Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park are two of the most unique and diverse national parks in the United States. They are both incredibly beautiful and offer a wide range of activities for visitors, but they are also vastly different in terms of landscape and wildlife. Imagine a place where red rocks tower over you, and where hoodoos in all shapes and sizes, create an otherworldly landscape, and on the other hand, a place where alligators and manatees swim in murky waters, and where you can take an airboat ride through sawgrass prairies. Both Bryce Canyon and Everglades National Park are must-see destinations for any outdoor enthusiast, but which one should you visit first? Keep reading to find out!
Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park are both known for their beautiful hiking trails. However, the trails at these two parks have different characteristics and offer different experiences.
Bryce Canyon National Park is home to a variety of hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous. Some of the easiest hikes include the paved, 0.5-mile Rim Trail, which offers stunning views of the park’s famous hoodoos, and the 0.5-mile Queen’s Garden Trail, which leads to a natural amphitheater. On the other hand, some of the most strenuous hikes include the 8-mile Peekaboo Loop, which climbs steep switchbacks and the 9-mile Riggs Spring Loop, which is a strenuous hike that traverses through a remote section of the park.
Everglades National Park has an extensive network of hiking trails, some of which are easy and some are more challenging. Some of the easiest hikes include the 0.5-mile Anhinga Trail, which is a boardwalk trail that winds through a sawgrass marsh and the 1-mile Gumbo Limbo Trail, which is a flat, paved trail that passes through a hardwood hammock. Some of the more challenging hikes include the 9.5-mile Coastal Prairie Trail, which is a challenging hike that offers a good workout and the 15-mile Wilderness Waterway, which is a multi-day hike that requires a permit and overnight camping.
Overall, Bryce Canyon National Park has a mix of easy and challenging hikes that offer diverse experiences. The hikes at Everglades National Park are mostly easy but offer the chance to see a wide variety of plants and animals in their natural habitat.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail | 4184.284 | 189.8904 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Fairyland Loop Trail | 11909.116 | 469.6968 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Peekaboo Loop Trail | 8368.568 | 442.8744 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Navajo Loop Trail | 2253.076 | 139.9032 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop Trail | 4988.954 | 175.8696 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Sunset Point to Sunrise Point | 1770.274 | 24.9936 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mossy Cave Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail | 1609.34 | 35.9664 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Queen Victoria via Queen’s Garden Loop | 3379.614 | 123.7488 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Tower Bridge Trail | 5471.756 | 251.7648 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure Eight Trail) | 10138.842 | 456.8952 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Everglades National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Valley Trail | 25427.572 | 6.7056 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Anhinga Trail | 2414.01 | 0 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail | 321.868 | 0 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Gumbo Limbo Trail | 643.736 | 0 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Long Pine Key Trail | 24944.77 | 0 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mahogany Hammock Trail | 643.736 | 0 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Everglades Coastal Prairie Trail | 27358.78 | 4.8768 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Pinelands Trail | 643.736 | 0 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Everglades National Park East Entrance to Flamingo Scenic Route | 58258.108 | 7.9248 | Easy | point to point | 4.5 |
| Nine Mile Pond | 8851.37 | 0 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Wildlife in Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park are both known for their diverse wildlife.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah and is known for its unique geologic formations, known as hoodoos. The park is home to a variety of mammals, including mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Birds commonly seen in the park include the peregrine falcon, golden eagle, and great horned owl. The park also has a variety of plants, including sagebrush, pinion pine, and juniper.
Everglades National Park, located in southern Florida, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The park is known for its diverse array of wildlife, including the American alligator, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. Birds commonly seen in the park include the wood stork, roseate spoonbill, and great egret. The park is also home to a variety of plants, including mangroves, cypress, and sawgrass.
