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.