“Contrasting landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and vastly different climates, Death Valley and Olympic National Parks offer a unique experience for nature enthusiasts. While Death Valley boasts the hottest temperatures in North America and is a desert wilderness, Olympic National Park is a lush rainforest with a rugged coastline. Whether you’re seeking a scorching desert adventure or a serene escape to the great outdoors, these two parks are sure to leave a lasting impression. So pack your sunscreen and rain gear, and get ready to explore the beauty and diversity of these two stunning national treasures.”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park are two vastly different parks that offer unique hiking experiences. Death Valley is known for its scorching heat and dry desert landscapes, while Olympic is known for its lush temperate rainforests and rugged coastlines.
In Death Valley, some of the easiest hikes include the salt formations at Badwater Basin and the short nature trail at Mosaic Canyon. More challenging hikes include the strenuous 11-mile round-trip hike to Telescope Peak and the strenuous 21-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Mount Whitney.
In Olympic, easy hikes include the 1.6-mile trail to Sol Duc Falls and the 3.8-mile trail to Hurricane Ridge. More difficult hikes include the 9.6-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Mount Ellinor and the strenuous 17-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Mount Olympus.
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 Olympic National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge | 4988.954 | 242.9256 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Storm King | 6276.426 | 638.8608 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail | 2574.944 | 77.724 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Moss | 1609.34 | 23.7744 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Marymere Falls Trail | 2735.878 | 90.8304 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Hoh River Trail | 52786.352 | 1558.7472 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| High Divide – Seven Lakes Basin Loop | 30577.46 | 1617.8784 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| Ruby Beach | 2253.076 | 20.7264 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Staircase Rapids Loop | 3379.614 | 64.9224 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Spruce Railroad Trail: Lake Crescent | 18024.608 | 131.9784 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley NP is known for its unique desert wildlife such as bighorn sheep, coyotes, kit foxes, and pronghorns. The park also houses species of birds including the roadrunner, golden eagle, and burrowing owl. On the other hand, Olympic NP is a temperate rainforest and is home to a diverse range of species. Animals commonly seen include black bears, river otters, elk, and the Olympic marmot. Bird species include the spotted owl, bald eagle, and many species of songbirds. Additionally, Olympic NP is characterized by its rich plant life, with abundant ferns, mosses, and coniferous forests.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Olympic 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 | 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 | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Death Valley National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Muskrat | American Beaver |
| Big Brown Bat | Muskrat |
| Bobcat | Big Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Striped Skunk |
| Deer Mouse | Little Brown Bat |
| Raccoon | Deer Mouse |
| Porcupine | Raccoon |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Black Bear |
| Hoary Bat | Porcupine |
| House Mouse | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mountain Lion | Red Fox |
| Mule Deer | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Gray Fox | House Mouse |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Wolf |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Badger | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Californian Myotis | California Myotis |
| Fringed Myotis | Snowshoe Rabbit |
| Common Shrew | North American River Otter |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Fringe-Tailed Myotis |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Masked Shrew |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Water Shrew |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Western Big-Eared Bat |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Bushy-Tailed Woodrat |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Common Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Rubber Boa |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Western Fence 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 | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Honey Bee |
| 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 | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Steelhead/Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Largemouth Bass |
| Salish Sucker | |
| Coho Salmon | |
| Chinook Salmon | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Olympic National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Bullfrog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley National Park is known for its vast, barren landscapes and unique geological formations, including the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and the towering peaks of the Panamint Range. The park also features sand dunes, salt flats, and colorful canyons.
Olympic National Park boasts diverse landscapes, from the rugged Pacific coastline to the glacier-capped Olympic Mountains and temperate rainforests. Visitors can admire views from Hurricane Ridge, explore the Hoh Rainforest and Sol Duc Falls, or take a scenic drive along the Park’s scenic byways.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park are two of the most popular parks in the US, and they offer many different activities that visitors can enjoy. In Death Valley, visitors often go on scenic drives, photo tours, and stargazing expeditions. The park is known for its vast desert landscape, including sand dunes, salt flats, and unique rock formations. On the other hand, Olympic National Park is a temperate rainforest, with lush vegetation, waterfalls, and scenic beaches. Visitors to Olympic often go camping, fishing, and kayaking, or explore the park’s many trails for hiking and backpacking. Wildlife viewing and bird watching are also popular activities, with the chance to see animals like elk, black bears, and bald eagles. Both parks offer a unique experience for visitors, and choosing between the two depends on personal preferences for outdoor activities and scenic beauty.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley NP and Olympic NP are vastly different in terms of seasonal weather. Death Valley NP is known for being one of the hottest and driest places in the world, with summer temperatures reaching over 120°F. The best time to visit is from October to May, during the milder temperatures. In contrast, Olympic NP on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington experiences a much wetter and milder climate, with temperatures ranging from the high 40s to low 60s for the majority of the year. The park’s rainy season is from October to April, making the summer months of May to September the best time to visit for drier weather and clear views. The weather in both parks greatly affect the activities available and when is the best time to visit.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park
Death Valley National Park and Olympic National Park differ in their family-friendliness. Death Valley is hot, arid, and has limited shade, making it challenging for families with young children to explore. On the other hand, Olympic National Park offers a variety of outdoor activities suitable for families, such as hiking, camping, and exploring its lush forests and oceanside beaches. Additionally, Olympic has more opportunities for educational programs and ranger-led activities. Overall, Olympic National Park is the better choice for families traveling with children.