Death Valley and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are two sides of the same coin, offering vastly different experiences to visitors. Death Valley is a place of extremes, with scorching temperatures and barren landscapes that leave visitors in awe. On the other hand, Sequoia & Kings Canyon is a lush and verdant park that is home to some of the largest trees on Earth. Whether you’re a fan of towering trees or scorching deserts, these parks are sure to leave you in awe and make you want to explore more. So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and let’s embark on an epic adventure through the contrasting landscapes of Death Valley and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks!
Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offer a range of hiking experiences. Death Valley has several easy trails like Natural Bridge and Salt Creek, offering geological features and wildlife viewing. Meanwhile, Telescope Peak is a challenging hike, reaching 11,049 ft with panoramic views of the valley. On the other hand, Sequoia & Kings Canyon have both easy walks, such as Big Trees Trail and Congress Trail, showcasing giant sequoias, as well as strenuous backpacking trails like Rae Lakes Loop and High Sierra Trail, passing through scenic alpine landscapes.
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 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moro Rock Trail | 643.736 | 56.9976 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Tokopah Falls via Tokopah Valley Trail | 6437.36 | 194.7672 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Heather Lake, Emerald Lake, and Pear Lake Trail via Watchtower and Pear Lake Trails | 18990.212 | 887.8824 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| General Sherman Tree Trail | 1287.472 | 46.9392 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Marble Falls Trail | 11909.116 | 495.9096 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Congress Trail | 5149.888 | 151.7904 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Alta Peak Trail | 23979.166 | 1238.7072 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mineral King to Eagle Lake Trail | 10460.71 | 674.8272 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Big Trees Trail | 2092.142 | 36.8808 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Giant Forest Loop Trail | 11265.38 | 390.7536 | Easy | loop | 5 |
Wildlife in Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley NP & Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP are both national parks in California. Death Valley NP is known for its hot and arid climate, while Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP is known for its forested mountains, tall trees and deep canyons. As a result, the wildlife in these parks is quite different. Death Valley NP is home to species adapted to desert conditions, such as the bighorn sheep, roadrunner, and desert tortoise. On the other hand, Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP has a wider variety of wildlife, including black bears, deer, marmots, and many species of birds. The park is also known for its giant sequoias, which are some of the largest trees in the world, and its diverse plant life, including wildflowers, ferns, and shrubs.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Death Valley National Park | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| 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 | Green-Winged Teal |
| Green-Winged Teal | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Death Valley National Park | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| 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 | House Mouse |
| Badger | Mountain Lion |
| Californian Myotis | Mink |
| Fringed Myotis | Mule Deer |
| Common Shrew | Gray Fox |
| Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Wolf |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Western Harvest Mouse | Badger |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | Ermine |
Reptiles
| Death Valley National Park | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | Gopher Snake |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Racer |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Rubber Boa | Common Garter Snake |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | Common Kingsnake |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | Rubber Boa |
| Tree Lizard | Nightsnake |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Southwestern Black-Headed Snake |
| Glossy Snake | Western Whiptail |
| Long-Nosed Snake | Western Skink |
| Western Fence Lizard | Long-Nosed Snake |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Death Valley National Park | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| 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 | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Mosquitofish | Brook Trout Charr Salter |
| Goldfish | Brown Trout |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Death Valley National Park | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | Bullfrog |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley NP is known for its vast desert landscapes, including Badwater Basin (lowest point in N. America), salt flats, sand dunes, and mesas. The park also features the Panamint Range mountain range and several scenic drives including Artist’s Drive and Artist’s Palette.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP showcases the giant sequoia trees, some over 300ft tall, in areas such as the Giant Forest and Grant Grove. The parks also feature scenic valley views, alpine lakes, and high mountain peaks like Mount Whitney (the highest peak in Contiguous US). The park’s landscape also includes deep canyons, such as Kings Canyon and Cedar Grove.
Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are both popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, but each park offers a unique set of activities. Death Valley is known for its extreme heat, salt flats, and sand dunes, and visitors often enjoy scenic drives, stargazing, and off-roading. In contrast, Sequoia & Kings Canyon are known for their towering trees, scenic vistas, and waterfalls, and visitors often enjoy hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Both parks offer a range of experiences, from leisurely walks to challenging hikes, and both are popular destinations for families and solo travelers alike. However, visitors to Sequoia & Kings Canyon are more likely to encounter snow and icy conditions during the winter months, while Death Valley is known for its scorching temperatures year-round.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley National Park, located in California and Nevada, is one of the hottest and driest places in the world. Summer temperatures can reach well over 100°F, making it essential to bring plenty of water and to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. Winter temperatures are mild, with daytime highs in the 60s and 70s, but nighttime lows can be quite cold, often dipping into the 30s. Winter is the best time to visit Death Valley for cooler temperatures and for viewing the wildflowers that bloom after winter rains.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, located in California, have a much different climate. The parks are located at higher elevations and receive more precipitation than Death Valley, which results in a cooler and wetter climate. Summer temperatures are pleasant, with daytime highs in the 70s and 80s, making it a great time to hike and explore the parks. Winter brings heavy snow, making some roads and trails impassable and limiting access to some areas of the parks. The best time to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon is late spring or early summer, when the snow has melted, providing access to more of the parks and the wildflowers are in bloom.
Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offer different experiences for families. Death Valley is a desert landscape with unique geological features, such as sand dunes, salt flats and canyons, providing a rugged, otherworldly adventure for older children. On the other hand, Sequoia & Kings Canyon has more diverse ecosystems, including groves of giant sequoia trees and wildlife, making it a better option for families with younger children or those who prefer a more traditional outdoor experience. Both parks offer ranger-led programs, but Sequoia & Kings Canyon has more options for families, including Junior Ranger activities.