“Nature enthusiasts, get ready for a double dose of awe-inspiring beauty! Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park are two of America’s most captivating national parks, each offering a unique blend of stunning scenery and diverse wildlife. Channel Islands is a serene oasis, renowned for its crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, and breathtaking whale watching opportunities. Meanwhile, Yellowstone is a geothermal wonderland, home to explosive geysers, bubbling mud pots, and a variety of wildlife including bears, wolves, and bison. Whether you’re a hiker, photographer, or just a lover of the great outdoors, these two parks promise a wild and unforgettable experience. So buckle up, grab your gear, and let’s explore the best of both worlds!”
Hiking Trails in Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Channel Islands National Park in California and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana both offer diverse hiking experiences. Channel Islands has easier trails like Cave Landing and Anacapa Island Loop with stunning coastal views, and more challenging ones like Potato Harbor with steep switchbacks and the 50-mile Trans-Catalina Trail through remote areas. Yellowstone has easy boardwalk trails like Old Faithful and moderate hikes like the Lone Star Geyser Trail. But it also has strenuous hikes like the Mount Washburn Trail to a 10,243-ft summit and the Thorofare Trail, a 50-mile backcountry journey that takes several days.
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 Yellowstone National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mystic Falls, Fairy Creek and Little Firehole Loop | 5632.69 | 184.7088 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Grand Prismatic Hot Spring | 2574.944 | 60.96 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful Observation Point Loop | 7242.03 | 73.7616 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Canyon Rim North Trail to Inspiration Point | 12713.786 | 349.9104 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail | 1609.34 | 17.9832 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Mammoth Hot Springs Area Trail | 5632.69 | 170.9928 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Artists Paintpots Trail | 1609.34 | 30.7848 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Avalanche Peak Trail | 7402.964 | 614.7816 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Old Faithful Geyser Loop Trail | 1126.538 | 4.8768 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Upper Falls, Lower Falls and Crystal Falls Trail | 6115.492 | 140.8176 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Channel Islands NP & Yellowstone NP both offer unique wildlife experiences. Channel Islands is rich in marine life, including seals, sea lions, and whales. Yellowstone is famous for its large mammals such as wolves, grizzly bears, and bison/elk herds. Birdwatchers can spot endemic species at Channel Islands, like Island Scrub-Jay & Xantus’ Hummingbird, while Yellowstone boasts Bald Eagles, Ravens & Pinyon Jays. Both parks have diverse plant life, incl. wildflowers & conifers, but Yellowstone is known for its geothermal wonders that sustain unique plant communities like geysers & hot springs.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone 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
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone National Park |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | Coyote |
| Deer Mouse | American Beaver |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Muskrat |
| Hoary Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Bobcat |
| California Myotis | Striped Skunk |
| Fringed Myotis | Little Brown Bat |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Deer Mouse |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Raccoon |
| Pallid Bat | Black Bear |
| Red Bat | Porcupine |
| Black Rat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Hoary Bat | |
| Red Fox | |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | |
| House Mouse | |
| Mountain Lion | |
| Mink | |
| Mule Deer | |
| Wolf | |
| Long-Legged Myotis | |
| Long-Eared Myotis | |
| Badger | |
| Short Tailed Weasel | |
| California Myotis |
Reptiles
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | Racer |
| Yellow-Bellied Racer | Greater Short-Horned Lizard |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | Rubber Boa |
Fish
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | |
| Brook Trout | |
| Brown Trout | |
| Longnose Sucker | |
| Lake Trout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Insects
| Channel Islands National Park | Yellowstone National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Mourning Cloak | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered Skipper | |
| Common Sulphur | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Channel Islands NP: Cliffs, beaches, Painted Cave (largest sea cave).
Yellowstone NP: Geysers, hot springs, mudpots, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (20-mile-long canyon w/ colorful rock formations & waterfalls), Norris Geyser Basin (largest geyser basin), Lamar Valley (prime wildlife viewing).
Things To-Do and Activities in Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park are two popular National Parks in the US, attracting millions of visitors each year. Channel Islands is known for marine activities such as kayaking, snorkeling and tide pooling to explore its unique marine environment and view wildlife. Yellowstone boasts famous geysers and hot springs, wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, and ranger-led tours/programs. It also offers backcountry camping and horseback riding. Channel Islands focuses on preserving its natural resources and restricts access to its islands, while Yellowstone offers a wider range of recreation opportunities.
Best Time to Visit Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Channel Islands National Park in CA has a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Yellowstone National Park in the Northern Rockies has a subalpine climate with cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers. Summer is the best time to visit Channel Islands with warm temps and less rainfall, while summer and early fall are the best times to visit Yellowstone. Quick weather changes can occur in both parks, so visitors should be prepared.
Family Friendliness of Channel Islands National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is the better choice for families with kids due to its kid-friendly activities, accessibility & facilities. It offers ranger-led walks, geyser viewing, wildlife watching, multiple entrances, and camping options including RV sites. Channel Islands is more focused on outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking & only offers backcountry camping and is less accessible.