | 13840.324 | 436.7784 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| East Anacapa Island Trail | 3862.416 | 115.824 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail | 7242.03 | 238.9632 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Del Norte and Montanon Trail to Scorpion Campgroud | 20116.75 | 810.768 | Hard | point to point | 5 |
| Cueva Valdez to Arch Rock Trail | 11748.182 | 535.8384 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Pelican Bay Trail | 6437.36 | 249.936 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankin Ridge Interpretive Trail | 1609.34 | 72.8472 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wind Cave Canyon Trail | 6115.492 | 64.9224 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop | 8368.568 | 156.972 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Cold Brook Canyon Trail | 4506.152 | 60.96 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| East Bison Flats Trail | 16254.334 | 445.9224 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Boland Ridge Trail | 7724.832 | 248.7168 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Centennial Trail: Highway 87 to Highlander Rd | 13035.654 | 286.8168 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| Elk Mountain Interpretive Trail | 4023.35 | 99.9744 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Prairie Vista Loop | 1609.34 | 31.6992 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Highland Creek Trail to Centennial Trail Loop | 21887.024 | 443.7888 | Hard | loop | 4.6 |
Wildlife in Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Channel Islands NP in California is known for its endemic species like the Island Fox, as well as common marine mammals like Gray Whales, California Sea Lions, and Harbor Seals. The park also boasts a diverse bird population with species like Western Gulls and Pelagic Cormorants. The vegetation is a mix of Mediterranean and coastal sage scrub.
In contrast, Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P in Alaska is a haven for large mammals like Grizzly Bears, Moose, Caribou, and Dall Sheep. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 170 species, including Bald Eagles, Harlequin Ducks, and Horned Larks. The park’s vegetation ranges from glaciers to rainforests and includes Sitka Spruce and Devil’s Club.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias 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
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | Coyote |
| Deer Mouse | American Beaver |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Muskrat |
| Hoary Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Black Bear |
| California Myotis | Porcupine |
| Fringed Myotis | Red Fox |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Puma |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Mink |
| Pallid Bat | Mule Deer |
| Red Bat | Wolf |
| Black Rat | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Snowshoe Hare | |
| Land Otter | |
| Common Shrew | |
| Water Shrew | |
| Red Squirrel | |
| Montane Shrew | |
| Long-Tailed Vole | |
| Lynx | |
| Wolverine | |
| American Marten | |
| Northern Flying Squirrel | |
| Grizzly Bear | |
| Meadow Vole |
Reptiles
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | |
| Yellow-Bellied Racer | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard |
Fish
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Steelhead | |
| Longnose Sucker | |
| Lake Trout | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Burbot | |
| Silver Salmon | |
| King Salmon | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Wood Frog |
Insects
| Channel Islands National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Silvery Blue | |
| Clouded Sulphur |
Beautiful Landscapes in Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Channel Islands National Park features pristine beaches, stunning sea cliffs, and unique geological formations, while Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve boasts towering mountain ranges, glaciers, and active volcanoes. Visitors can explore these parks on foot, by kayak, or by air, and may spot wildlife such as blue whales, sea lions, island scrub jays, caribou, grizzly bears, and wolves.
Things To-Do and Activities in Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Channel Islands NP is popular for water activities, camping and ranger-led hikes. Wrangell-St. Elias is known for hiking, scenic drives, backcountry camping, and wildlife viewing including bears/caribou. The main difference is their setting- Channel Islands is a group of islands near California, Wrangell-St. Elias is vast wilderness in Alaska.
Best Time to Visit Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Ch. Islands NP in SoCal has a mild, wet winter/dry summer Mediterranean climate & is best visited spring-fall (mid-50s to mid-70s°F). Wrangell-St. Elias NP in Alaska has a subarctic climate with long, harsh winter/short, mild summer, best visited in summer for outdoor activities (mid-40s to mid-60s°F). Weather affects rec. opportunities, Ch. Islands offers water activities, Wrangell-St. Elias offers hiking/mountaineering.
Family Friendliness of Channel Islands National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Channel Islands National Park is a better option for families, offering easier access and more educational programs for kids. Wrangell – St Elias is remote, with limited facilities and better suited for experienced outdoor enthusiasts.