Death Valley National Park vs Everglades National Park

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Death Valley National Park vs Everglades National Park

“Embark on a journey to two vastly different worlds, where the scorching heat of Death Valley National Park collides with the lush wetlands of Everglades National Park. The former, located in California and Nevada, is a land of extremes, with barren salt flats, towering sand dunes, and temperatures that can reach 134°F. The latter, located in Florida, is a subtropical paradise, where alligators swim alongside manatees, and exotic birds soar over sprawling sawgrass marshes. Whether you prefer the thrill of exploring treacherous terrain or the serenity of gliding through tranquil waters, these two parks offer a wealth of adventure and natural beauty. So buckle up and get ready to be wowed by the diversity and resilience of these unique landscapes.”

Hiking Trails in Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley and Everglades National Parks offer unique hiking experiences. In Death Valley, the Mosaic Canyon trail is the easiest, featuring flat terrain & marble formations. The hardest is the 14-mile Telescope Peak, a strenuous hike with 6000 ft elevation gain for panoramic views. In Everglades, the Anhinga Trail is the easiest, a boardwalk trail to see alligators, birds, and wildlife. The toughest is the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Trail, a 13.5-mile hike through the heart of the Everglades, showcasing sawgrass prairies & mangrove forests.

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

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 Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley NP & Everglades NP offer vastly different wildlife experiences. In Death Valley NP, visitors can expect to see species adapted to desert life, such as bighorn sheep, pronghorns, rattlesnakes, and desert tortoises. Everglades NP, on the other hand, is a wetland haven for a rich variety of animals, including alligators, manatees, panthers, and roseate spoonbills. The park is also home to unique plant species like mangroves, cypress trees, and sawgrass. The key difference between the two parks lies in their climates, with Death Valley NP being a dry desert environment and Everglades NP being a humid wetland.

Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.

Birds

Death Valley 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

Death Valley National Park Everglades National Park
Coyote Coyote
Muskrat Bobcat
Big Brown Bat Striped Skunk
Bobcat Raccoon
Little Brown Bat Red Fox
Deer Mouse House Mouse
Raccoon Mink
Porcupine Gray Fox
Silver-Haired Bat Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat
Hoary Bat White-Tailed Deer
House Mouse Eastern Cottontail
Mountain Lion House Rat
Mule Deer Spotted Skunk
Gray Fox Fox Squirrel
Long-Legged Myotis Eastern Gray Squirrel
Long-Eared Myotis Feral Hog
Badger Northern Short-Tailed Shrew
Californian Myotis Least Shrew
Fringed Myotis
Common Shrew
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat
Bushy-Tailed Woodrat
Western Harvest Mouse
Western Small-Footed Myotis

Reptiles

Death Valley National Park Everglades National Park
Gopher Snake
Terrestrial Gartersnake
Ring-Necked Snake
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

Death Valley National Park Everglades National Park
Orange Sulphur
Painted Lady
Monarch Butterfly
American Lady
Red Admiral
Mourning Cloak
Cabbage White
Silvery Blue
Common Checkered-Skipper
Clouded Sulphur
Honey Bee
Variegated Fritillary
Buckeye
Purplish Copper
Gray Hairstreak

Fish

Death Valley National Park Everglades National Park
Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass
Mosquitofish Bluegill
Goldfish Golden Shiner
Yellow Bullhead
Channel Catfish
Black Crappie
Mosquitofish
Brown Bullhead
Goldfish

Amphibians

Death Valley National Park Everglades National Park
Woodhouse’s Toad
Canyon Treefrog

Beautiful Landscapes in Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley is famous for its salt flats, canyons, and colorful rock formations. Everglades is known for its subtropical wilderness, wildlife, and the River of Grass. Both parks offer diverse landscapes for visitors to explore.

Things To-Do and Activities in Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley & Everglades National Parks offer different activities for visitors. At Death Valley, visitors enjoy exploring unique landscapes like Badwater Basin salt flats, sand dunes & towering peaks. Camping, photography & scenic drives are popular. The Everglades is a wetland park, where kayaking, bird watching & wildlife viewing are popular. Both parks offer ranger-led programs & guided tours to learn more about park ecosystems, while offering stunning natural beauty.

Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley and Everglades differ in climate, location and seasons. Death Valley, in California’s Mojave Desert, is famous for extreme heat, with summer high temps over 120°F. Everglades, in Florida, is a wetland with summer high temps around 90°F. The best time to visit Death Valley is in winter when temps are more moderate. Everglades is best visited in its dry season, Nov-Apr, to avoid heavy rain.

Family Friendliness of Death Valley National Park and Everglades National Park

Death Valley and the Everglades differ greatly in terms of family-friendliness. Death Valley is known for its rugged, inhospitable terrain and scorching temperatures, making it less suitable for families with young children. Conversely, the Everglades offer a more kid-friendly atmosphere, with its swampy environment and abundance of wildlife, airboat rides, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. Thus, for families traveling with children, the Everglades is the better choice.

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