“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.