Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve are two of the most awe-inspiring parks in the United States. These two parks are located on opposite sides of the country, but they both offer visitors an opportunity to witness the raw power of nature. Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer, a nature lover, or just someone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, these parks are a must-visit.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is located on the big island of Hawaii and is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It’s a place where you can hike through rugged terrain, witness the power of molten lava, and learn about the unique geology of the Hawaiian islands. Meanwhile, Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska and is the largest national park in the United States. It’s a place where you can explore glaciers, witness the majesty of the Alaska Range, and get up close and personal with the largest collection of glaciers in North America.
So, grab your adventure gear, pack your bags, and get ready to embark on a journey to two of the most breathtaking parks in the country. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, these parks will leave you speechless and longing for more.
Hiking Trails in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and offers a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is home to the active Kilauea volcano, which creates a constantly changing landscape. The park has several easy hikes, including the Kilauea Iki Trail, which is a 4-mile round trip hike through a crater filled with steam vents, and the Crater Rim Trail, a 11-mile loop that takes you around the rim of the caldera. However, for those seeking a challenge, the park also has the Mauna Loa Summit trail, a strenuous 13-mile hike to the summit of the world’s largest active volcano.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska and is the largest national park in the United States. The park offers a range of hiking trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry expeditions. Some of the easier hikes include the Root Glacier Trail, a 2.5-mile round trip hike on a glacial moraine, and the Old Man’s Cabin Trail, a 1.5-mile trail that leads to an old miner’s cabin. For those looking for a more strenuous hike, the park offers the 18-mile round trip hike to the summit of Mount Wrangell, an active volcano, and the challenging backcountry routes in the park’s interior.
Both parks offer a range of hiking experiences, from easy walks to challenging backcountry expeditions. Hikers at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park can explore a constantly changing landscape, while those at Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve can experience the vast wilderness of Alaska.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilauea Iki Trail and Crater Rim Trail | 4828.02 | 209.7024 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Kalapana Lava Viewing | 15288.73 | 196.9008 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Pu’u Huluhulu via Napau Crater Trail | 4023.35 | 94.7928 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Halema���uma���u Steam Bluff and Sulfur Banks | 2092.142 | 24.9936 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Puu Loa Petroglyphs Trail | 1931.208 | 25.908 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Mauna Loa via Observatory Trail and Summit Trail | 20760.486 | 905.8656 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Devastation Trail to Puu Puai Overlook | 1609.34 | 37.7952 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| End of Chain of Craters Road Trail to Lava Viewing | 16576.202 | 130.7592 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Sandalwood (Iliahi) Trail | 1931.208 | 13.716 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Halema’uma’u Trail | 2735.878 | 130.7592 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankin Ridge Interpretive Trail | 1609.34 | 72.8472 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wind Cave Canyon Trail | 6115.492 | 64.9224 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop | 8368.568 | 156.972 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Cold Brook Canyon Trail | 4506.152 | 60.96 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| East Bison Flats Trail | 16254.334 | 445.9224 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Boland Ridge Trail | 7724.832 | 248.7168 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Centennial Trail: Highway 87 to Highlander Rd | 13035.654 | 286.8168 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| Elk Mountain Interpretive Trail | 4023.35 | 99.9744 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Prairie Vista Loop | 1609.34 | 31.6992 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Highland Creek Trail to Centennial Trail Loop | 21887.024 | 443.7888 | Hard | loop | 4.6 |
Wildlife in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawai’i and is home to an abundant variety of native wildlife, including the Nene (Hawaiian Goose), the Hawaiian Hawk, and the ʻIo (Hawaiian Hawk). The park is also home to a diverse range of plant life, including native ferns, wildflowers, and ohia trees. In addition, visitors may also see a variety of other birds, including the ʻApapane and the ʻAmakihi.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, is also home to a rich and diverse array of wildlife, including brown and black bears, moose, mountain goats, and caribou. The park is also home to numerous bird species, including the bald eagle, the common raven, and the Harlequin Duck. In addition, visitors may also see a variety of other mammals, such as the red fox, the lynx, and the wolverine. The park is also home to a diverse range of plant life, including native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.
