Get ready for a wild ride, as we embark on a journey through two of America’s most diverse national parks. On one side, there’s Cuyahoga Valley, a lush and tranquil escape in the heart of Ohio, with its rolling hills and charming scenery. On the other, there’s Denali, a rugged wilderness in Alaska, with its towering peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking views. These two parks might be separated by thousands of miles, but they both offer unique experiences that are sure to leave a lasting impression. So grab your hiking boots and let’s dive into the comparisons and contrasts of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve!
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve offer a range of hiking experiences. In Cuyahoga Valley, the Ledges Trail is a 1.5-mile loop with scenic views of sandstone cliffs. For a more strenuous hike, the Buckeye Trail is a 20-mile trek through the park’s backcountry. At Denali, the Savage Alpine Trail is a 2.5-mile hike with panoramic views of the Alaska Range. The hardest hike is the Mount Healy Overlook Trail, a 4-mile round trip with a 3,000 ft elevation gain, offering views of Denali and the park.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ledges Trail | 4184.284 | 46.9392 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Brandywine Gorge Trail | 2735.878 | 65.8368 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Stanford House to Brandywine Falls Trail | 6115.492 | 162.7632 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Blue Hen Falls Trail | 804.67 | 23.7744 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Salt Run Trail | 6759.228 | 123.7488 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Plateau Trail | 7081.096 | 96.9264 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Pine Grove Trail and Ledges Trail Loop from Kendall Lake | 6115.492 | 98.7552 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Buckeye Trail to Valley Bridle Trail Loop | 5471.756 | 119.7864 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wetmore Bridle Trail | 7563.898 | 169.7736 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail: Brecksville Station | 7081.096 | 20.7264 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Denali National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Healy Overlook Trail | 6920.162 | 507.7968 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Horseshoe Lake Trail | 3379.614 | 119.7864 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Triple Lakes Trail | 29772.79 | 1124.712 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Bison Gulch | 11265.38 | 1178.9664 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rock Creek Trail | 7081.096 | 287.7312 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Taiga Trail | 2574.944 | 62.7888 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| McKinley Station Trail | 4667.086 | 113.9952 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Mount Thorofare Ridge Loop | 6598.294 | 507.7968 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| McKinley Bar Trail | 7402.964 | 295.9608 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Tiaga Loop and Horseshoe Lake Trail to Beaver Dam | 4828.02 | 158.8008 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley & Denali National Parks both feature diverse wildlife, but vary in terms of the species found. Cuyahoga Valley is home to white-tailed deer, river otters, beavers, and many bird species such as the pileated woodpecker and Cerulean warbler. Denali is renowned for its large mammals such as grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and wolves, and bird species such as golden eagle and willow ptarmigan. Plant life in Cuyahoga Valley features a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, while Denali is dominated by spruce and birch forests with wildflowers in the summer.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali 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 | 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 | Swainson’s Thrush |
Mammals
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Black Bear |
| Striped Skunk | Porcupine |
| Little Brown Bat | Red Fox |
| Deer Mouse | Mink |
| Raccoon | Wolf |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Hoary Bat | Snowshoe Hare |
| Red Fox | River Otter |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Common Shrew |
| House Mouse | Water Shrew |
| Mink | Red Squirrel |
| Gray Fox | Montane Shrew |
| Badger | Lynx |
| Masked Shrew | Wolverine |
| Red Squirrel | American Marten |
| White-Tailed Deer | Northern Flying Squirrel |
| Virginia Opossum | Grizzly Bear |
| Meadow Vole | Meadow Vole |
| Red Bat | Moose |
| White-Footed Mouse | Least Weasel |
| Norway Rat | Pygmy Shrew |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Wood Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Denali National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Longnose Sucker |
| Green Sunfish | Lake Trout |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | Northern Pike |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | Burbot |
| Golden Shiner | Coho Salmon |
| European Carp | Chinook Salmon |
| Northern Pike | Slimy Sculpin |
| Eastern Burbot | Chum Salmon |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | Dolly Varden |
| Graceful Catfish | Arctic Grayling |
| Black Crappie | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP boasts Brandywine Falls, 65-ft waterfall, Ledges Overlook with views of rocky cliffs & lush forests. Denali NP in Alaska has towering peaks, vast wilderness, abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears & wolves, scenic views from Polychrome Pass & Stony Hill Overlook, glaciers, tundra, & tallest peak in N. America, Denali.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP & Denali NP offer diverse outdoor experiences. Cuyahoga Valley NP is popular for its scenic drives, cycling the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath trail, and scenic train rides. Denali NP, on the other hand, is renowned for wildlife viewing, backpacking, and scenic drives along the Denali Park Road. Visitors to Denali also go on guided tours of its wilderness area.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located in Ohio, has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures average mid-70s to low 80s, while winter temperatures average in the 20s. Spring and fall are mild with temperatures in the 40s to 60s. Precipitation is consistent throughout the year, with most falling in spring and summer. Best visited in summer and fall for mild weather and foliage.
Denali National Park & Preserve in Alaska has a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Summer temperatures average mid-50s to low 60s, while winter temperatures average in negative teens to negative 30s. Precipitation is low, with most of the park receiving less than 20 inches of rain and snow annually. Winter is driest but ideal for winter sports. Best time to visit is summer for mild weather and active wildlife.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Denali National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is more developed, with easy access to amenities such as picnic areas and short, scenic trails. Denali National Park & Preserve offers a more rugged wilderness experience with opportunities for wildlife viewing and guided backcountry hikes. For families with young children, Cuyahoga Valley is a better option, but for families with older children who can handle more rugged terrain, Denali offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.