“Two vastly different parks, one scorching heat and the other soothing springs, both offer unique experiences for adventure seekers. Death Valley National Park, the hottest and driest place in North America, boasts a landscape of towering dunes, salt flats, and multi-colored rock formations. On the other hand, Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, offers a tranquil escape with its geothermal hot springs, historical bathhouses, and scenic hiking trails. Whether you’re looking to beat the heat or relax in warm waters, both of these parks are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley National Park offers a range of hiking trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry routes. One of the easiest hikes is the Mosaic Canyon Trail, a moderate 2.5-mile trek through a narrow canyon with polished marble walls. On the other end of the spectrum, the demanding 17-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Telescope Peak offers panoramic views of the park.
Hot Springs National Park, on the other hand, is known for its hot springs that flow from the Ouachita Mountains. The easiest hike in the park is the Hot Springs Mountain Tower Trail, a 0.9-mile round-trip hike to an observation tower with views of the surrounding area. The most challenging hike is the Sunset Trail, a 7.5-mile round-trip hike that leads to the park’s backcountry and offers scenic views of the surrounding 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 Hot Springs National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Trail | 20921.42 | 722.9856 | Hard | loop | 4 |
| West Mountain Trail | 3057.746 | 107.8992 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Goat Rock Trail | 3862.416 | 115.824 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Gulpha Gorge Trail | 1931.208 | 116.7384 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| The Grand Promenade and Side Trails | 1931.208 | 33.8328 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Dead Chief Trail | 4345.218 | 121.92 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Hot Springs Mountain Trail | 5310.822 | 204.8256 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Peak Trail | 2092.142 | 108.8136 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Sugarloaf Mountain Via Sunset Trail | 11426.314 | 592.836 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Goat Rock via Dead Chief Trail | 2092.142 | 87.7824 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley NP boasts desert wildlife such as bighorn sheep, coyotes, kit foxes, roadrunners and golden eagles. Reptiles like desert tortoises and rattlesnakes can also be seen. Plants like Joshua trees and creosote bushes are common. In contrast, Hot Springs NP is home to white-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels, pileated woodpeckers, American goldfinches, oaks, hickory trees, and wildflowers like purple coneflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Hot Springs 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 | Hot Springs 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 | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mountain Lion | Hoary Bat |
| Mule Deer | Red Fox |
| Gray Fox | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Legged Myotis | House Mouse |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Mink |
| Badger | Gray Fox |
| Californian Myotis | North American River Otter |
| Fringed Myotis | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Common Shrew | White-Tailed Deer |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Virginia Opossum |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Eastern Red Bat |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | White-Footed Mouse |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Norway Rat |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Eastern Cottontail |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Hot Springs 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 | Hot Springs National Park |
|---|---|
| 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 | Hot Springs National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Largemouth Bass |
| Mosquitofish | Green Sunfish |
| Goldfish | Bluegill |
| Fathead Minnow | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Hot Springs National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Bullfrog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley NP: Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point.
Hot Springs NP: Hot Springs, Sunset Trail, scenic drives, Ouachita Mountain views.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park are two popular tourist destinations, each offering unique experiences and activities. Death Valley is known for its intense heat and vast, open landscape, with popular activities including scenic drives, stargazing, and off-roading. At Hot Springs National Park, visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking, and touring historic bathhouses, where they can soak in thermal hot springs. While both parks offer outdoor recreation, Death Valley is for those seeking a rugged experience and Hot Springs is for those interested in history and relaxation.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley NP and Hot Springs NP are located in US and have very different climates. Death Valley is known for extreme heat with summer temperatures reaching 120°F while Hot Springs has a humid subtropical climate with mild to hot summers and cool winters. The best time to visit Death Valley is in the cooler months Nov-Mar while Hot Springs can be visited all year. Summer temperatures in Hot Springs are usually 75-85°F while winter may be in the 40s. The hot springs are popular all year round in Hot Springs, while in Death Valley, spring and fall offer comfortable weather for outdoor activities and wildflowers bloom in spring.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Hot Springs National Park
Death Valley NP offers rugged landscapes and extreme temperatures, while Hot Springs NP has educational programs, easy walks and scenic drives. For families with young children, Hot Springs NP is a better option for a family-friendly visit.