Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks are two of America’s greatest natural wonders, each offering a unique and awe-inspiring experience. While both parks are known for their stunning views and geological formations, they couldn’t be more different. From the scorching heat of Death Valley to the towering cliffs of the Grand Canyon, these parks offer a stark contrast in both climate and terrain. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or simply looking to take in the beauty of the great outdoors, a trip to either of these iconic national parks is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks are both popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, but each offer unique hiking experiences. Death Valley is known for its challenging and intense hikes, with trails like Badwater Basin, which descends 282 feet below sea level and is considered one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. On the other hand, Grand Canyon National Park offers a range of hikes, from easy rim walks to strenuous multi-day backpacking trips. Some of the easiest hikes at Grand Canyon include the Rim Trail and South Kaibab Trail, while the Bright Angel Trail and the South Bass Trail are considered some of the hardest. Both parks offer stunning views, with Death Valley showcasing the vast desert landscapes and Grand Canyon showcasing the iconic canyon views.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail | 2896.812 | 2.7432 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail | 4506.152 | 62.7888 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Zabriskie Point | 643.736 | 15.8496 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dante’s View Trail | 2574.944 | 109.728 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Telescope Peak Trail | 19312.08 | 1012.8504 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral | 4667.086 | 174.9552 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop via Zabriskie Point | 9334.172 | 332.8416 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Mosaic Canyon Trail | 5632.69 | 324.9168 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Death Valley Natural Bridge Road | 6920.162 | 304.8 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Darwin Falls Trail via Old Toll Road | 3057.746 | 68.8848 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Grand Canyon National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Angel Trail to Bright Angel Campground and River Trail | 28485.318 | 1525.8288 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge | 4988.954 | 358.7496 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Three-Mile Resthouse via Bright Angel Trail | 8690.436 | 635.8128 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| South Kaibab, Phantom Ranch, and Bright Angel Trail Loop | 26875.978 | 1400.8608 | Hard | point to point | 5 |
| South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point | 2896.812 | 210.9216 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Grand Canyon Rim Trail | 8690.436 | 106.9848 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rim-to-Rim: North Kaibab to Grand Canyon Village | 34761.744 | 1614.8304 | Hard | point to point | 5 |
| Shoshone Point Trail | 3379.614 | 45.72 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
| Plateau Point Trail via Bright Angel Trail | 19633.948 | 961.9488 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point | 8690.436 | 602.8944 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park are both home to diverse wildlife, but the type of wildlife you’ll see varies greatly between the two parks. In Death Valley, you may spot desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, and kangaroo rats, while Grand Canyon is home to elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. Birdwatchers can look for species such as the golden eagle and the peregrine falcon in Death Valley, and the condor, the raven, and the Steller’s jay in Grand Canyon. The parks are also home to a variety of plant life, including Joshua trees and creosote bushes in Death Valley, and Ponderosa pines and Douglas firs in Grand Canyon.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon 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
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Muskrat | American Beaver |
| Big Brown Bat | Muskrat |
| Bobcat | Big Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Bobcat |
| Deer Mouse | Striped Skunk |
| Raccoon | Little Brown Bat |
| Porcupine | Deer Mouse |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Raccoon |
| Hoary Bat | Black Bear |
| House Mouse | Porcupine |
| Mountain Lion | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mule Deer | Hoary Bat |
| Gray Fox | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Legged Myotis | House Mouse |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Mountain Lion |
| Badger | Mule Deer |
| Californian Myotis | Gray Fox |
| Fringed Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Common Shrew | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Badger |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | California Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | North American River Otter |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Fringed Myotis |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Gopher Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Rubber Boa | Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | Side-Blotched Lizard |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | Common Kingsnake |
| Tree Lizard | Nightsnake |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard |
| Glossy Snake | Milksnake |
| Long-Nosed Snake | Striped Whipsnake |
| Western Fence Lizard | Smith’s Black-Headed Snake |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Western Skink | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Monarch Butterfly |
| Monarch Butterfly | Common Sulphur |
| American Lady | Variegated Fritillary |
| Red Admiral | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Mourning Cloak | |
| Cabbage White | |
| Silvery Blue | |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Bluegill | |
| Fathead Minnow | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Tiger Salamander |
| Canyon Treefrog | Canyon Treefrog |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley National Park is known for its diverse and otherworldly landscapes, including Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and the multicolored layered hills of Artist’s Drive. The park also boasts the towering peaks of the Panamint Range, which provide a stunning backdrop for the valley, and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, which are perfect for a scenic hike.
The Grand Canyon National Park is famous for its massive and awe-inspiring gorge, created by the Colorado River over millions of years. Visitors can admire the stunning views from popular overlooks such as Mather Point and Desert View, or take a hike down into the canyon to experience its depth and beauty up close. The park is also home to the North and South Rim, which offer vastly different perspectives of the canyon, and Havasu Falls, a breathtaking waterfall located in a remote corner of the park.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley & Grand Canyon National Parks are two of the most popular parks in the US, each offering a unique set of activities. Death Valley is famous for its scenic drives, such as the Badwater Basin and Dante’s View, as well as its diverse landscapes ranging from sand dunes to salt flats. On the other hand, Grand Canyon is known for its breathtaking views from the rim, river rafting and scenic helicopter/mule rides. Both parks offer camping and stargazing opportunities, however, Death Valley also has unique activities such as Furnace Creek Ranch golf course and ranger-led programs. While the Grand Canyon offers a wider range of hiking trails, including backcountry hikes for experienced hikers. Both parks attract millions of visitors each year who come to experience their stunning natural beauty, rich history, and diverse recreational opportunities.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park are two of the most popular national parks in the western United States, but their seasonal weather patterns are vastly different. The best time to visit Death Valley is in the winter months, when temperatures average in the 60s and 70s and there is little to no precipitation. During the summer, temperatures can reach well over 100°F and there is virtually no shade, making it too hot for most visitors. Meanwhile, the Grand Canyon is much cooler, with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s and winter temperatures dropping into the 30s and 40s. Winter at the Grand Canyon can bring snow and ice, so visitors should be prepared for cold, wet weather. The best time to visit the Grand Canyon is in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the park is less crowded.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Grand Canyon National Park
Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks are both popular destinations, but their family-friendliness varies. Death Valley can be extremely hot during summer, making it challenging for families with young children. On the other hand, Grand Canyon offers more opportunities for family activities such as ranger-led programs, mule rides, and scenic drives. However, the Grand Canyon’s steep and rocky terrain can make it difficult for families with strollers or those with mobility issues. Both parks have campgrounds and picnic areas, but the Grand Canyon also offers lodging options inside the park. Overall, the Grand Canyon may be a better choice for families, but consider the physical abilities of your group and the time of year before making your decision.