Death Valley National Park vs Rocky Mountain National Park

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Death Valley National Park vs Rocky Mountain National Park

“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.

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