Both parks offer unique opportunities to observe and appreciate the diverse wildlife and plant life that call these parks home. Whether you are interested in observing native birds, mammals, or plants, both Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve offer a truly unforgettable experience for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Canada Goose | Northern Harrier |
| Great Blue Heron | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Rock Pigeon | Osprey |
| House Sparrow | Tree Swallow |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mallard |
| Black-Crowned Night-Heron | Canada Goose |
| Wild Turkey | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Barn Owl | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| Cattle Egret | American Robin |
| Sanderling | Great Horned Owl |
| Ring-Necked Pheasant | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Chukar | Northern Flicker |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Merlin |
| Northern Cardinal | Barn Swallow |
| California Quail | Savannah Sparrow |
| Great Blue Heron | |
| Hermit Thrush | |
| American Kestrel | |
| Bald Eagle | |
| Song Sparrow | |
| European Starling | |
| Northern Pintail | |
| American Wigeon | |
| Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| House Mouse | Coyote |
| Norway Rat | American Beaver |
| ‘Iole | Muskrat |
| Domestic Cattle | Little Brown Bat |
| Feral Hog | Black Bear |
| Porcupine | |
| Red Fox | |
| Puma | |
| Mink | |
| Mule Deer | |
| Wolf | |
| Short-Tailed Weasel | |
| Snowshoe Hare | |
| Land Otter | |
| Common Shrew | |
| Water Shrew | |
| Red Squirrel | |
| Montane Shrew | |
| Long-Tailed Vole | |
| Lynx | |
| Wolverine | |
| American Marten | |
| Northern Flying Squirrel | |
| Grizzly Bear | |
| Meadow Vole |
Amphibians
| Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Wood Frog |
Insects
| Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Painted Lady | Silvery Blue |
| Monarch Butterfly | Clouded Sulphur |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Cabbage White | |
| Honey Bee |
Fish
| Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Steelhead | |
| Longnose Sucker | |
| Lake Trout | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Burbot | |
| Silver Salmon | |
| King Salmon | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Threespine Stickleback | |
| Sockeye Salmon | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Chum Salmon | |
| Dolly Varden | |
| Cutthroat Trout | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Beautiful Landscapes in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers and geologists alike. The park’s main attraction is the Kīlauea Volcano, which has been continuously erupting since 1983 and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Visitors can witness the power of nature at the Jaggar Museum, where they can see the caldera and the vents that emit steam and gas. The park also offers a unique landscape with lush rainforests, cinder cones, and volcanic deserts that can be explored on foot, by car, or on horseback.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, is the largest national park in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States, including Mount St. Elias which is the second tallest peak in the country. Visitors can take a scenic flight from McCarthy or Kennicott to see the stunning glaciers and ice fields, or hike to the Root Glacier for a closer look. The park is also home to the Wrangell Mountains, which offer scenic vistas and opportunities for backcountry camping, hunting, and fishing.
Things To-Do and Activities in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve are two of the most popular national parks in the United States. Both parks offer unique experiences for visitors, and both are beloved for their natural beauty, wildlife, and recreational opportunities.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is best known for its active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Visitors can take guided tours to see the lava flows, or hike to the summit of one of the volcanoes for a stunning view of the island. The park is also home to a diverse ecosystem, including lush rainforests, deserts, and alpine zones.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest national park in the country, and is known for its stunning glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the glaciers, go bear viewing, or fishing in one of the many nearby rivers and streams. The park is also home to several historic sites, including abandoned gold mines and old trading posts.
In conclusion, both Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve offer visitors a chance to experience the beauty and diversity of nature. Whether you are looking for a chance to see active volcanoes, explore glaciers, or view wildlife in their natural habitat, both parks offer a unique and unforgettable experience.
Best Time to Visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve are two of the largest national parks in the United States, each offering unique experiences for visitors. The seasonal weather in each park greatly affects the best time to visit.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and experiences a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. The park is drier and sunnier from June to October, making it the best time to visit for hiking and exploring the volcanic landscapes. Winter months can bring heavy rainfall and cloud cover, limiting visibility and access to some areas of the park.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve, located in Alaska, has a subarctic climate with colder temperatures and more precipitation, making it best to visit in the summer months of June to August. Winter months can bring heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, making travel difficult and some areas of the park inaccessible. Winter also offers opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Visitors to each park should be prepared for the seasonal weather and plan accordingly. Whether it’s exploring the volcanic landscapes of Hawaii or the glaciers and mountains of Alaska, both parks offer breathtaking experiences for all visitors.
Family Friendliness of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve are both unique and offer a different experience for families. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a great option for families who want to experience a volcanic landscape and learn about the natural processes that shape the earth. The park has several trails that are easy to navigate and several ranger-led programs that are aimed at educating visitors of all ages. Additionally, there are several picnic areas, campgrounds, and restaurants within the park that make it a convenient option for families traveling with children.
On the other hand, Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is a better option for families who are looking for a more adventurous experience. The park is vast and offers opportunities for backcountry camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The park also has several ranger-led programs that are aimed at teaching visitors about the natural history and cultural heritage of the region. However, because of its remote location, there may be limited amenities and services available within the park, making it a less convenient option for families traveling with young children.
In conclusion, both parks are great options for families, but the best park for families traveling with children will depend on their interests and travel style. If families are looking for a convenient and educational experience, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a great option. If they are looking for an adventurous and remote experience, then Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is a better option.