“Embark on a journey of breathtaking beauty and explore two of the most awe-inspiring national parks in America: Death Valley and Grand Teton. While both parks boast unique landscapes, they couldn’t be more different from each other. On one hand, you have the scorching hot and dry desert of Death Valley, where temperatures can reach an astonishing 134°F and the landscape is dotted with salty flats, sand dunes, and canyons. On the other hand, you have the stunning mountain vistas of Grand Teton, with its snow-capped peaks, glistening lakes, and lush forests. Both parks offer a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life and immerse yourself in the natural world. So, pack your bags and get ready to choose your adventure – will it be the scorching heat of Death Valley or the crisp mountain air of Grand Teton?”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park are two of the most popular national parks in the United States. Both offer beautiful landscapes and immense natural beauty. However, they differ significantly in terms of their hiking trails.
Death Valley is known for its challenging hikes, including the grueling Badwater Basin trek, which takes you to the lowest point in North America, and the strenuous Panamint Dunes hike, which takes you to the top of a towering dune field. On the other hand, Grand Teton National Park offers easier hikes, such as the Taggart Lake trail, which takes you to a serene alpine lake surrounded by towering peaks. The park also features challenging hikes, like the Paintbrush Canyon trail, which takes you to the top of the Teton Range and offers panoramic views of the entire park.
In conclusion, both Death Valley and Grand Teton National Parks offer a variety of hiking trails for every level of hiker. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging adventure, you can find it in either park.
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 Teton National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Canyon Trail | 15610.598 | 343.8144 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Jenny Lake Trail | 12391.918 | 221.8944 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Taggart Lake Loop | 6598.294 | 130.7592 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Delta Lake via Amphitheater Lake Trail | 14484.06 | 709.8792 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail | 14323.126 | 896.7216 | Very Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Hidden Falls Trail | 7885.766 | 179.832 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Phelps Lake Trail | 11265.38 | 220.98 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Lake Solitude Trail | 25749.44 | 803.7576 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| String Lake Trail | 5954.558 | 79.8576 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Loop | 9656.04 | 231.9528 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley NP is known for its unique desert wildlife, including the desert bighorn sheep, kit fox, and various species of reptiles such as the sidewinder rattlesnake. Grand Teton NP is home to a diverse array of animals, including the gray wolf, moose, elk, and pronghorn antelope. Both parks have a variety of bird species, such as golden eagles, hawks, and sandpipers, but Grand Teton also has a large population of trumpeter swans and other waterfowl. In terms of plant life, Death Valley boasts spectacular wildflower displays in the spring, while Grand Teton has a mix of conifer forests and alpine meadows with wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Teton 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 Teton 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 | Red Fox |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Mountain Lion |
| Badger | Mink |
| Californian Myotis | Mule Deer |
| Fringed Myotis | Wolf |
| Common Shrew | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Badger |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Ermine |
| Western Harvest Mouse | California Myotis |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Snowshoe Hare |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Teton National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Gopher Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Rubber Boa |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Teton National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| 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 Teton National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Lake Trout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Grand Teton National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley is famous for its vast desert landscapes, including Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and towering peaks of the Panamint Range. It also boasts sand dunes, salt flats, and colorful canyons.
Grand Teton is known for its Teton Mountain Range, its highest peak Grand Teton, Snake River, and Jackson Lake. Visitors can enjoy overlooks such as Jackson Hole and Signal Mountain, and the park’s glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and waterfalls.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley and Grand Teton national parks offer diverse recreational activities. Death Valley highlights include scenic drives to view unique geological features like Badwater Basin and sand dunes at Stovepipe Wells, ranger-led tours and camping. Grand Teton is known for its picturesque mountain views, wildlife viewing opportunities like bird watching and recreational activities like scenic drives, boating and fishing. Both parks offer a variety of outdoor experiences, but each is unique in its own way, attracting different types of visitors.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley NP & Grand Teton NP have distinct weather patterns. Death Valley is the hottest, driest & lowest NP in N. America with summer temp often over 120°F & mild winter temps. Grand Teton NP, located in the Rockies, has harsh, cold winters with heavy snow & mild summers.
The best time to visit Death Valley is winter (mild temps, less rain) & spring (wildflowers). Summer is very hot. Grand Teton NP is best visited in summer (mild, accessible for activities) & winter (good for skiing, limited access).
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park
Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park offer different experiences for families. Death Valley is known for its vast desert landscapes and unique geological formations, while Grand Teton is famous for its towering mountain peaks and abundant wildlife. While both parks have facilities for camping, picnicking and hiking, Grand Teton may be more family-friendly, offering diverse recreational activities such as fishing, boating and horseback riding, and more developed campgrounds and a variety of accommodations, including lodges and cabins.