Where to See Desert Southwest: 1 Park Ranked by Real Odds

Q: Where is the best place to see Desert Southwest?

Saguaro National Park. In Saguaro National Park, United States, the chance of seeing all 4 (roadrunner, coyote, javelina and gila monster) on the same day is under 5%, the highest of the 1 park where all of them live, and over a three-day visit it rises to about 10%. It multiplies each animal's daily chance, as if they were independent, so read it as a rough guide.

Q: Which of Desert Southwest is hardest to see?

Roadrunner. In Saguaro National Park, the best park for Desert Southwest, about about 20% of wildlife watchers report the roadrunner on a given day, against about 30% for the coyote. The hardest one decides how many days you need.

Q: How do you complete Desert Southwest on Wallace's Line?

Mark them as seen. Tick ✓ Seen on each animal's card, add your trips, or link your iNaturalist account. Your passport counts Desert Southwest three ways: anywhere in the world, all in one park, and all in a single trip.

The checklist: 4 animals

LC

Geococcyx californianus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

LC

Canis latrans

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

LC

Pecari tajacu

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

NT

Heloderma suspectum

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Where to go

Chance of seeing in

Month by month at Saguaro National Park

<5%

Jan

<5%

Feb

~10%

Mar

~10%

Apr

~10%

May

~10%

Jun

~10%

Jul

~10%

Aug

~10%

Sep

~10%

Oct

~10%

Nov

<5%

Dec

Time of day

Where they are recorded most Parks with some of them Cities with some of them

Parks

#	Park	Country	Animals	All 4 in 3 days
1	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~10%
	Greater Roadrunner			~50%
	Coyote			~70%
	Collared Peccary			~70%
	Gila Monster			~50%
2	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~90%
	Coyote			~80%
	Collared Peccary			~80%
3	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~30%
	Coyote			>90%
4	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
	Collared Peccary			>90%
5	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4	Missing: Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~30%
	Coyote			~90%
6	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~30%
	Coyote			~70%
7	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
	Collared Peccary			~40%
8	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
	Collared Peccary			~50%
9	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
	Collared Peccary			~40%
10	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
	Collared Peccary			~40%
11	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
	Collared Peccary			~20%
12	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~90%
13	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~90%
14	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~90%
15	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~90%
16	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~80%
17	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~80%
18	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~70%
19	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~70%
20	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~70%
21	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~70%
22	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~70%
23	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~70%
24	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~60%
25	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
26	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~60%
27	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~60%
28	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~60%
29	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
30	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~60%
31	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
32	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: Coyote, Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~50%
33	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
34	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~40%
35	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~40%
36	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
37	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
38	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
39	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~40%
40	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
41	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
42	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
43	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
44	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
45	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
46	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~30%
47	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~30%
48	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
49	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~30%
50	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~30%
51	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
52	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~20%
53	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
54	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Coyote, Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~20%
55	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%

Cities

#	City	Country	Animals	All 4 in 3 days
1	Phoenix	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~20%
	Coyote			~60%
	Collared Peccary			~30%
2	Mesa	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~30%
	Coyote			~50%
	Collared Peccary			~30%
3	Las Vegas	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Javelina, Gila monster
	Greater Roadrunner			~40%
	Coyote			~40%
4	Monterrey	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Gila monster
	Coyote			~30%
	Collared Peccary			~30%
5	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
6	Sacramento	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
7	San Francisco	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
8	Los Angeles	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
9	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~60%
10	Minneapolis [Saint Paul]	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
11	Denver	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
12	Vancouver	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
13	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
14	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
15	Seattle	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
16	Portland	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
17	Austin	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
18	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~50%
19	San Antonio	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
20	Dallas	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
21	San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~40%
22	Detroit	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
23	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
24	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
25	San José	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
26	Washington	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
27	Orlando	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
28	Houston	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
29	Baltimore	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Javelina, Gila monster
	Coyote			~20%
30	São Paulo	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 4	Missing: Roadrunner, Coyote, Gila monster
	Collared Peccary			~20%

Zoos & centres

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4 in captivity
2	Phoenix Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4 in captivity
3	Africam Safari	🇲🇽 Mexico	3 of 4 in captivity
4	Bear Country USA	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4 in captivity
5	Burgers' Ocean	🇳🇱 Netherlands	3 of 4 in captivity
6	Ecological Center of Sonora	🇲🇽 Mexico	3 of 4 in captivity
7	Living Desert Zoo and Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4 in captivity
8	Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4 in captivity
9	Orange County Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4 in captivity
10	Queens Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4 in captivity
11	North Carolina Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
12	Zoo Pilsen	🇨🇿 Czechia	2 of 4 in captivity
13	Adelaide Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 4 in captivity
14	Aquarium Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	2 of 4 in captivity
15	Bearizona	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
16	Brookfield Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
17	California Living Museum	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
18	Cameron Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
19	Chapultepec Zoo	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4 in captivity
20	Dallas Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity

Show all 20 Show fewer

Before you go

Where is the best place to see Desert Southwest?

Saguaro National Park

In Saguaro National Park, United States, the chance of seeing all 4 (roadrunner, coyote, javelina and gila monster) on the same day is under 5%, the highest of the 1 park where all of them live, and over a three-day visit it rises to about 10%. It multiplies each animal's daily chance, as if they were independent, so read it as a rough guide.

Which of Desert Southwest is hardest to see?

Roadrunner

In Saguaro National Park, the best park for Desert Southwest, about about 20% of wildlife watchers report the roadrunner on a given day, against about 30% for the coyote. The hardest one decides how many days you need.

How do you complete Desert Southwest on Wallace's Line?

Mark them as seen

Tick ✓ Seen on each animal's card, add your trips, or link your iNaturalist account. Your passport counts Desert Southwest three ways: anywhere in the world, all in one park, and all in a single trip.

← All challenges

Desert Southwest

The checklist: 4 animals

Greater Roadrunner

Coyote

Collared Peccary

Gila Monster

Where to go

Month by month at Saguaro National Park

Month by month at Saguaro National Park

Month by month at Saguaro National Park

Month by month at Big Bend National Park

Month by month at Big Bend National Park

Month by month at Big Bend National Park

Time of day

Parks

Cities

Zoos & centres

Before you go

Where is the best place to see Desert Southwest?

Which of Desert Southwest is hardest to see?

How do you complete Desert Southwest on Wallace's Line?