Death Valley and Mesa Verde are two vastly different but equally stunning parks, each offering a unique window into the beauty and diversity of the American West. Death Valley is a scorching desert wonderland, with towering sand dunes, shimmering salt flats, and jagged peaks that seem to reach for the sky. In contrast, Mesa Verde is a lush, green oasis of rolling hills and towering cliffs, dotted with the ancient ruins of the indigenous Pueblo people. Both parks are must-see destinations for anyone seeking adventure, history, or simply a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you’re drawn to the otherworldly beauty of Death Valley or the rich cultural heritage of Mesa Verde, these two parks are sure to captivate your imagination and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park have different terrains and thus offer different hiking experiences. Death Valley features vast deserts and towering peaks, while Mesa Verde is known for its cliff dwellings and mesa top ruins. At Death Valley, easy hikes include Nature Trail at Furnace Creek and Mosaic Canyon, which features a moderate hike through a narrow canyon with polished rock formations. For a greater challenge, try the 14-mile Telescope Peak hike to the park’s highest point or Golden Canyon, a steep and rocky trail. At Mesa Verde, Petroglyph Point Trail is an easy 1-mile hike to a rock art site, while the strenuous Spruce Tree House Trail leads to a well-preserved cliff dwelling. Both parks offer a range of hikes, from easy walks to demanding backcountry adventures, showcasing the beauty of the American Southwest.
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 Mesa Verde National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroglyph Point Trail | 4184.284 | 131.9784 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Cliff Palace Loop Trail | 643.736 | 25.908 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Balcony House Loop Trail | 643.736 | 27.7368 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Mesa Verde Point Lookout Trail | 3379.614 | 161.8488 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Soda Canyon Overlook Trail | 1931.208 | 17.9832 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mesa Verde National Park Scenic Drive | 24140.1 | 797.9664 | Easy | point to point | 4.5 |
| Long House Trail | 3379.614 | 86.868 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Step House Trail | 1287.472 | 46.9392 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Knife Edge Trail | 3218.68 | 46.9392 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Prater Ridge Trail | 11748.182 | 311.8104 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Death Valley NP and Mesa Verde NP have different ecosystems with different wildlife. Death Valley is hot, arid, and attracts heat-tolerant species: bighorn sheep, roadrunner, rattlesnakes. Mesa Verde is in Colorado, has a temperate climate, and its wildlife includes: mule deer, elk, red-tailed hawk, common raven. Both parks have unique plants: Death Valley has Joshua trees and creosote bush, Mesa Verde has pinyon pine and Douglas fir.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Mesa Verde 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 | Mesa Verde 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 | Mountain Lion |
| Californian Myotis | Mink |
| Fringed Myotis | Mule Deer |
| Common Shrew | Gray Fox |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Wolf |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Badger |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Ermine |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Gopher Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Racer |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Western Rattlesnake |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Rubber Boa | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | Side-Blotched Lizard |
| Tree Lizard | Nightsnake |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Milksnake |
| Glossy Snake | Striped Whipsnake |
| Long-Nosed Snake | Tree Lizard |
| Western Fence Lizard | Eastern Collared Lizard |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Mesa Verde 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 | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Goldfish |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Canyon Treefrog | Tiger Salamander |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Death Valley NP: Badwater Basin (lowest point in NA), Panamint Range, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View.
Mesa Verde NP: Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings (Cliff Palace, Spruce Tree House), mesa landscapes, scenic drives, hiking trails, ranger-led tours.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Death Valley NP offers scenic drives, stargazing, & exploring unique geological formations. Mesa Verde NP is known for its ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, offering tours, hiking to overlooks, & learning about history & culture. Both offer unique experiences, but have different recreational activities & atmospheres.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Death Valley and Mesa Verde have contrasting climates. Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert, sees scorching summer highs of 115°F and mild winter highs of 68°F. Mesa Verde, in Southwest Colorado, has cooler summer highs of 80°F and winter highs of 40°F. This affects optimal visiting times: Death Valley is best in winter and Mesa Verde in summer, when temperatures are more tolerable for outdoor activities.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
If traveling with children, Mesa Verde National Park is a better choice than Death Valley National Park. Mesa Verde offers ranger-led tours of ancient cliff dwellings, picnic areas, and family-friendly hiking trails. Death Valley, being a desert environment, has high temperatures and limited shade, making it less suitable for young children. Although Death Valley has ranger programs and scenic drives, Mesa Verde is the more family-friendly option.