“Step into two vastly different yet equally wondrous worlds at Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park. One offers serene, deep blue waters surrounded by towering cliffs, while the other boasts rolling hills of pristine white sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Both showcase the raw power and beauty of Mother Nature, and a visit to either is a journey you’ll never forget. Take in the breathtaking views and unique landscapes that only these two national parks can offer, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.”
Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park both offer diverse hiking experiences. Crater Lake has a variety of trails that range from easy to challenging, such as the Rim Trail which provides scenic views of the lake and the Garfield Peak Trail, a difficult hike to the park’s highest point. On the other hand, White Sands has limited trails but they provide a unique desert terrain, including the easy Dunes Drive Loop that winds through white sand dunes and the strenuous Alkali Flat Trail that leads to the park’s salt flats. Both parks provide breathtaking landscapes and opportunities to connect with nature.
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 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 Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake NP boasts black bears, mountain lions, elk, and a range of bird species such as loons, ospreys, and bald eagles among its wildlife. It also has subalpine firs, hemlocks, and whitebark pines among its vegetation. On the other hand, White Sands NP is known for its desert landscape, with jackrabbits, rattlesnakes, and roadrunners among its wildlife and creosote bushes and mesquite among its vegetation. Visitors to White Sands may also spot flycatchers, sparrows, and woodpeckers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Crater Lake 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| Mink | Mink |
| Mule Deer Or Black-Tailed Deer | Common Gray Fox |
| Gray Fox | Plains Wolf |
| Wolf | American Badger |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Ermine |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Snowshoe Hare |
| American Badger | River Otter |
| Ermine | Masked Shrew |
Fish
| Crater Lake National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Brook Trout | Longnose Sucker |
| Brown Trout | Green Sunfish |
| Lake Trout | Bluegill |
| Silver Salmon | Fathead Minnow |
| Kokanee Salmon | Golden Shiner |
| Cutthroat Trout | Lake Trout |
| Northern Pike | |
| Ellpout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Crater Lake National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terestrial Garter Snake | |
| Racer | |
| Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Western Skink | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Crater Lake National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Wood Frog |
Insects
| Crater Lake National Park | White Sands National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake National Park boasts a stunning, crystal-clear blue lake formed from a collapsed volcanic caldera. Explore the lake from Rim Drive, a 33-mile road with overlooks and hiking trails. Other notable features: Wizard Island, a cinder cone, and Mount Scott.
White Sands National Park is famous for its vast white gypsum sand dunes, the largest in the world. Walk on trails, explore dunes, and enjoy scenic views of dunes and mountains from picnic areas and a scenic drive.
Things To-Do and Activities in Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake National Park offers clear lake formed from volcanic eruption, scenic drives around rim, boating, fishing, and camping. White Sands National Park offers unique white sand dunes for hiking, sand sledding, scenic drives, ranger-led activities such as walks, stargazing and scenic overlooks. Key differences are Crater Lake’s focus on the clear lake and White Sands’ focus on its white sand dunes.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake NP in Oregon and White Sands NP in New Mexico have distinct weather patterns affecting their peak visiting seasons. Crater Lake has a subalpine climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers, making July-September the best time to visit. White Sands is a hot desert park with temperatures over 100°F in summer, but more comfortable mid-60s to mid-70s in winter, making it a better time to visit. Each park offers unique experiences: Crater Lake with snow-covered volcano views and White Sands with its white sand dunes.
Family Friendliness of Crater Lake National Park and White Sands National Park
Crater Lake and White Sands are both great for families, but offer different experiences. Crater Lake offers stunning views, hiking and scenic drives, while White Sands offers a unique landscape of sand dunes for exploring, with activities like sand sledding, hiking and ranger-led programs, plus picnic areas and a playground. For families traveling with children, White Sands may be more appealing due to its range of activities and amenities, while Crater Lake may be more challenging due to its elevation and steeper trails.