“Discover the contrasting beauty of two of the most unique national parks in the United States, Death Valley and Great Basin. On one hand, you have Death Valley, where scorching temperatures and sprawling deserts paint a picture of a desolate and unwelcoming landscape. On the other, Great Basin boasts verdant forests, towering peaks, and glistening glaciers that seem to belong in a different world altogether. Both parks offer a wealth of natural wonders to explore. Get ready for an adventure that will test your survival skills in Death Valley and leave you in awe of the majestic beauty of Great Basin. So, pack your bags and let’s go on a journey to discover the best of both worlds!”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Death Valley and Great Basin National Parks are popular destinations for hikers because of their varied landscapes. In Death Valley, the easiest hike is the Natural Bridge Loop, a 1.5-mile trail that showcases a rock formation resembling a bridge. On the other end of the spectrum, the challenging Telescope Peak trail is an 11-mile hike to the highest point in the park. Great Basin, known for its ancient bristlecone pines and alpine scenery, offers the 2.5-mile Lehman Creek Trail and the demanding 13-mile Wheeler Peak Trail to its highest peak in Nevada. Both parks have something for every hiker, from easy nature walks to strenuous mountain climbs.
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 Great Basin National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Peak Trail via Stella Lake Trail | 13196.588 | 885.7488 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail | 7242.03 | 322.7832 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Alpine Lakes Trail | 4345.218 | 142.9512 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Lehman Cave | 643.736 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop | 8529.502 | 308.7624 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive | 37497.622 | 1175.9184 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Baker Lake Trail | 16737.136 | 813.816 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Teresa Lake | 2414.01 | 92.964 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop | 20760.486 | 1330.7568 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Lexington Arch Trail | 4667.086 | 340.7664 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Death Valley NP and Great Basin NP are US parks with distinct wildlife and landscapes. Death Valley, with its hot and arid conditions, hosts bighorn sheep, coyotes, and kit foxes. In contrast, Great Basin, with its cooler climate, forests, and meadows, attracts mule deer, pronghorns, mountain lions, and a variety of birds like golden eagles, sage grouse, and pygmy nuthatches. Plants in Death Valley include creosote bush, Joshua trees, and desert wildflowers. Meanwhile, Great Basin features pinyon pine, juniper trees, and sagebrush.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Great Basin 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 | Great Basin 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 | Porcupine |
| House Mouse | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mountain Lion | Hoary Bat |
| Mule Deer | Red Fox |
| Gray Fox | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Legged Myotis | House Mouse |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Lion |
| Badger | Mink |
| Californian Myotis | Mule Deer |
| Fringed Myotis | Gray Fox |
| Common Shrew | Gray Wolf |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Badger |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Ermine |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Californis Myotis |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Racer |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Greater Short-Horned Lizard |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Rubber Boa |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Eastern Collared Lizard |
| Rubber Boa | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | Long-Nosed Snake |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | Desert Spiny Lizard |
| Tree Lizard | Western Fence Lizard |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Monarch Butterfly | Monarch Butterfly |
| American Lady | American Painted Lady |
| Red Admiral | Red Admiral |
| Mourning Cloak | Mourningcloak |
| Cabbage White | Cabbage White |
| Silvery Blue | Silvery Blue |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | Common Checkered-Skipper |
| Clouded Sulphur | Clouded Sulphur |
| Honey Bee | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Variegated Fritillary | Purplish Copper |
| Buckeye | Anise Swallowtail |
| Purplish Copper | Gray Hairstreak |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Great Basin National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Tiger Salamander |
| Canyon Treefrog | Woodhouse’s Toad |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Death Valley National Park is famous for its diverse landscapes, including Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America), Zabriskie Point, Artist’s Drive, sand dunes, salt flats, canyons, & valleys. Great Basin National Park boasts Bristlecone Pine forest, Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak (highest in Nevada), scenic drives such as Baker Creek Rd & Snake Creek Canyon Overlook.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Death Valley NP and Great Basin NP are two US parks that offer diverse experiences. Death Valley is renowned for its scenic drives, stargazing, and desert landscapes featuring iconic landmarks like Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, and Badwater Basin. On the other hand, Great Basin is famous for its limestone caves, ancient bristlecone pines, and scenic drives. Visitors enjoy camping, exploring Lehman Caves, and stargazing at Great Basin. Both parks offer outdoor recreation and scenic drives, with unique landscapes and attractions.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Death Valley NP in California & Nevada is known for its scorching temperatures, with summer highs averaging 120°F. Conversely, Great Basin NP in Nevada is much cooler, with summer highs around 70°F. Winter is the best time to visit Death Valley, with daytime temp of 60-70°F, while Great Basin is best enjoyed in summer. Both parks have low annual rainfall, but Great Basin NP has a higher chance of snowfall in winter. Extreme heat in Death Valley requires visitors to bring ample water & avoid strenuous activities during hottest parts of the day.
In Great Basin NP, visitors enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, wildlife viewing. Death Valley offers scenic drives, stargazing & unique geological formations.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is more family-friendly than Death Valley National Park for families with children. Great Basin offers more nature-oriented activities and ranger-led programs geared towards kids, while Death Valley has a focus on desert landscapes and geological formations that may be challenging for young children due to extreme temperatures and limited shade. Great Basin also has a campground and lodge, while Death Valley has limited lodging options.