Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are two of the most stunning natural wonders in the United States. Both parks offer breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and endless outdoor recreational opportunities. But which park is the best? That’s what we aim to find out in this article.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is a land of glaciers, fjords, and abundant wildlife. The park’s glaciers are constantly calving, creating spectacular displays of ice and water. The park is also home to humpback whales, sea otters, and a variety of bird species.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, on the other hand, is a rugged wilderness of towering peaks and deep canyons. The park’s signature feature is the Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding deserts and mountains. The park is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and over 60 species of bats.
So, which park will come out on top? Will it be the icy wonders of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, or the rugged beauty of Guadalupe Mountains National Park? Keep reading to find out.
Hiking Trails in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska, USA, and offers a variety of hiking trails, including some of the most breathtaking scenic views in the world. One of the easiest hikes is the Bartlett Cove Trail, which is a 1.5-mile round trip hike through the forest to the beach. On the other hand, the hardest hike is the Muir Trail, which is a strenuous 9-mile round trip hike to the top of the Muir Glacier. This hike provides stunning views of the glaciers and the surrounding mountains, but it is not for the faint of heart.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in Texas, USA, is also known for its beautiful hiking trails. One of the easiest hikes is the Dog Canyon Trail, which is a 2-mile round trip hike through the desert to a scenic overlook. Another easy hike is the Bowl trail, a 1-mile round trip hike to a scenic bowl. On the other hand, the hardest hike is the Guadalupe Peak Trail, which is an 8.5-mile round trip hike to the highest point in Texas. This hike provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and is a challenging hike for experienced hikers.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartlett Cove Forest Loop Trail | 1770.274 | 33.8328 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Bartlett River Trail | 11104.446 | 266.7 | Easy | out and back | 3 |
| Bartlet Lake Trail | 9495.106 | 141.732 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Tlingit Trail | 1770.274 | 19.812 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Point Gustavus | 20116.75 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Peak Texas Highpoint Trail | 13035.654 | 873.8616 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Devil’s Hall Trail | 5793.624 | 175.8696 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| McKittrick Canyon Trail | 32508.668 | 1330.7568 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Smith Spring Trail | 3862.416 | 117.9576 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Hunter Peak | 12552.852 | 809.8536 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| El Capitan Trail | 15449.664 | 514.8072 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Pratt Lodge via McKittrick Canyon Trail | 7724.832 | 103.9368 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Devil’s Hall Loop Trail | 5954.558 | 179.832 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Bush Mountain | 20116.75 | 1085.6976 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Pine Springs to McKittrick Canyon | 28485.318 | 1239.9264 | Moderate | point to point | 5 |
Wildlife in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, is known for its glaciers and marine wildlife, including humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises, and seals. The park also has a variety of bird life, such as bald eagles, puffins, and cormorants. On land, visitors may spot black and brown bears, as well as moose and mountain goats.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in Texas, is a unique park in that it is one of the few places in the world where visitors can see Perry’s skipper butterfly, which is only found in this park and one other location. The park is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, including mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, and more than 90 species of birds, including golden eagles and peregrine falcons.
Both parks offer unique and diverse wildlife experiences, but Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is particularly known for its marine wildlife, while Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its diverse bird life and rare species of butterfly. Regardless of which park you choose, visitors can expect to see a variety of wildlife and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains 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 | American Wigeon |
| American Wigeon | Green-Winged Teal |
| Green-Winged Teal | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | Big Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Bobcat |
| Deer Mouse | Striped Skunk |
| Black Bear | Deer Mouse |
| Porcupine | Raccoon |
| Red Fox | Black Bear |
| House Mouse | Porcupine |
| Mountain Lion | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mink | Hoary Bat |
| Mule Deer | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Gray Wolf | Mountain Lion |
| Short-Tailed Weasel | Mule Deer |
| Snowshoe Hare | Common Gray Fox |
| River Otter | Gray Wolf |
| Masked Shrew | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Water Shrew | American Badger |
| Red Squirrel | California Myotis |
| Montane Shrew | Fringed Myotis |
| Long-Tailed Vole | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Lynx | Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat |
| Wolverine | Western Harvest Mouse |
| Marten | Western Small-Footed Myotis |
| Northern Flying Squirrel | Bighorn Sheep |
| Grizzly Bear | White-Tailed Deer |
Fish
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Rainbow Trout |
| Brook Trout | Green Sunfish |
| Longnose Sucker | |
| Lake Trout | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Burbot | |
| Silver Salmon | |
| Chinook Salmon | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Amphibians
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Wood Frog | Tiger Salamander |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Reptiles
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Sonoran Gophersnake | |
| Eastern Racer | |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | |
| Prairie Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Desert Kingsnake | |
| Texas Night Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Desert Striped Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Insects
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Ladies | |
| Monarch | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Common Checkered-Skipper | |
| Clouded Sulphur | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Beautiful Landscapes in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska and is famous for its glaciers and the diversity of marine life in the bay. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers visitors a chance to see glaciers up close and experience the dramatic landscape created by their retreat. Visitors can also go kayaking, whale watching, and fishing in the park.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in Texas and is known for its towering peaks, including the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. The park also boasts a rich fossil record, including Permian-era reef formations and dinosaur tracks. Hiking is a popular activity in the park, with trails ranging from easy to strenuous and offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
Both parks offer unique and diverse landscapes for visitors to explore. Whether you’re interested in glaciers, mountain peaks, or fossils, both Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park have something to offer.
Things To-Do and Activities in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, is renowned for its glaciers, wildlife and scenic boat tours. Visitors can observe whales, sea lions and other marine life from the comfort of a boat. The park also features kayaking, fishing and camping opportunities. In contrast, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in Texas, is known for its towering peaks, hiking trails and scenic drives. Popular activities include backpacking, rock climbing and bird-watching. The park’s highest peak, Guadalupe Peak, offers panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape.
Both parks offer unique and diverse experiences for visitors. Glacier Bay appeals to nature lovers and adventure seekers who enjoy boating and wildlife watching, while Guadalupe Mountains attracts those who enjoy hiking, rock climbing and scenic drives. No matter what your interests are, both parks offer a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and connect with the great outdoors.
Best Time to Visit Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are two of the most popular parks in the United States. While they are both beautiful and offer unique experiences, the seasonal weather of each park affects when is the best time to visit.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska and has a cold, damp and rainy climate. The summer months are warmer and drier, with temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter is very cold and dark, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The best time to visit Glacier Bay is during the summer months, when the weather is milder and the park is accessible by boat.
On the other hand, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in Texas and has a warm, arid desert climate. The summer months are hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter is mild and dry, with temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The best time to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park is during the spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the park is less crowded.
In conclusion, the seasonal weather of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park affects when is the best time to visit. While both parks are beautiful year-round, the best time to visit Glacier Bay is during the summer months and the best time to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park is during the spring or fall.
Family Friendliness of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are two popular family-friendly national parks in the United States.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska and is known for its glaciers, wildlife, and scenic beauty. This park is perfect for families who love hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching. The park offers several ranger-led activities, which are a great way for children to learn about the park’s unique ecosystem. However, the park’s remote location and harsh weather conditions make it less accessible to families with young children.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in Texas, is a great alternative for families looking for a more accessible park. The park is home to several scenic hiking trails, including the popular Guadalupe Peak Trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The park also has a family-friendly visitor center that offers educational programs and activities for children. Additionally, the park’s location in Texas makes it a convenient destination for families traveling from nearby cities.
In conclusion, both Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are family-friendly national parks with unique features and activities. However, if you’re traveling with young children, Guadalupe Mountains National Park may be a more convenient and accessible option.