“Discover the contrast between two of America’s most beloved national parks: Cuyahoga Valley and Joshua Tree. Picture yourself surrounded by rolling hills, tranquil streams and verdant forests in Cuyahoga Valley, and then imagine being transported to a dramatic desert landscape dotted with unique Joshua Trees and towering rock formations in Joshua Tree. Both parks offer endless opportunities for recreation and adventure, from hiking and fishing to rock climbing and stargazing. So, whether you’re searching for a peaceful escape or a thrilling challenge, these two parks are sure to leave you breathless. Join us as we explore the diverse beauty of Cuyahoga Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks.”
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park offer diverse hiking experiences. The former, located in Ohio, has trails ranging from easy to challenging, including Ledges Trail (1.5-mile loop, easy), Brandywine Falls Trail (1.5-mile round trip, moderate), and Buckeye Trail (13-mile loop, strenuous). Meanwhile, Joshua Tree in California boasts unique landscapes and trails such as Hidden Valley Nature Trail (0.5-mile, easy), Ryan Mountain Trail (11-mile, strenuous), and Mastodon Peak Loop (7-mile, moderate). Both parks provide scenic views and diverse terrain for visitors.
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 Joshua Tree National Park
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ryan Mountain Trail | 4828.02 | 325.8312 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Barker Dam Nature Trail | 2896.812 | 19.812 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Hidden Valley Nature Trail | 1609.34 | 34.7472 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Lost Palms Oasis | 11587.248 | 312.7248 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Arch Rock Nature Trail | 1126.538 | 7.9248 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail | 4506.152 | 188.976 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail | 11104.446 | 277.9776 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Skull Rock Nature Trail | 2735.878 | 48.768 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail | 321.868 | 1.8288 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Willow Hole Trail | 10943.512 | 74.9808 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is characterized by its diverse wildlife, including deer, foxes, beavers, and otters, as well as over 200 bird species such as bald eagles, herons, and woodpeckers. It features wildflowers like trillium, bloodroot, and wild geranium. Joshua Tree National Park in California, on the other hand, is known for its desert ecosystem, with animals like bighorn sheep, chuckwalla lizards, and the eponymous Joshua trees. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 250 species including roadrunners, phainopeplas, and gnatcatchers, as well as stunning wildflowers like Joshua tree flowers, desert lilies, and Indian paintbrush.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree 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
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree National Park |
---|---|
Coyote | Coyote |
American Beaver | Big Brown Bat |
Muskrat | Bobcat |
Big Brown Bat | Deer Mouse |
Bobcat | Black Bear |
Striped Skunk | Hoary Bat |
Little Brown Bat | Long-Tailed Weasel |
Deer Mouse | House Mouse |
Raccoon | Cougar |
Silver-Haired Bat | Mule Deer |
Hoary Bat | Gray Fox |
Red Fox | Long-Legged Myotis |
Long-Tailed Weasel | American Badger |
House Mouse | Californian Myotis |
Mink | Snowhsoe Hare |
Gray Fox | Fringed Myotis |
Badger | Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat |
Masked Shrew | Western Harvest Mouse |
Red Squirrel | Pallid Bat |
White-Tailed Deer | Ringtail |
Virginia Opossum | Desert Cottontail |
Meadow Vole | Virginia Opossum |
Red Bat | Black-Tailed Jackrabbit |
White-Footed Mouse | Brush Deermouse |
Norway Rat | Western Spotted Skunk |
Amphibians
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree National Park |
---|---|
Northern Leopard Frog | Canyon Treefrog |
Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
Bullfrog | |
Wood Frog |
Reptiles
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree National Park |
---|---|
Racer | Gopher Snake |
Ring-Necked Snake | Common Sagebrush Lizard |
Common Garter Snake | Common Side-Blotched Lizard |
Eastern Milk Snake | Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard |
Eastern Fence Lizard | Smith’s Black-Headed Snake |
Glossy Snake | |
Long-Nosed Snake |
Insects
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree National Park |
---|---|
Orange Sulfur | Orange Sulphur |
Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
Monarch Butterfly | Monarch Butterfly |
American Painted Lady | Red Admiral |
European Cabbage White | Mourningcloak |
Buckeye | Silvery Blue |
Variegated Fritillary | |
Buckeye | |
Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Joshua Tree National Park |
---|---|
Northern Largemouth Bass | Goldfish |
Green Sunfish | |
Northern Bluegill Sunfish | |
Northern Fathead Minnow | |
Golden Shiner | |
European Carp | |
Northern Pike | |
Eastern Burbot | |
Central Mottled Sculpin | |
Graceful Catfish | |
Black Crappie | |
Creek Chub | |
Goldfish |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers scenic vistas of rolling hills and the Cuyahoga River, as well as waterfalls like Brandywine and Blue Hen. Visitors can take in the views from overlooks and bridges.
At Joshua Tree National Park, visitors can explore unique rock formations like giant boulders and twisted Joshua trees, and also enjoy breathtaking sunsets and starry night skies. Hiking trails lead to hidden oasis and iconic formations like Skull Rock and Hidden Valley.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP offers serene outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, scenic railway rides, fishing, and canal boat rides amidst its scenic waterfalls, rolling hills, and lush forests. Joshua Tree NP, known for its unique desert landscape, attracts visitors for rock climbing, bouldering, stargazing, camping, wildlife viewing, and hiking trails to stunning rock formations, canyons, and oases.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio experiences four distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The park is at its most beautiful in the spring, when temperatures are mild and flowers are in bloom. This makes spring the best time to visit the park to see its lush greenery and waterfalls. On the other hand, Joshua Tree National Park in California is located in a desert climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters. Visitors should aim to visit during the spring or fall, when temperatures are more moderate and comfortable for outdoor activities. However, the park is also known for its stunning wildflower displays in the spring, making this the best time of year to experience the beauty of the desert landscape.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park
For families, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a range of educational and interactive exhibits, scenic railway rides, and diverse recreational activities, making it more kid-friendly. Joshua Tree, while offering stunning natural beauty, has challenging hikes, rock climbing, and limited educational resources, making it more appropriate for older children and teens. For a family trip with young children, Cuyahoga Valley is a better option.