In summary, Bryce Canyon National Park has a variety of mammals and birds, and is known for its unique geologic formations. Everglades National Park is known for its diverse array of wildlife, including alligators and panthers, and has a variety of plants, including mangroves and cypress.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Everglades 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
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Everglades National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | Bobcat |
| Muskrat | Striped Skunk |
| Big Brown Bat | Raccoon |
| Bobcat | Red Fox |
| Striped Skunk | House Mouse |
| Little Brown Bat | Mink |
| Deer Mouse | Gray Fox |
| Raccoon | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Black Bear | White-Tailed Deer |
| Porcupine | Eastern Cottontail |
| Silver-Haired Bat | House Rat |
| Hoary Bat | Spotted Skunk |
| Red Fox | Fox Squirrel |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Eastern Gray Squirrel |
| House Mouse | Feral Hog |
| Mountain Lion | Northern Short-Tailed Shrew |
| Mule Deer | Least Shrew |
| Common Gray Fox | |
| Long-Legged Myotis | |
| Long-Eared Myotis | |
| American Badger | |
| Ermine | |
| California Myotis | |
| Snowshoe Hare |
Reptiles
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Everglades National Park |
|---|---|
| Gophersnake | |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake | |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Greater Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink |
Fish
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Everglades National Park |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Bluegill | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Goldfish |
Amphibians
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Everglades National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Tiger Salamander |
Beautiful Landscapes in Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its beautiful and unique hoodoo rock formations. Hoodoos are tall, thin spires of rock that have been shaped by erosion, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most famous hoodoos can be found in the Bryce Amphitheater, which is the main area of the park where visitors go to see the hoodoos. The park also offers a variety of overlooks, such as Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point, that offer breathtaking views of the hoodoos and the surrounding landscape. Other natural features at Bryce Canyon include the Paunsaugunt Plateau, the Aquarius Plateau, and the Kaiparowits Plateau.
Everglades National Park is a vast wetland and home to many unique and diverse ecosystems. The park is known for its sawgrass prairies and mangrove swamps, which are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including alligators, crocodiles, panthers, and wading birds. The park also has several hiking trails that take visitors through different ecosystems, including the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Limbo Trail. The park also has a variety of overlooks, such as the Mahogany Hammock Overlook and the Anhinga Trail Overlook, that offer beautiful views of the park’s landscape and wildlife. Other natural features at Everglades National Park include the Florida Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Ten Thousand Islands.
Things To-Do and Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park are both popular destinations that offer a range of activities for visitors to enjoy.
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its hiking trails, which offer visitors the opportunity to explore the park’s unique geologic formations and scenic vistas. The most popular hiking trails in the park include the Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, and Peekaboo Loop. Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding, ranger-led tours, and stargazing at the park’s astronomy program.
Everglades National Park is known for its diverse array of outdoor activities. Visitors can take an airboat tour to see alligators and other wildlife, go fishing or canoeing, or take a guided hike or tram tour to learn about the park’s unique ecosystem. Visitors can also take a bike tour or a ranger-led kayak tour to explore the park’s backcountry.
In summary, Bryce Canyon National Park is popular for hiking, horseback riding and stargazing, and Everglades National Park is popular for airboat tours, fishing, canoeing, guided hikes, tram tours, bike tours, and ranger-led kayak tours. Both parks offer visitors the opportunity to explore and learn about the unique and diverse ecosystems they protect.
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park have different seasonal weather patterns that affect when is the best time of year to visit each park.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located at a high elevation in Southern Utah and has four distinct seasons. The summers are warm with temperatures ranging from the low 80s to the mid-90s, while winters can be quite cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing. Spring and fall are mild with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The park is known for its colorful hoodoos, which are best seen in the late spring and early fall when the sunlight is at the right angle to highlight the colors.
Everglades National Park is located in southern Florida and has a subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to the low 90s. Winters are mild, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The park is known for its diverse ecosystem and wildlife, which are best seen during the dry season, from November to April, when the water levels are lower, making it easier to spot alligators, manatees, and other animals.
Overall, the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is late spring and early fall, when the weather is mild and the hoodoos are at their most colorful. The best time to visit Everglades National Park is from November to April, when the weather is mild and the water levels are lower, making it easier to spot the park’s diverse wildlife.
Family Friendliness of Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park
Both Bryce Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park are family-friendly destinations, but they offer different types of experiences for families.
Bryce Canyon National Park is considered to be more family-friendly than Everglades National Park, mainly because it offers a variety of easy and moderate hiking trails that are suitable for families with children. The park also has several overlooks that offer stunning views of the hoodoos and the surrounding landscape, which can be a great way for families to experience the park’s natural beauty. Additionally, the park has a variety of ranger-led programs and activities that are tailored for children, such as the Junior Ranger program and the Astronomy program.
Everglades National Park, while also family-friendly, may not be as suitable for families with young children, as it is mostly wetlands and visitors need to be aware of the potential dangers of alligators, snakes, and other wildlife. However, there are several boardwalks, such as the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Limbo Trail, that offer safe and easy access to the park’s ecosystems. Families with children can also take an airboat ride through the park’s sawgrass prairies, which can be a fun and exciting experience.
In summary, Bryce Canyon National Park is more family-friendly than Everglades National Park, especially for families with young children, as it has a variety of easy hiking trails, overlooks, ranger-led programs and activities. While Everglades National Park also offers a unique experience but it may not be as suitable for families with young children, due to the potential dangers of alligators, snakes, and other wildlife.