Death Valley and New River Gorge are two vastly different parks, each offering a unique experience. Death Valley boasts scorching heat, salt flats and towering peaks, while New River Gorge is known for its cliffs, swift rivers, and lush forests. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, or just looking for a peaceful retreat, both parks have something to offer. So, are you ready to embark on a journey exploring two of America’s most captivating parks? Let’s go!
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley NP & New River Gorge NP & Preserve offer contrasting hiking experiences. Death Valley NP has a range of trails, from easy walks like the Badwater Basin trail, to strenuous hikes like Telescope Peak & Cottonwood Canyon trails that offer scenic views of the park’s diverse landscape. Meanwhile, New River Gorge NP & Preserve is known for its challenging hikes, such as the Endless Wall & Long Point trails, which traverse rugged terrain. However, it also offers easier hikes like Grandview Rim & Kaymoor Miner’s trails, which offer scenic views of the New River & surrounding forests.
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 New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tolmie Peak Trail | 8851.37 | 463.9056 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Skyline Trail | 8529.502 | 535.8384 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Comet and Christine Falls | 6920.162 | 610.8192 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Camp Muir Route Via Skyline Trail | 13518.456 | 1403.9088 | Very Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Burroughs Mountain Loop Trail | 15127.796 | 780.8976 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Naches Peak Loop Trail | 5310.822 | 193.8528 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Spray Park Trail to Mount Pleasant | 11104.446 | 635.8128 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Fremont Lookout Trail | 9012.304 | 348.996 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Pinnacle Peak Saddle Trail | 3862.416 | 321.8688 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Summerland Trail | 13196.588 | 655.9296 | Moderate | out and back | 4.6 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley NP is home to unique desert wildlife, incl. bighorn sheep, coyotes, kangaroo rats; birds like burrowing owl, American kestrel, golden eagle. New River Gorge NP & Preserve is forested, with black bears, river otters, white-tailed deer; Peregrine falcon, raven, turkey vulture common birds. Death Valley has cacti, creosote bush, Joshua tree & other desert plants; New River Gorge has ferns, rhododendrons, mountain laurels, etc.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | New River Gorge National Park and 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 | Great Horned Owl |
| American Robin | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Great Horned Owl | Barn Swallow |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Savannah Sparrow |
| Northern Flicker | Great Blue Heron |
| Merlin | Hermit Thrush |
| Barn Swallow | European Starling |
| Savannah Sparrow | Northern Pintail |
| Great Blue Heron | American Wigeon |
| Hermit Thrush | Green-Winged Teal |
| American Kestrel | American Pipit |
| Bald Eagle | Killdeer |
| Song Sparrow | Brown-Headed Cowbird |
| European Starling | Hairy Woodpecker |
| Northern Pintail | Red-Breasted Nuthatch |
| American Wigeon | White-Crowned Sparrow |
| Green-Winged Teal | Northern Shoveler |
Mammals
| Death Valley National Park | New River Gorge National Park and Preserve |
|---|---|
| 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 | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Legged Myotis | House Mouse |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Mountain Lion |
| Badger | Black-Tailed Deer |
| Californian Myotis | Wolf |
| Fringed Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Common Shrew | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Ermine |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | California Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Snowshoe Hare |
| Western Harvest Mouse | North American River Otter |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Masked Shrew |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | New River Gorge National Park and Preserve |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Common Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Rubber Boa |
| 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 | New River Gorge National Park and Preserve |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Mourning Cloak |
| Painted Lady | Cabbage White |
| Monarch Butterfly | Silvery Blue |
| American Lady | Purplish Copper |
| Red Admiral | Anise Swallowtail |
| 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 | New River Gorge National Park and Preserve |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Eastern Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Coho Salmon | |
| Chinook Salmon | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Kokanee | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | New River Gorge National Park and Preserve |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Tiger Salamander |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley features Badwater Basin, the lowest point in N. America, & towering Panamint Range. Salt flats, sand dunes, & colorful formations of Artist’s Drive and Devil’s Golf Course.
New River Gorge features the longest steel arch bridge in Americas and the scenic canyon of the New River. Offers rock climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting, scenic overlooks, & fall foliage.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley is known for unique landscapes & extreme temperatures, popular activities incl scenic drives, camping, stargazing. New River Gorge is famous for white-water rafting, rock climbing, scenic rim drive, hiking, & camping. Both parks offer outdoor recreation, but Death Valley attracts visitors for its landscapes and New River Gorge for adventure sports & scenic views.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley NP & New River Gorge NP&P have distinct climates. Death Valley is known for its blistering summer temperatures reaching over 120°F, while New River Gorge experiences cooler temperatures with summer highs around 80°F. Winter in Death Valley is mild, 40-70°F, while winter at New River Gorge can be freezing. Best time to visit Death Valley is winter, New River Gorge is fall when temperatures are mild & foliage is changing. Weather affects outdoor activities, so plan accordingly.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Death Valley NP features unique geological features but lacks kid-friendly activities. New River Gorge NP&P offers scenic hikes, a junior ranger program, fishing, rafting, and a rich history of coal mining. New River Gorge offers more opportunities for family recreation and is better for families traveling with kids.