“Imagine two vastly different landscapes, one scorching and barren, the other lush and verdant. Welcome to the contrast of Death Valley and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. While one park boasts the hottest temperature ever recorded on earth, the other is home to some of the largest old growth forests in the eastern US. From towering sand dunes to rolling green hills, these parks offer a diverse range of environments to explore and enjoy. So whether you’re seeking an adventure in the desert or a peaceful hike through the woods, these iconic parks are sure to leave you in awe and leave you curious to discover more.”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are two popular hiking destinations in the United States, each offering a unique outdoor experience. Death Valley is known for its harsh desert environment and challenging hikes, such as the Telescope Peak Trail, which offers stunning views from the highest point in the park at 11,049 feet. On the other hand, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its lush forests and gentle trails, such as the Grotto Falls Trail, which is an easy 2.6 miles round trip hike to a beautiful waterfall. One of the hardest hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains is the Ramsey Cascades Trail, which is an 8-mile round trip hike to a 100-foot waterfall. In comparison, the hardest hike in Death Valley is the Ballarat Ghost Town & Panamint Mountains Hike, which is a strenuous, 10-mile round trip hike through the rugged, remote countryside of the Panamint Mountains.
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 Smoky Mountains National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte | 17219.938 | 916.8384 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Chimney Tops Trail | 5793.624 | 392.8872 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rainbow Falls Trail | 8851.37 | 503.8344 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Grotto Falls Trail | 4184.284 | 162.7632 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Laurel Falls Trail | 3862.416 | 120.7008 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Abrams Falls Trail | 7885.766 | 191.7192 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail | 1931.208 | 100.8888 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail | 13840.324 | 603.8088 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Ramsey Cascades Trail | 13035.654 | 677.8752 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Peregrine Peak via Alum Cave Bluffs Trail | 6759.228 | 322.7832 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Death Valley National Park is in a desert climate and is home to a unique range of wildlife species adapted to the harsh environment like bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and sidewinder rattlesnakes. In contrast, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in the Appalachian Mountains, features a wider diversity of species including black bears, elk, and the threatened Indiana bat. Both parks have a rich bird life, with Death Valley hosting species like the greater roadrunner and the black-tailed gnatcatcher, while the Smokies are known for their neotropical migrants like the scarlet tanager and the wood thrush. The Smokies also have a rich diversity of plant life, including over 130 species of native trees, while Death Valley’s vegetation is limited to drought-resistant species like creosote bush and Joshua tree.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Great Smoky Mountains 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 Smoky Mountains 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 | House Mouse |
| Badger | Panther (Mountain Lion) |
| Californian Myotis | Mink |
| Fringed Myotis | Gray Fox |
| Common Shrew | Gray Wolf |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Snowshoe Hare |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | River Otter |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Masked Shrew |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Water Shrew |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Red Squirrel |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
| 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 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Monarch Butterfly | Monarch |
| American Lady | American Painted Lady |
| Red Admiral | Red Admiral |
| Mourning Cloak | Mourning Cloak |
| Cabbage White | Cabbage White |
| Silvery Blue | Silvery Blue |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | Common Checkered Skipper |
| Clouded Sulphur | Common Sulphur |
| Honey Bee | Honey Bee |
| Variegated Fritillary | Variegated Fritillary |
| Buckeye | Buckeye |
| Purplish Copper | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Gray Hairstreak | Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Bluegill | |
| Common Carp | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Canyon Treefrog | American Bullfrog |
| Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Death Valley National Park is famous for its scorching deserts, salt flats, and iconic sand dunes, including the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Eureka Dunes. The park also boasts the lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, and the colorful rock formations of Artist’s Drive and Zabriskie Point.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its lush forests, rolling hills, and mist-shrouded peaks, including Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee. The park is also home to over 1,600 species of flowering plants, as well as cascading waterfalls like Grotto, Laurel, and Cherokee Falls.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Death Valley NP and Great Smoky Mountains NP are two of the most popular national parks in the US. Both offer unique outdoor experiences, but they differ in the type of activities they offer. Death Valley NP is known for its scenic drives, especially along Artists Drive and Badwater Basin. Visitors also love to explore the park’s diverse landscapes, from sand dunes to salt flats, and go stargazing at night. On the other hand, Great Smoky Mountains NP is famous for its lush vegetation and wildlife, with activities such as scenic drives, camping, fishing and picnicking being popular among visitors. The park also offers ample opportunities for horseback riding and scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Both parks offer educational programs and ranger-led tours, but Great Smoky Mountains NP has more diverse offerings, including historic sites and cultural programs.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Death Valley National Park, located in California, is known for its scorching summer temperatures, which can reach up to 120°F (49°C). Winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from 40°F to 70°F (4°C to 21°C). In contrast, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in Tennessee and North Carolina, experiences a more temperate climate with cooler summers and chilly, snowy winters. Summer temperatures in the Smokies range from 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C), while winter temperatures can drop to below freezing, with occasional snow and ice.
Visiting Death Valley during the winter months is the best time to avoid extreme heat, while visiting the Smokies in the spring and fall is ideal for comfortable weather and fall foliage viewing. On the other hand, the Smokies’ roads and trails may be closed in winter due to snow, limiting outdoor activities.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is more family-friendly than Death Valley National Park due to its abundance of hiking trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds. It has several visitor centers with educational exhibits and ranger-led programs. On the other hand, Death Valley is known for its extreme temperatures, difficult hiking trails, and lack of shade, making it less suitable for families and children. Additionally, it has limited options for camping, picnicking, and other recreational activities. In conclusion, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the better choice for families traveling with children.