Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park are two very different but equally spectacular national parks located on opposite ends of the country. Biscayne, located in southern Florida, is a tropical paradise with crystal-clear waters, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life that will make you feel like you’re in a different world. Isle Royale, located in the middle of Lake Superior, is a rugged wilderness that offers a chance to truly escape from civilization and immerse yourself in nature. While both parks offer unique experiences, one is a subtropical oasis and the other is a remote island wilderness, both parks offer an opportunity to explore diverse natural beauty that is sure to leave you in awe. Whether you’re looking for a snorkeling adventure or a backpacking trip, Biscayne and Isle Royale have something to offer for every nature lover.
Hiking Trails in Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park both offer a variety of hiking trails for visitors to explore, but the nature of the trails and the landscapes are quite different.
Biscayne National Park, located in southern Florida, offers several hiking trails that take visitors through the park’s mangrove forests and around its coastal areas. The park’s most popular hiking trail is the Cape Florida Trail, which is a 2.5-mile loop trail that offers great views of the park’s coastal areas and the Atlantic Ocean. This trail is relatively easy, with a flat and well-maintained path that is suitable for most visitors. Another easy hike is the Biscayne Nature Trail, which is a short trail that takes visitors through a mangrove forest and offers a chance to see the park’s marine life.
Isle Royale National Park, located in the middle of Lake Superior, offers a variety of hiking trails that take visitors through the park’s rugged wilderness. The park’s most popular hiking trail is the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which is a 39-mile trail that takes visitors through the park’s interior and offers great views of the surrounding wilderness. This trail is considered one of the most difficult hikes in the park and requires a high level of fitness and endurance. Another challenging hike is the Minong Ridge Trail, which is a 12-mile trail that takes visitors through the park’s rugged interior and offers great views of the surrounding wilderness. This trail is considered more difficult than the Greenstone Ridge Trail and is recommended for experienced hikers only.
In summary, Biscayne National Park offers easy hikes that take visitors through mangrove forests and coastal areas, while Isle Royale National Park offers challenging hikes through its rugged wilderness. Both Parks offers different level of difficulty trails that can suit different fitness level and preferences.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Biscayne National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biscayne National Park Walk | 15932.466 | 0.9144 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Black Creek Canal Trail | 2735.878 | 0.9144 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Jetty Trail | 1448.406 | 0 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Boca Chita Trail | 1287.472 | 0.9144 | Easy | loop | 3 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Isle Royale National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenstone Ridge Trail: Windigo to Tobin Harbor | 63568.93 | 1216.7616 | Hard | point to point | 4 |
| Rainbow Cove Trail | 2253.076 | 21.9456 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
| Malone Bay to Hatchett Lake | 37658.556 | 664.7688 | Moderate | out and back | 0 |
| Ishpeming Trail to Ishpeming Point | 23496.364 | 339.852 | Moderate | out and back | 0 |
Wildlife in Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida and is known for its diverse marine life, including manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and over 500 species of fish. Visitors to the park can also see a variety of birds, such as pelicans, herons, and ospreys, as well as mangrove forests, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.
Isle Royale National Park, on the other hand, is located in Lake Superior and is known for its diverse terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The park is home to wolves, moose, foxes, and a variety of birds such as eagles, loons, and warblers. Additionally, visitors can see a variety of plants, including boreal forests and wildflowers.
Both parks offer unique wildlife experiences, with Biscayne National Park focusing on marine life and Isle Royale National Park focusing on terrestrial and aquatic life. Biscayne National Park provides visitors with opportunities to see marine animals such as manatees and dolphins, as well as a variety of fish, while Isle Royale National Park provides visitors with opportunities to see wolves, moose, and foxes, as well as a variety of birds. Additionally, both parks offer visitors the opportunity to see diverse plant life, with Biscayne National Park featuring mangrove forests and coral reefs, and Isle Royale National Park featuring boreal forests and wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Biscayne National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Mallard |
| American Robin | Canada Goose |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Northern Flicker | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| Merlin | American Robin |
| Barn Swallow | Great Horned Owl |
| Savannah Sparrow | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Great Blue Heron | Northern Flicker |
| American Kestrel | Merlin |
| Bald Eagle | Barn Swallow |
| Song Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| European Starling | Great Blue Heron |
| Northern Pintail | Hermit Thrush |
| American Wigeon | American Kestrel |
| American Pipit | Bald Eagle |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Song Sparrow |
| Killdeer | European Starling |
| Brown-Headed Cowbird | Northern Pintail |
| Red-Winged Blackbird | American Wigeon |
| Blue-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Biscayne National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Bobcat | Coyote |
| Striped Skunk | American Beaver |
| Raccoon | Muskrat |
| House Mouse | Big Brown Bat |
| Common Gray Fox | Striped Skunk |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| White-Tailed Deer | Deer Mouse |
| Virginia Opossum | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Black Rat | Hoary Bat |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Red Fox |
| Least Shrew | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Mink | |
| Gray Wolf | |
| Short-Tailed Weasel | |
| Snowshoe Hare | |
| North American River Otter | |
| Canada Lynx | |
| Marten | |
| Moose | |
| Red Bat | |
| Norway Rat | |
| Southern Red-Backed Vole | |
| Northern Long-Eared Bat |
Fish
| Biscayne National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Bluegill | Coaster Brook Trout |
| Golden Shiner | Brown Trout |
| Common Carp | Longnose Sucker |
| Yellow Bullhead | Harvey Lake Fathead Minnow |
| Black Crappie | Golden Shiner |
| Brown Bullhead | Lake Trout |
| Northern Pike | |
| Ellpout | |
| Coho Salmon | |
| Chinook Salmon | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Creek Chub |
Insects
| Biscayne National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Honey Bee |
Amphibians
| Biscayne National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Biscayne National Park is located in Florida and is known for its beautiful coral reefs, clear waters, and diverse marine life. Visitors can take a boat tour to see the coral reefs and the shipwrecks that lie within the park’s boundaries. Another popular feature of the park is the mangrove forest that is home to a wide variety of bird species.
