Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve, both located in the United States, offer vastly different natural experiences. While Death Valley is known for its scorching temperatures and barren landscapes, Katmai is renowned for its lush greenery and abundant wildlife, particularly its large population of brown bears. Whether you’re in the mood for a desert adventure or an Alaskan wilderness excursion, these two parks have something unique to offer visitors. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the contrasts and similarities of these two American treasures!
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve offer a range of hiking trails for visitors to explore their unique landscapes. Death Valley has trails that are easy and accessible, such as the Badwater Basin Boardwalk, which is a flat, 1-mile round trip walk to the lowest point in North America. For more challenging hikes, visitors can try the Mosaic Canyon Trail, which is a strenuous, 4-mile round trip hike with steep climbs and narrow passageways. On the other hand, Katmai National Park & Preserve is known for its rugged wilderness, and its hikes reflect this. The Brooks River Trail, which is a relatively easy 2.5-mile round trip hike, offers views of the Brooks River and opportunities to spot brown bears fishing for salmon. For a more difficult hike, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a strenuous, 7-mile round trip hike through the ash-filled valley created by the eruption of Novarupta in 1912.
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 Katmai National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Falls | 4667.086 | 63.7032 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dumpling Mountain | 4828.02 | 225.8568 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley NP is known for its desert wildlife including bighorn sheep, coyotes, kit foxes, and black-tailed jackrabbits. Common birds are roadrunners, ravens, and various species of hawks. There is also a wide variety of reptiles such as rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and chuckwallas. Plants include creosote bush, Joshua trees, and various cacti.
Katmai NP & Preserve is famous for its brown bears, who come to the Brooks River to catch salmon. The park is also home to moose, caribou, wolves, and mountain goats. Birds include bald eagles, puffins, and various species of seabirds. The park’s diverse habitats, including tundra, forest, and wetlands, support a rich variety of plants such as lichens, mosses, and flowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Katmai 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 | Northern Flicker |
| Northern Flicker | Merlin |
| Merlin | Barn Swallow |
| Barn Swallow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Hermit Thrush |
| Great Blue Heron | American Kestrel |
| Hermit Thrush | Bald Eagle |
| American Kestrel | Song Sparrow |
| Bald Eagle | European Starling |
| Song Sparrow | Northern Pintail |
| European Starling | American Wigeon |
| Northern Pintail | Green-Winged Teal |
| American Wigeon | American Pipit |
| Green-Winged Teal | Swainson’s Thrush |
Mammals
| Death Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Muskrat | American Beaver |
| Big Brown Bat | Muskrat |
| Bobcat | Little Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Black Bear |
| Deer Mouse | Porcupine |
| Raccoon | Red Fox |
| Porcupine | Mink |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Gray Wolf |
| Hoary Bat | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| House Mouse | Varying Hare |
| Mountain Lion | Northern River Otter |
| Mule Deer | Masked Shrew |
| Gray Fox | Red Squirrel |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Montane Shrew |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Lynx |
| Badger | Wolverine |
| Californian Myotis | American Marten |
| Fringed Myotis | Grizzly Bear |
| Common Shrew | Meadow Vole |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Moose |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Least Weasel |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Pygmy Shrew |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Meadow Jumping Mouse |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Northern Bog Lemming |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| 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 | Katmai 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 | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Longnose Sucker |
| Goldfish | Lake Trout |
| Northern Pike | |
| Burbot | |
| Silver Salmon | |
| King Salmon | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Wood Frog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley National Park is known for its beautiful landscapes including the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and Zabriskie Point, a stunning overlook of colorful badlands. Another stunning landscape is the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, where visitors can walk and play among the tallest sand dunes in the park.
Katmai National Park & Preserve is famous for its active volcanoes, including Novarupta, the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. The park is also home to Brooks Falls, where visitors can watch grizzly bears fishing for salmon. Another popular destination is Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a valley filled with steam vents and fumaroles created by the eruption of Novarupta.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve have different primary activities that attract visitors. Death Valley is famous for its scenic drives and star gazing, with popular sights including Badwater Basin, Artists Palette, and Dante’s View. People also enjoy visiting the park’s unique geological formations such as Furnace Creek, Zabriskie Point, and Mosaic Canyon. In contrast, Katmai is known for its brown bear viewing opportunities, especially at Brooks Falls. Visitors also enjoy fishing for salmon in Brooks River, watching the bears fish, and exploring the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a volcanic ash-filled valley. Both parks offer camping, wildlife watching, and ranger-led programs, but Death Valley has more options for guided tours and scenic drives.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley National Park, located in California, experiences extremely hot summers, with average temperatures often exceeding 100°F (38°C). Winter temperatures are mild, with occasional rain and daytime temperatures in the 60°F (16°C) range. In contrast, Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska is known for its cool, wet and often foggy summers, with temperatures ranging from 40°F to 60°F (4°C to 16°C). Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures occasionally dropping below 0°F (-18°C).
Visitors to Death Valley National Park are advised to visit during the cooler months of the year, typically from October to April, when temperatures are mild and the park’s famous wildflowers are in bloom. On the other hand, the best time to visit Katmai National Park & Preserve is during the summer months, from June to September, when the weather is mild and the park’s famous brown bears are most active. Visitors to Katmai during the winter months, when temperatures are very cold and the park is often blanketed in snow, may have difficulty accessing some of the park’s popular attractions.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Death Valley National Park is known for its extreme heat and unique geological features, while Katmai National Park & Preserve is famous for its bears and salmon-rich rivers. Both offer ranger-led programs, but Katmai has a larger variety of family-friendly activities, such as guided bear-viewing tours, fishing, and hiking. On the other hand, Death Valley has limited options for children and can be dangerous due to the heat. Overall, Katmai is a better choice for families traveling with children as it provides more educational and recreational opportunities.