Death Valley National Park vs Haleakalā National Park

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Death Valley National Park vs Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley and Haleakalā are two of America’s most contrasting national parks. While both offer stunning landscapes, they are vastly different experiences. Death Valley is known for its scorching heat and barren desert, while Haleakalā boasts a cool and misty summit surrounded by lush green forests and unique volcanic landscapes. If you’re looking for a hot and dry adventure, or a cool and misty escape, these parks offer a chance to explore two distinct sides of the natural world. Get ready to be transported to different worlds as you compare and contrast these American treasures!

Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Hiking trails at Death Valley and Haleakalā National Parks offer diverse landscapes and challenges. At Death Valley, easy hikes include Golden Canyon Trail and Mosaic Canyon Trail near Stovepipe Wells, while strenuous hikes include Telescope Peak Trail to the park’s highest point and Racetrack Playa with its “sailing stones”. Haleakalā offers easy walks such as Sliding Sands Trail to the summit crater and Halemau’u Trail with valley views, but also challenging hikes like Keonehe’ehe’e (Sliding Sands) Trail through barren volcanic landscapes and Hosmer Grove Nature Trail through a rainforest.

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 Haleakalā National Park

Name Length Elevation Type Difficulty Visitor Ratings
Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls 5471.756 249.936 Moderate out and back 5
Sliding Sands Trail 17702.74 851.916 Very Hard out and back 4.5
Seven Sacred Pools Trail (‘Ohe’o Gulch) 965.604 32.9184 Easy loop 4
Halalai’i and Pu’unaue Trail 20116.75 978.7128 Hard loop 5
Halemau’u Haleakala Overlook Trail 12230.984 723.9 Hard out and back 4.5
Haleakala Crater Trail 18024.608 930.8592 Hard point to point 5
Pa Ka’oao Trail 965.604 40.8432 Moderate loop 4.5
Leleiwi Overlook Trail 482.802 30.7848 Easy out and back 4.5
Pa ka’oao Trail (White Hill Trail) 804.67 32.9184 Easy out and back 4.5
Silversword Loop Via Halemau’u Trail 20116.75 1105.8144 Hard loop 4.5

Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley NP & Haleakalā NP are both iconic US national parks known for diverse wildlife. Death Valley has desert-adapted animals like bighorn sheep, kit foxes, sidewinder rattlesnakes. Haleakalā is home to Hawaiian endemics like nēnē, Hawaiian petrel, silversword plant. Both have rich bird life, over 200 & 50 species respectively, including migratory & resident roadrunners, golden eagles, peregrine falcons. Death Valley is a desert, while Haleakalā is a mix of volcanic landscapes & sub-tropical/temperate forests, leading to a wider range of flora/fauna.

Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.

Birds

Death Valley National Park Haleakalā National Park
Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon
Northern Harrier Northern Harrier
Sharp-Shinned Hawk Rock Pigeon
Osprey House Sparrow
Tree Swallow Northern Mockingbird
Mallard Black-Crowned Night-Heron
Canada Goose Barn Owl
Lincoln’s Sparrow Cattle Egret
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet Ring-Necked Pheasant
American Robin Chukar
Great Horned Owl Ruddy Turnstone
Red-Tailed Hawk Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker California Quail
Merlin
Barn Swallow
Savannah Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Hermit Thrush
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Song Sparrow
European Starling
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Green-Winged Teal

Mammals

Death Valley National Park Haleakalā National Park
Coyote House Mouse
Muskrat Norway Rat
Big Brown Bat Black Rat
Bobcat Domestic Cattle
Little Brown Bat Feral Hog
Deer Mouse
Raccoon
Porcupine
Silver-Haired Bat
Hoary Bat
House Mouse
Mountain Lion
Mule Deer
Gray Fox
Long-Legged Myotis
Long-Eared Myotis
Badger
Californian Myotis
Fringed Myotis
Common Shrew
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat
Bushy-Tailed Woodrat
Western Harvest Mouse
Western Small-Footed Myotis

Reptiles

Death Valley National Park Haleakalā 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 Haleakalā National Park
Orange Sulphur Painted Lady
Painted Lady Monarch Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly American Painted Lady
American Lady Cabbage White
Red Admiral Honey Bee
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 Haleakalā National Park
Largemouth Bass
Mosquitofish
Goldfish

Amphibians

Death Valley National Park Haleakalā National Park
Woodhouse’s Toad Bullfrog
Canyon Treefrog

Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley features Badwater Basin, the lowest point in N. America, and the towering Panamint Range. Zabriskie Point offers panoramic views of colorful badlands. Haleakalā, on Maui, is famous for its volcanic landscapes, including the shield volcano and the 10,023ft Haleakalā Crater. The park offers scenic drives like the Road to Hana and unique ecosystems like silversword gardens.

Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley and Haleakalā National Parks offer distinct experiences. Death Valley is known for its rugged desert terrain and extreme temperatures, while Haleakalā is famous for its volcanic crater and sunrises. At Death Valley, visitors often enjoy scenic drives, stargazing, and backpacking. At Haleakalā, visitors enjoy scenic drives, camping, and wildlife viewing. Both parks offer outdoor activities like hiking and wildlife viewing, but Death Valley attracts visitors for its unique geology, including formations like Badwater Basin and Zabriskie Point. On the other hand, the main draw for Haleakalā is its sunrise views from the top of the volcanic crater.

Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley and Haleakalā are two vastly different national parks in terms of climate. Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places in the world, with summer temperatures often exceeding 120°F. Winter temperatures are mild, with daytime highs in the 70s, and cool nights. The best time to visit Death Valley is during the cooler months, from October to April.

Haleakalā, on the other hand, is a high-elevation park on the island of Maui, Hawaii. It has a much cooler and wetter climate than Death Valley, with temperatures ranging from the high 40s to the high 60s. The park receives most of its rainfall from November to March, with the drier months being from May to October. The best time to visit Haleakalā is during the drier months, when the weather is crisp and clear for viewing the sunrise at the summit.

Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Haleakalā National Park

Death Valley NP offers a unique desert environment while Haleakalā NP offers a milder climate and more activities. Haleakalā is more family-friendly with opportunities for outdoor recreation and scenic drives. Death Valley may be too harsh for families with small children.

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