Isle Royale National Park is located in Michigan and is known for its rugged wilderness, clear lakes, and diverse wildlife. The park’s centerpiece is Isle Royale itself, a remote island that is home to moose, wolves, and a wide variety of bird species. Visitors to the park can take a boat tour of the island, hike the many trails, or even camp overnight in the wilderness. The park also has many beautiful overlooks that offer stunning views of the island and its surrounding waters.
Things To-Do and Activities in Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park are both popular national parks that offer a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors. However, the types of activities that are popular at each park are quite different due to the unique characteristics of each location.
Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida and is known for its beautiful coral reefs and clear waters. The park’s location on the coast makes it a popular spot for water-based activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating. Visitors can take boat tours to explore the coral reefs and shipwrecks within the park’s boundaries. Fishing is also a popular activity in the park, with many visitors coming to catch snapper, grouper, and other fish species.
Isle Royale National Park is located in Lake Superior, Michigan and is known for its rugged wilderness and diverse wildlife. The park’s centerpiece is Isle Royale itself, a remote island that is home to moose, wolves, and a wide variety of bird species. Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park, with visitors able to explore the many trails that traverse the island. Camping is also a popular activity in the park, with many visitors coming to spend the night in the wilderness. Canoeing and kayaking are also popular activities in the park, with visitors able to explore the many clear lakes and waterways that are found on the island. Fishing is also popular, with lake trout, smallmouth bass and other fish species being caught.
In summary, Biscayne National Park is known for its beautiful coral reefs and clear waters, and is popular for water-based activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating, while Isle Royale National Park is known for its rugged wilderness, diverse wildlife and is popular for activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing and kayaking, and fishing.
Best Time to Visit Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida, which has a tropical climate characterized by hot and humid summers and mild winters. The park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the winter months (December to February) when the weather is cooler and more comfortable. During the summer months (June to September), temperatures can reach over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), and the humidity can be quite high, making it more challenging to enjoy outdoor activities. There is also a chance of hurricanes and heavy rains during the summer and early fall.
Isle Royale National Park, on the other hand, is located in Lake Superior and has a much cooler climate, characterized by cool summers and cold winters. The park is also open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the summer months (June to September) when temperatures are mild and the weather is more comfortable for outdoor activities. During the winter months (December to February), temperatures can drop below freezing and there is also a high chance of snowfall, making it more challenging to enjoy outdoor activities. Additionally, the park is closed for winter season by the end of November and open for the summer season by mid-April.
Both parks offer unique weather experiences, Biscayne National Park has a tropical climate and best time to visit is during the winter months while Isle Royale National Park has a cooler climate and best time to visit is during the summer months. Additionally, visitors to Biscayne National Park should be aware of the potential for hurricanes and heavy rains during the summer and early fall, and visitors to Isle Royale National Park should be aware of the potential for cold temperatures and snowfall during the winter.
Family Friendliness of Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Both Biscayne National Park and Isle Royale National Park offer a variety of activities for families, but the type of activities and the level of accessibility may vary.
Biscayne National Park, located in southern Florida, offers a variety of activities for families, including snorkeling and scuba diving, fishing, and boating. The park also has several visitor centers and ranger-led programs that provide educational opportunities for children. The park has a wide range of accessible activities and services, such as the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, which is wheelchair accessible, and the Family Fun Fest, a ranger-led program that offers hands-on activities and games for children. Additionally, the park has a large number of picnic areas, and playgrounds, which are great spots for families to spend time together.
Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior, also offers a variety of activities for families, including hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. The park also has several visitor centers and ranger-led programs that provide educational opportunities for children. However, the park has a more remote location, and the terrain can be challenging for families with young children or mobility issues. Some of the hiking trails and campsites are not easily accessible, and the park does not have playgrounds or picnic areas.
In summary, Biscayne National Park is more family-friendly than Isle Royale National Park, offering a wider range of activities and services that are easily accessible for families with children. Biscayne National Park offers picnic areas, playgrounds, and ranger-led programs that provide educational opportunities for children, which Isle Royale National Park does not. However, Isle Royale National Park offers a more wilderness experience and is a great choice for families who want to experience nature in a remote setting.