Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park are two of the most unique and captivating national parks in the United States. Both parks boast breathtaking landscapes, fascinating geological formations, and a wealth of wildlife. But which park is the ultimate destination for adventure and discovery? In this article, we will compare and contrast these two amazing parks, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision about your next trip.
At first glance, Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park might seem like polar opposites. The Everglades is a vast, wetland wilderness teeming with life, while the Petrified Forest is a desert landscape dotted with fossilized trees. However, both parks have a rich history, unique geology, and diverse ecosystems that make them truly special places. Whether you’re interested in hiking, wildlife watching, or simply taking in the beauty of the natural world, both parks offer unforgettable experiences.
So, are you ready to choose between the swampy wonder of the Everglades and the ancient, arid landscape of the Petrified Forest? Keep reading to find out which park is right for you!
Hiking Trails in Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park are two iconic parks in the United States, offering visitors a chance to experience nature in different ways.
In Everglades National Park, visitors can explore the park’s extensive network of waterways and marshes by kayaking or hiking on one of the many trails. The Anhinga Trail, the Gumbo Limbo Trail and the Pineland Trail are three of the most popular hiking trails in the park. The Anhinga Trail is an easy, half-mile trail that takes visitors through the park’s swampy marshes, where they can spot alligators and other wildlife. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is a little longer, about a mile long, and is also an easy walk through the park’s lush tropical forests. The Pineland Trail is a more challenging hike, with a two-mile loop that takes visitors through the park’s pine rocklands.
In Petrified Forest National Park, visitors can explore the park’s colorful badlands and hike on one of the many trails that traverse the park’s rugged terrain. The Giant Logs Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, and is an easy, half-mile hike that takes visitors to some of the largest petrified logs in the world. The Blue Mesa Trail is a more challenging hike, with a two-mile loop that takes visitors through the park’s rolling hills and badlands. The Painted Desert Rim Trail is one of the park’s most challenging hikes, with a three-mile loop that takes visitors to the top of the park’s highest mesa, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
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 |
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 Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park are two national parks located in the United States that offer unique and diverse wildlife experiences. The Everglades is home to a wide range of animals, including the American alligator, manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and the Florida panther. In addition to these large mammals, the park is also home to numerous species of birds, including the Wood Stork, Anhinga, and the Reddish Egret. Visitors to the park can take an airboat tour to see these animals in their natural habitat, or hike the many trails throughout the park to get an up-close look at the diverse plant life.
On the other hand, Petrified Forest National Park is known for its rich history and unique geology. The park is home to one of the largest and most colorful collections of petrified wood in the world, as well as a variety of other rock formations and fossils. Despite its arid climate, the park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including pronghorn antelope, black-tailed prairie dogs, and the endangered Desert Bighorn Sheep. Visitors to the park can take a scenic drive through the park to see these animals, or hike the many trails to explore the park’s unique geology and natural beauty.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Everglades 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 |
| Northern Pintail | Northern Pintail |
| American Wigeon | American Wigeon |
| Green-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Everglades National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| Bobcat | Big Brown Bat |
| Striped Skunk | Bobcat |
| Raccoon | Striped Skunk |
| Red Fox | Little Brown Bat |
| House Mouse | Deer Mouse |
| Mink | Raccoon |
| Gray Fox | Black Bear |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | Porcupine |
| White-Tailed Deer | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Eastern Cottontail | Hoary Bat |
| House Rat | Red Fox |
| Spotted Skunk | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Fox Squirrel | Mountain Lion |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Mule Deer |
| Feral Hog | Gray Fox |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Wolf |
| Least Shrew | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Badger | |
| California Myotis | |
| Fringed Myotis | |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | |
| Pacific Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | |
| Bushy-Tailed Woodrat | |
| Western Harvest Mouse |
Fish
| Everglades National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | |
| Bluegill | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Channel Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Goldfish |
Reptiles
| Everglades National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | |
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | |
| Western Rattlesnake | |
| 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 |
Amphibians
| Everglades National Park | Petrified Forest National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| Tiger Salamander | |
| Woodhouse’s Toad | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park is located in southern Florida and is known for its diverse array of wildlife, including American alligators, manatees, and a variety of bird species. The park’s most famous landscape is the River of Grass, a slow-moving river that is home to a variety of plant and animal life. Visitors can take a boat tour to see the River of Grass and learn about the ecosystem, or take a hike through the park’s trails to experience the unique landscape up close.
Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, is famous for its petrified wood, which was formed from ancient trees that have turned to stone over time. The park’s most famous landscape is the Painted Desert, a colorful landscape of red and orange rock formations. Visitors can take a scenic drive through the park to see the Painted Desert and stop at various overlooks to take in the views. There are also several trails available for those who want to explore the landscape on foot. Additionally, the park is home to the Petrified Forest, a unique area where visitors can see petrified wood on the ground and learn about the process of petrification.
Things To-Do and Activities in Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park in Florida and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona are two unique national parks that offer different experiences. Both parks are popular for exploring the great outdoors, but there are distinct activities that set each park apart.
In Everglades National Park, visitors love exploring the park’s waterways and swamps. Canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are popular activities here. Visitors also enjoy taking guided walks or tram tours to learn about the park’s ecosystem, which is home to many rare species of plants and animals, including the American alligator.
Petrified Forest National Park is famous for its fossilized trees and other ancient remains. Visitors can take a scenic drive through the park to see the petrified trees and learn about the park’s geology. Hiking is also a popular activity, with trails ranging from easy to strenuous. The park also has several picnic areas and scenic overlooks where visitors can relax and enjoy the beautiful views.
In conclusion, both Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park offer unique experiences in terms of outdoor activities. Whether you’re interested in exploring waterways, learning about plants and animals, seeing ancient remains, or just relaxing and enjoying the scenic views, these parks have something for everyone.
Best Time to Visit Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park, located in southern Florida, has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The park experiences heavy rainfall from May to October, with the wettest months being June through September which can limit outdoor activities.
Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The park experiences its rainy season from July to September, with occasional monsoon storms in late summer. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing and snow is possible, making some park roads impassable.
The best time to visit Everglades National Park is from late November to early May, when temperatures are more comfortable and there is less rainfall. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and wildlife watching. In contrast, the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park is from late spring to early fall, when temperatures are mild and there is little rainfall. This is the ideal time for outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring the park’s scenic drives.
Both parks offer unique and diverse weather conditions, making them ideal destinations for visitors seeking different outdoor experiences. Whether you prefer hot and humid summers or mild and dry fall weather, each park offers its own unique season of beauty and adventure.
Family Friendliness of Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park
Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park are two unique and popular national parks in the United States. Both parks offer a variety of activities and experiences, but they differ significantly in terms of their family-friendliness.
If you’re traveling with children, Everglades National Park is the better choice. The park offers a range of educational and interactive programs, including ranger-led walks and boat tours. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including alligators, manatees, and a wide range of bird species, providing a fun and exciting experience for kids. Additionally, the park is wheelchair accessible, making it a great option for families with mobility issues.
Petrified Forest National Park, on the other hand, is more suited to older children and adults. The park features a scenic drive through a landscape dotted with petrified trees, but it does not offer as many interactive activities for kids. While the park is a great place to learn about geology and the history of the area, it may not be as engaging for young children as Everglades National Park.