“Discover a world of contrasts with Crater Lake and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. Crater Lake presents a stunning blue gem in a caldera created by a long-extinct volcano, while the rolling hills of Great Smoky Mountains are shrouded in a mysterious blue haze. Immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters of Crater Lake or hike through diverse landscapes in the Smokies, from lush forests to wildflower-filled meadows. Whether you’re an adventurer, seeking solitude, or just a nature lover, these two National Parks offer a unique experience for everyone.”
Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are two popular destinations for hiking enthusiasts. Crater Lake boasts fewer trails but they tend to be longer and more scenic, with the Pacific Crest Trail running 2650 miles through the park. The Rim Drive Trail, a 33-mile road that offers panoramic views of the lake, and the Watchman Peak Trail, a 1.5-mile hike with awe-inspiring views, are two of the easiest hikes in the park. On the other hand, the most challenging hike in Crater Lake is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, a steep 1.1-mile descent to the lake shore.
In contrast, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 800 miles of trails and is famous for its lush forests, rolling hills, and scenic waterfalls. Some of the easiest hikes include the Gatlinburg Trail, a 2.9-mile leisurely hike through the forest, and the Laurel Falls Trail, a 2.6-mile hike to an 80-foot waterfall. For the more adventurous hiker, the Alum Cave Trail is a 5.5-mile journey to the summit of Mount Le Conte, with an elevation gain of over 2500 feet. Both parks offer a variety of hiking experiences, from easy walks to challenging backcountry adventures, making them perfect destinations for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Peak Trail | 5471.756 | 325.8312 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cleetwood Cove Trail | 3379.614 | 189.8904 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| The Watchman Peak Trail | 2574.944 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Scott Trail | 6759.228 | 383.7432 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Discovery Point Trail | 6437.36 | 278.892 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Plaikni Falls Trail | 3218.68 | 40.8432 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Wizard Island Trail | 3701.482 | 228.9048 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Sun Notch Trail | 1287.472 | 38.7096 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Pinnacles Valley Trail | 1126.538 | 11.8872 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mazama Village to Rim Village at Crater Lake | 13357.522 | 530.9616 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte | 17219.938 | 916.8384 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Chimney Tops Trail | 5793.624 | 392.8872 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rainbow Falls Trail | 8851.37 | 503.8344 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Grotto Falls Trail | 4184.284 | 162.7632 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Laurel Falls Trail | 3862.416 | 120.7008 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Abrams Falls Trail | 7885.766 | 191.7192 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail | 1931.208 | 100.8888 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail | 13840.324 | 603.8088 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Ramsey Cascades Trail | 13035.654 | 677.8752 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Peregrine Peak via Alum Cave Bluffs Trail | 6759.228 | 322.7832 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon boasts a large, deep blue lake surrounded by forests, attracting diverse wildlife. Common sightings include black bears, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots, while bird lovers can observe bald eagles, ospreys and Steller’s jays. The park also offers a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, and various wildflowers and flowering plants.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in TN/NC is known for its abundant wildlife and plant life. Visitors can expect to see black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, raccoons and a variety of bird species, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and wild turkeys. The park showcases deciduous and coniferous trees, wildflowers and flowering plants, including rare and endangered species like Fraser fir and red spruce.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains 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 |
| Bald Eagle | American Kestrel |
| Song Sparrow | Bald Eagle |
| European Starling | Song Sparrow |
| Northern Pintail | European Starling |
| American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
| American Pipit | American Wigeon |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains 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 | Panther (Mountain Lion) |
| Mink | Mink |
| Mule Deer Or Black-Tailed Deer | Gray Fox |
| Gray Fox | Gray Wolf |
| Wolf | Snowshoe Hare |
| Long-Legged Myotis | River Otter |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Masked Shrew |
| American Badger | Water Shrew |
| Ermine | Red Squirrel |
Fish
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Rainbow Trout |
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout |
| Brown Trout | Brown Trout |
| Lake Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Silver Salmon | Green Sunfish |
| Kokanee Salmon | Bluegill |
| Cutthroat Trout | Common Carp |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terestrial Garter Snake | |
| Racer | |
| Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Western Skink | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Insects
| Crater Lake National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Red Admiral | Monarch |
| Honey Bee | American Painted Lady |
| Purplish Copper | Red Admiral |
| Anise Swallowtail | Mourning Cloak |
| Cabbage White | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered Skipper | |
| Common Sulphur | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Beautiful Landscapes in Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crater Lake features the deep blue waters of the caldera lake surrounded by towering cliffs. The main attraction is the lake, which is the deepest in the US. Visitors can take boat tours, hike trails or drive Rim Drive for panoramic views.
Great Smoky Mountains NP boasts stunning mountain ranges and breathtaking views. The most famous landscape is Newfound Gap Overlook, offering panoramic views of mountains, valleys, and streams. The park has over 800 miles of hiking trails including the Appalachian Trail, and numerous waterfalls such as 80-ft Laurel Falls.
Things To-Do and Activities in Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crater Lake NP and Great Smoky Mountains NP both offer scenic drives, fishing, and hiking. Crater Lake NP is known for boating, stargazing, winter sports. Great Smoky Mountains NP has camping, wildlife watching, cultural heritage exploration, and fall leaf peeping.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crater Lake NP has cold, snowy winters and mild, dry summers, while Great Smoky Mountains NP has a humid subtropical climate with warm summers and cool winters, with occasional snow. Both parks offer scenic beauty, but the best time to visit Crater Lake is during the summer months, while the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. The spring or fall also offers colorful autumn foliage in the Smokies.
Family Friendliness of Crater Lake National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Both Crater Lake and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks offer family-friendly experiences, but with different focuses. Crater Lake has scenic drives, boat tours, and easy hikes with stunning views of the lake. Great Smoky Mountains offers a wider range of activities such as scenic drives, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and multiple family-friendly hiking trails. For families, Great Smoky Mountains is a better option due to its wider range of activities, but both parks offer enjoyable experiences.