“Picture yourself standing at the lowest point in North America, in Death Valley National Park, surrounded by barren deserts and towering mountains, while just a few hundred miles away, you could be surrounded by snow-capped peaks and crystal clear alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Both parks offer unique and breathtaking landscapes, but their stark contrast to one another is what makes them truly special. Get ready for a wild ride as we explore the differences and similarities between these two iconic National Parks.”
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
The hiking trails in Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park offer vastly different experiences due to the parks’ diverse topography and geography. Death Valley features challenging hikes, such as the 11-mile trek to Telescope Peak, which reaches 11,049ft. However, easy hikes are available too, like the 1-mile walk to the Natural Bridge. In contrast, Rocky Mountain National Park has towering peaks and lush alpine forests, with challenging hikes like the 14-mile round-trip to Longs Peak (14,259ft). Easy hikes, such as the 4.8-mile round-trip to Alberta Falls, offer scenic valley views. Regardless of skill level, both parks offer options for outdoor enthusiasts, from strenuous summits to leisurely scenic walks.
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 Rocky Mountain National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Lake Trail | 4988.954 | 215.7984 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail | 13035.654 | 537.972 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Gem Lake Trail | 4988.954 | 301.752 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail | 8690.436 | 326.7456 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Alberta Falls Trail | 2574.944 | 76.8096 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chasm Lake | 15127.796 | 792.7848 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Dream Lake Trail | 3218.68 | 129.8448 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Bear Lake Nature Trail | 1126.538 | 12.8016 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Twin Sisters Peak Trail | 12070.05 | 766.8768 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Ouzel Falls via Wild Basin Trail from Sandbeach Lake | 11909.116 | 361.7976 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Death Valley NP & Rocky Mountain NP differ in wildlife & vegetation. Death Valley NP has bighorn sheep, jackrabbits, reptiles (rattlesnakes, lizards, tortoises), coyotes, roadrunners, golden eagles, & desert plants (creosote, Joshua trees, wildflowers). Rocky Mountain NP has elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, American dipper, & vegetation from spruce/fir forests to alpine tundra w/ wildflowers & alpine plants.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Rocky Mountain 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 | Rocky Mountain 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 | Mountain Lion |
| Badger | Mink |
| Californian Myotis | Mule Deer |
| Fringed Myotis | Gray Fox |
| Common Shrew | Gray Wolf |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Badger |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Ermine |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Snowshoe Hare |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Rocky Mountain National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| 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 | Rocky Mountain 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 | Clouded Sulphur |
| Honey Bee | Variegated Fritillary |
| Variegated Fritillary | Buckeye |
| Buckeye | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Purplish Copper | Purplish Copper |
| Gray Hairstreak | Anise Swallowtail |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Death Valley National Park | Rocky Mountain National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Western Longnose Sucker | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Rocky Mountain National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Canyon Treefrog | Tiger Salamander |
| Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Death Valley NP: Badwater Basin (lowest point in NA), salt flats, colorful sand dunes at Mesquite Flat, Panamint Range peaks.
Rocky Mountain NP: snow-capped peaks, glacier-carved valleys, wildlife, peaks (Longs), alpine tundra, overlooks (Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Rd. with 12,183 ft elevation).
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Death Valley National Park, located in California, offers a variety of outdoor activities including scenic drives, stargazing, and wildlife viewing. On the other hand, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is known for its alpine wilderness, scenic drives, fishing, and wildlife watching. Both parks draw crowds for their stunning geological formations, but Death Valley offers a more unique desert landscape, while Rocky Mountain offers high mountain peaks, alpine lakes and meadows. Both also offer ranger-led activities such as ranger-led walks, campfire programs, and night sky programs. However, in Death Valley, due to the extreme heat, many activities are limited to early morning or evening, whereas in Rocky Mountain, activities can be enjoyed throughout the day.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Death Valley National Park, located in California, is one of the hottest and driest places in the world. Summer temperatures often exceed 120°F, while winters are mild with occasional rain. In contrast, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado experiences much cooler temperatures and heavy snowfall in winter, with mild summers and occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit Death Valley is in the winter months, when temperatures are more moderate, while the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is during the summer, when access to trails and scenic drives is possible. These differences in weather patterns greatly impact the types of activities and experiences available to visitors at each park.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
Death Valley and Rocky Mountain National Parks offer different experiences for families. Death Valley is known for its unique and extreme landscapes, including sand dunes, salt flats and valleys, however, there are limited kid-friendly activities. On the other hand, Rocky Mountain National Park provides a range of outdoor activities for families such as hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing. It has more trails and facilities suitable for children and families. Thus, if traveling with children, Rocky Mountain National Park is a better option for a family-friendly vacation.