“Two vastly different landscapes, one common goal – to astound and leave a lasting impression. Death Valley National Park, with its scorching temperatures and otherworldly terrain, stands in stark contrast to the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, where towering sand dunes, sculpted by nature, reach for the sky. Both parks offer unique experiences that are sure to leave visitors in awe. So, whether you’re searching for an adventure in the desert or a peaceful stroll through the dunes, these parks have got you covered. Get ready to be whisked away on a journey of discovery, where the unexpected is always just around the corner.”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Parks offer contrasting landscapes for hiking. Death Valley boasts an array of trails, from easy walks like Badwater Basin’s 2.5-mile trek to the lowest point in North America, to grueling hikes such as the 11-mile Telescope Peak offering sweeping views of the park. Great Sand Dunes, as its name implies, is famous for towering sand dunes and offers hikes ranging from a 1.5-mile round trip to the dunes to the challenging 8-mile ascent of Mount Herard. Both parks offer diverse hiking options, making them popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
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 Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
High Dune Trail | 4828.02 | 191.7192 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
Mosca Pass Trail | 10299.776 | 444.7032 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Dunes Trail from Pinyon Flats | 7242.03 | 290.7792 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
Sand Dunes Loop Trail | 8046.7 | 225.8568 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail | 11909.116 | 598.932 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
Medano Lake Trail | 12713.786 | 697.992 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Montville Nature Trail | 804.67 | 26.8224 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Dunes Overlook Sand Ramp Trail | 2414.01 | 80.772 | Moderate | out and back | 3.5 |
Little Medano Creek Trail to Medano Lake | 40394.434 | 1079.9064 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Wellington Ditch Trail | 2896.812 | 47.8536 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley NP is known for its biodiversity in harsh desert conditions, including desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, and birds such as the desert tortoise and the roadrunner. The park also has unique plant life such as the Joshua tree and creosote bush.
Great Sand Dunes NP&P is home to a variety of animals adapted to its high-altitude desert environment, such as mule deer, black-tailed prairie dogs, and birds such as the mountain bluebird and the horned lark. The park also boasts diverse vegetation, including the Piñon Pine and the shrubby buckwheat.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
Death Valley National Park | Great Sand Dunes 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 | 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 Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
---|---|
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 | Mule Deer |
Badger | Gray Fox |
Californian Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
Fringed Myotis | Long-Eared Bat |
Common Shrew | Badger |
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Ermine |
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Snowshoe Hare |
Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Masked Shrew |
Western Harvest Mouse | Water Shrew |
Western Small-Footed Myotis | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
Reptiles
Death Valley National Park | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
---|---|
Gopher Snake | Bull Snake |
Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
Ring-Necked Snake | Western Prairie Rattlesnake |
Common Sagebrush Lizard | Greater Short-Horned Lizards |
Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Milksnake |
Rubber Boa | Eastern Fence Lizard |
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 | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
---|---|
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 | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
---|---|
Largemouth Bass | Brook Trout |
Mosquitofish | German Brown Trout |
Goldfish | Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
Death Valley National Park | Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve |
---|---|
Woodhouse’s Toad | Northern Leopard Frog |
Canyon Treefrog | Tiger Salamander |
Woodhouse’s Toad | |
Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley NP: Badwater Basin (lowest point in NA), Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Artist’s Palette, Zabriskie Point, Ubehebe Crater.
Great Sand Dunes NP&P: towering sand dunes (up to 750ft), Medano Creek, Sangre de Cristo mountain range, Star Dune, Mosca Pass.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park are two popular outdoor destinations, each with unique attractions. Death Valley is known for scenic drives, stargazing, and geological formations like Badwater Basin and Devil’s Golf Course. Great Sand Dunes is famous for its towering sand dunes, offering sandboarding, sledding, picnicking, and splashing in a seasonal creek. Both parks offer camping and ranger activities, but Great Sand Dunes has an added bonus of a seasonal creek for water-based activities.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley and Great Sand Dunes have vastly different climates. Death Valley is known for extremely hot summers and mild winters, reaching 120°F in summer, while Great Sand Dunes has warm summers and cold winters, with temperatures ranging from 80s to 30s°F. Great Sand Dunes sees more rainfall, with monsoon season from June to August, while Death Valley only gets 2 inches of rain per year. To enjoy Death Valley, visit in winter for milder temps and less rain. To enjoy Great Sand Dunes, visit in summer for warm weather and outdoor activities. Visitors should prepare for extreme weather in both parks.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Death Valley and Great Sand Dunes are both unique and family friendly but in different ways. Death Valley is an arid desert with fascinating geological formations, historical sites, and scenic drives. However, it can be very hot and have limited facilities. Great Sand Dunes, on the other hand, features towering sand dunes, scenic mountain views, and opportunities for sand sledding and hiking. It has more amenities and a milder climate. So, if you’re traveling with children, Great Sand Dunes may be the better option with more activities and comfortable weather.