“Picture two dramatically contrasting landscapes, each harboring its own unique and captivating wonders of nature. On one end stands Death Valley National Park, a scorching desert basin where the blazing sun reigns supreme and towering sand dunes reign over the terrain. On the other, Pinnacles National Park presents an entirely different scene, with towering spires of rock rising from the earth and mysterious caves hiding within. Whether you’re seeking adventure in a searing desert landscape or exploring the dramatic beauty of towering rock formations, these two parks provide a chance to immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring wilderness of America. So, come and join us as we embark on a journey to compare Death Valley and Pinnacles and determine the ultimate destination for your next outdoor excursion!”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park offer vastly different hiking experiences. Death Valley is known for its expansive and arid desert, while Pinnacles boasts unique rock formations and diverse chaparral vegetation. Death Valley’s easiest hike is the Badwater Boardwalk, a flat, accessible trail leading to the lowest point in North America. The most challenging is the strenuous 11-mile Telescope Peak Trail to the park’s highest peak. In contrast, Pinnacles’ Bear Gulch Cave Trail is a 1.3-mile loop with a small elevation gain, while the High Peaks Trail, an 8-mile hike, takes visitors to the park’s tallest peaks with panoramic views.
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 Pinnacles National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop | 8690.436 | 484.9368 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Old Pinnacles Trail Loop | 15288.73 | 527.9136 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Reservoir via Rim Trail | 2896.812 | 134.7216 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| High Peaks Trail | 10138.842 | 539.8008 | Very Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| High Peaks & Balconies Cave Loop Trail | 12713.786 | 549.8592 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir | 1770.274 | 96.9264 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies | 8207.634 | 150.876 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Balconies Trail | 13196.588 | 592.836 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Juniper Canyon Trail to High Peaks | 5793.624 | 383.7432 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Balconies Cave Trail | 4184.284 | 121.92 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park both offer unique wildlife experiences, but with different climates and habitats. Death Valley is known for its desert climate and has animals such as bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, reptiles, and insects. Pinnacles, on the other hand, is a diverse bird habitat, with the rare California Condor and other bird species commonly seen. Pinnacles also has mammals such as black-tailed deer and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. In terms of plants, Death Valley is home to cacti and other desert flora, while Pinnacles has chaparral and oak woodlands.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles 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 | 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 | Great Blue Heron |
| Savannah Sparrow | Hermit Thrush |
| Great Blue Heron | American Kestrel |
| Hermit Thrush | Bald Eagle |
| American Kestrel | Song Sparrow |
| Bald Eagle | European Starling |
| Song Sparrow | Swainson’s Thrush |
| European Starling | Killdeer |
| Northern Pintail | Brown-Headed Cowbird |
| American Wigeon | Hairy Woodpecker |
| Green-Winged Teal | Red-Breasted Nuthatch |
Mammals
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Muskrat | Big Brown Bat |
| Big Brown Bat | Bobcat |
| Bobcat | Striped Skunk |
| Little Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Deer Mouse | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Porcupine | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Hoary Bat |
| Hoary Bat | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| House Mouse | House Mouse |
| Mountain Lion | Puma |
| Mule Deer | Mule Deer |
| Gray Fox | Gray Fox |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Badger | North American Badger |
| Californian Myotis | California Myotis |
| Fringed Myotis | Fringed Myotis |
| Common Shrew | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Townsends’ Big-Eared Bat |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Western Harvest Mouse |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Western Small-Footed Bat |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Yuma Myotis |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Pallid Bat |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Gophersnake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Yellow-Bellied Racer |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Ringneck Snake |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Common Gartersnake |
| Rubber Boa | Side-Blotched Lizard |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | California Kingsnake |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | Rubber Boa |
| Tree Lizard | Night Snake |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Western Whiptail |
| Glossy Snake | Glossy Snake |
| Long-Nosed Snake | Western Skink |
| Western Fence Lizard | Long-Nosed Snake |
| Desert Spiny Lizard | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Monarch Butterfly | Monarch |
| American Lady | American Lady |
| Red Admiral | Red Admiral |
| Mourning Cloak | Mourning Cloak |
| Cabbage White | Cabbage White |
| Silvery Blue | Silvery Blue |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | Common Checkered-Skipper |
| Clouded Sulphur | Buckeye |
| Honey Bee | Purplish Copper |
| Variegated Fritillary | Anise Swallowtail |
| Buckeye | Gray Hairstreak |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Green Sunfish |
| Mosquitofish | Fathead Minnow |
| Goldfish | Threespine Stickleback |
| Mosquitofish |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Pinnacles National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Bullfrog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley NP: Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America), Zabriskie Point (badlands), Artist’s Drive (multi-hued cliffs), Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (towering sand dunes).
Pinnacles NP: Pinnacles rock formations, Bear Gulch Cave (talus caves), High Peaks (hiking), Balconies Cave/Cliffs (scenic views).
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley and Pinnacles NP are two popular parks in California with distinct offerings. Death Valley, known for its intense heat and otherworldly landscapes, draws visitors for scenic drives, stargazing, and visiting iconic spots like Badwater Basin and Zabriskie Point. Pinnacles, a hiker’s haven, features challenging trails through towering rock formations, diverse wildlife, and popular activities like camping, rock climbing, and birdwatching. Both parks offer unique outdoor experiences, but cater to different types of visitors.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley NP has hot, arid climate with summer temperatures reaching over 120°F. In contrast, Pinnacles NP has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters & hot, dry summers. Best time to visit Death Valley is winter for cooler weather and outdoor activities, while Pinnacles is best in spring/fall with mild temps and wildflower blooms. Both parks offer natural beauty, but weather must be considered when planning a visit.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Pinnacles National Park
Death Valley and Pinnacles National Parks offer different experiences for families. Pinnacles is considered more family-friendly with its cooler climate, diverse landscape, picnic areas and campsites. Death Valley is known for extreme heat and harsh conditions, but still offers Junior Ranger programs. Pinnacles is recommended for families with young children due to its accessibility and range of activities, while Death Valley may not be ideal.