“Nature lovers, have you been torn between visiting Congaree National Park, where towering trees of the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S. awaits or Petrified Forest National Park, where the remains of ancient trees have transformed into rainbow-hued stone? Both parks offer unique and breathtaking experiences, but the only way to decide which one to visit first is to learn more about what each has to offer. Get ready to travel from the lush swampy lands of South Carolina to the arid desert of Arizona, as we compare and contrast the two parks!”
Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina offers several easy trails for hiking, including the Boardwalk Loop, which is a 2.4-mile raised walkway over the swamp that provides access to the park’s unique old growth bottomland hardwood forest. On the other hand, there is also the challenging 7-mile Weston Lake Loop, which features steep inclines and rough terrain. Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona has a variety of trails ranging from easy, like the 0.3-mile Giant Logs Trail, to difficult, like the 7-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Blue Mesa. For a moderate hike, visitors can try the 1.6-mile Long Logs Trail that explores the park’s colorful badlands and petrified logs.
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 Petrified Forest National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mesa Trail | 1448.406 | 32.9184 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Crystal Forest Trail | 1448.406 | 10.9728 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Painted Desert Rim Trail | 1770.274 | 11.8872 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Petrified Forest Scenic Drive | 46027.124 | 297.7896 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| Giant Logs Trail | 965.604 | 10.9728 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Onyx Bridge Trail | 7402.964 | 134.7216 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Long Logs and Agate House Loop Trail | 3379.614 | 24.9936 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Puerco Pueblo Trail | 482.802 | 2.7432 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Devil’s Playground Loop | 12070.05 | 144.78 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Old Jasper Forest Road | 4184.284 | 53.9496 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is known for its diverse wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and various species of reptiles and amphibians. The park is also home to a large variety of birds, including woodpeckers, herons, and vultures. In addition to its wildlife, Congaree is also known for its towering hardwood trees, including the bald cypress and loblolly pine.
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, on the other hand, is known for its collection of petrified wood, but also has a unique ecosystem with a variety of wildlife, such as pronghorn antelope, jackrabbits, and rattlesnakes. The park is also home to a diverse bird population, including roadrunners, hawks, and owls. In addition to its wildlife, Petrified Forest is also home to a variety of cacti and other desert plants.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Congaree National Park | Petrified Forest 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 | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | Big Brown Bat |
| Muskrat | Bobcat |
| Big Brown Bat | Striped Skunk |
| Bobcat | Little Brown Bat |
| Striped Skunk | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Black Bear | Black Bear |
| Red Fox | Porcupine |
| Mink | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Common Gray Fox | Hoary Bat |
| North American River Otter | Red Fox |
| White-Tailed Deer | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Virginia Opossum | Mountain Lion |
| Eastern Red Bat | Mule Deer |
| White-Footed Mouse | Gray Fox |
| Eastern Cottontail | Wolf |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Badger |
| Feral Hog | California Myotis |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Fringed Myotis |
| Least Shrew | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Pacific Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | |
| Western Harvest Mouse |
Reptiles
| Congaree National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Gopher Snake |
| Ringneck Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Common Garter Snake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Common Kingsnake | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Common Kingsnake | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Milksnake | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Southwestern Black-Headed Snake | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake |
Insects
| Congaree National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa Sulphur | |
| Monarch | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Mourning Cloak | |
| Cabbage Butterfly | |
| Checkered Skipper | |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Congaree National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Bluegill | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Brown Bullhead |
Amphibians
| Congaree National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Tiger Salamander | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Congaree National Park is known for its old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, with towering trees reaching up to 160 feet. Among the most famous landscapes are the Cedar Creek Canopy Walk, a raised boardwalk providing stunning views of the forest canopy, and the Weston Lake Loop Trail, offering scenic views of the park’s largest lake.
Petrified Forest National Park boasts colorful badlands, painted deserts, and a 200-million-year-old petrified forest. The park is home to the Blue Mesa, a mesa with blue and purple hues, and the Painted Desert Inn, a historic building showcasing the park’s iconic layered rock formations. The park also features scenic drives, such as the 28-mile long Painted Desert Rim Drive, providing panoramic views of the park’s unique landscapes.
Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Congaree National Park is known for its old-growth hardwood forest, with visitors enjoying hiking, camping and canoeing. Petrified Forest National Park, on the other hand, has a focus on geology and paleontology, with popular activities being hiking, scenic drives, and backcountry camping. Both parks offer ranger-led programs and scenic drives, however, Congaree is known for its boardwalk trail which provides easy access to its lush forest and swamp, while Petrified Forest offers a scenic drive through the park’s badlands that showcase its unique rock formations and petrified logs. Visitors to Congaree can also participate in kayaking and canoeing in Cedar Creek, while those visiting Petrified Forest can explore ancient Native American ruins and petroglyphs.
Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, with average temperatures ranging from the low 40s to the low 90s. The park sees heavy rainfall, particularly in the summer months, and is known for its flash floods. Peak season for visitors is the fall months, when the weather is mild and the park’s swamp and hardwood forest are ablaze with color.
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cool winters, with average temperatures ranging from the mid 30s to the high 80s. Precipitation is infrequent and occurs primarily in the form of occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit the park is in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the park’s unique landscapes, including petrified wood and badlands, are visible.
Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Both Congaree and Petrified Forest National Parks offer unique experiences for families, but in different ways. Congaree is a great choice for families who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and birdwatching, with its diverse ecosystem and towering trees. On the other hand, Petrified Forest National Park is more focused on geology, paleontology and history, with its vast collection of petrified wood and ancient fossils, making it a great choice for families interested in science and earth history. Both parks offer ranger-led activities, but Petrified Forest may have more programs specifically geared towards children. Ultimately, the best park for a family depends on their interests and what they hope to get out of their trip.