“Nature enthusiasts, brace yourself for a journey through two vastly different worlds. On one hand, there’s Congaree National Park, a lush, verdant landscape dotted with towering trees and teeming with diverse wildlife. On the other hand, there’s Death Valley National Park, a scorching hot, harsh desert with haunting beauty and unique geological formations. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful escape in a forest or an adventure in a desert, these two national parks have something for everyone. So, pack your bags, grab your hat and let’s embark on a journey to discover the secrets of Congaree and Death Valley National Parks.”
Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree and Death Valley National Parks offer diverse hiking experiences. Congaree has a lush forest with elevated boardwalks and swampy terrain, while Death Valley presents a rugged desert landscape with unique geological formations. In Congaree, the Boardwalk Loop is a 2.4-mile, flat trail ideal for all levels, while the strenuous Kingsnake Trail covers 10 miles, navigating through rugged terrain. On the other hand, the easy 1.5-mile Natural Bridge trail in Death Valley showcases rock formations while the toughest hike, the 11-mile Telescope Peak, leads to the park’s highest point and offers panoramic views of the desert. Both parks offer something for everyone, from scenic boardwalks to challenging treks through diverse landscapes.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Loop Trail | 3862.416 | 3.9624 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Weston Lake Loop Trail | 7402.964 | 4.8768 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Oakridge Trail | 10138.842 | 5.7912 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Congaree River Trail | 15932.466 | 15.8496 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Kingsnake Trail | 11909.116 | 6.7056 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Congaree Bluff Trail | 3379.614 | 5.7912 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Congaree River Blue Trail | 75317.112 | 1.8288 | Moderate | point to point | 5 |
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 |
Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree NP in SC boasts diverse wildlife such as white-tailed deer, river otters, 50+ species of reptiles/amphibians. Common birds include Prothonotary Warbler, Wood Duck, Pileated Woodpecker. Park is also home to loblolly pine, bald cypress, tupelo gum trees.
In contrast, Death Valley NP in CA is a desert park and features bighorn sheep, kit foxes, reptiles/birds such as Desert Tortoise and Cactus Wren. Park is also famous for Joshua trees, creosote bush, Mojave yucca.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley 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 |
| American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
| Green-Winged Teal | American Wigeon |
| American Pipit | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | Muskrat |
| Muskrat | Big Brown Bat |
| Big Brown Bat | Bobcat |
| Bobcat | Little Brown Bat |
| Striped Skunk | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Black Bear | Porcupine |
| Red Fox | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mink | Hoary Bat |
| Common Gray Fox | House Mouse |
| North American River Otter | Mountain Lion |
| White-Tailed Deer | Mule Deer |
| Virginia Opossum | Gray Fox |
| Eastern Red Bat | Long-Legged Myotis |
| White-Footed Mouse | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Eastern Cottontail | Badger |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Californian Myotis |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fringed Myotis |
| Feral Hog | Common Shrew |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Mexican Free-Tailed Bat |
| Least Shrew | Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | |
| Western Harvest Mouse | |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis |
Reptiles
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Gopher Snake |
| Ringneck Snake | Terrestrial Gartersnake |
| Common Garter Snake | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Common Kingsnake | Common Sagebrush Lizard |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Smith������S Black-Headed Snake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley National Park |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Monarch | Painted Lady |
| American Painted Lady | Monarch Butterfly |
| Red Admiral | American Lady |
| Mourning Cloak | Red Admiral |
| Cabbage Butterfly | Mourning Cloak |
| Checkered Skipper | Cabbage White |
| Variegated Fritillary | Silvery Blue |
| Buckeye | Common Checkered-Skipper |
| Commom Wood Nymph | Clouded Sulphur |
| Gray Hairstreak | Honey Bee |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Largemouth Bass |
| Green Sunfish | Mosquitofish |
| Bluegill | Goldfish |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Brown Bullhead |
Amphibians
| Congaree National Park | Death Valley National Park |
|---|---|
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Canyon Treefrog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree National Park boasts the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in N. America and towering bald cypress trees. Scenic boardwalks and trails, like the Weston Lake Loop, offer views of the Congaree River floodplain.
Death Valley National Park is famous for its striking desert landscapes, incl. the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in N. America (-282 ft below sea level) and the Mesquite Flat Dunes, the tallest and one of the hottest sand dunes in the world. Artists’ Drive, a scenic drive through a canyon of multicolored rock formations, is another highlight.
Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree National Park is known for its old-growth forest and swamp walks, while Death Valley is famous for its unique geology and desert environment, including sand dunes, salt flats, and canyons. Both parks offer camping, scenic drives, ranger-led programs, but Congaree also has kayaking while Death Valley has stargazing, off-roading, and site-seeing at historical mining sites. Both offer outdoor recreational opportunities, learning about and appreciating nature, but the specific activities offered differ greatly.
Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree NP in South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers & mild winters. The wettest months are from May to October, with severe thunderstorms & frequent rainfall. Death Valley NP in California has a desert climate with extremely hot summers & mild winters. Little rainfall occurs, with most precipitation falling Dec-Mar. Summer temperatures in Death Valley can reach over 100°F, making it a difficult time to visit. Winter months are more comfortable.
Best time to visit Congaree NP is in winter & Death Valley NP is spring/fall.
Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Death Valley National Park
Congaree is better for families as it offers easy walks through old-growth forests and swamps, while Death Valley is a harsh desert with limited shade and water, making it less suitable for families.