Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park is a prime location to spot large mammals and other wildlife in the park.
Yellowstone National Park
45-90 Minutes
Summer
~$35 per Vehicle
Overview
Lamar Valley is known for spotting wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. Every time we’ve been to the park in the summer, there have been herds of buffalo in the meadows. The wildlife is especially active around sunrise and sunset.
Pronghorn running on the road
Coyote in the hills
Lamar Valley Plan
The first time we went to Yellowstone National Park was with my parents. My mom loves looking at wildlife, so we planned to stay in Cooke City near the northeast entrance road since that’s closest to Lamar Valley. When we researched the area and wildlife, most things said Lamar Valley is known for its abundant wildlife, often referred to as the “Serengeti of North America”.
Herds of buffalo
Herds of buffalo
Getting There
Location
Yellowstone National Park spans three states, with the vast majority of the park in the northwest corner of Wyoming and a small bit crossing over into Idaho and Montana. Even though we have stayed just outside of the northern border on both visits to the park, we prefer to fly to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC), and enter the park through the south entrance after spending time in Grand Teton National Park. Otherwise, if you want to fly somewhere on the north side, we have found Billings, Montana (BIL), to be the closest major airport.
Best Time to Go
Typically, the summer months are the busiest time in Yellowstone National Park because all of the roads are open. If you are entering from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, or the Northeast Entrance in Silver Gate, Montana, then the road between the two cities stays open even in the winter seasons.
Lamar Valley
Buffalo calf
Lamar Valley
Who Can Go?
Lamar Valley is one of the best places to view wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. Most of the valley can be viewed from the vehicle and at various roadside pull-outs. There are a few trails on the north side of the road, but the diverse wildlife stays on the south side near the Lamar River.
What You'll See
The wide valleys that make up Lamar Valley offer an excellent opportunity to see wildlife such as bison, pronghorn antelope, elk, and wolves. The area is also known for birdwatching with species such as bald eagles, hawks, and osprey often visible. On the north side of the road, as the valley leads to the mountains, you can often see grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, and coyotes.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley
What to Bring & Wear
If you plan to stay in the vehicle or only get out at the roadside stops, then you don’t need to bring much with you except some water and snacks for the car ride. Don’t forget a camera with a large zoom lens so you can take photos of the wildlife without getting too close.
Where to Go
From the Northeast Entrance, Lamar Valley is quickly visible as you enter the park. If you are coming through any other entrance, you want to make your way to Tower Junction which is the gateway to Lamar Valley.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley
How Long Does it Take?
Driving from Tower Junction to the Northeast Entrance takes about 45 minutes without any stops. It worked well for us to stay outside of the Northeast Entrance because it meant we drove through Lamar Valley on our way out of the park each time on our multi-day tour of Yellowstone National Park.
Cost
There is no cost to enter Lamar Valley in particular, but you will have to pay the entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park when you come into the park.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley
Tips for Lamar Valley
- For the best chance at seeing wildlife, plan to drive through Lamar Valley in the early morning or near sunset.
- Another good place to view wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is at Hayden Valley which is along the Yellowstone River closer to the center of the park.
- While in the Lamar area, consider hikes such as Trout Lake Trail, Pebble Creek Trail, or Baronette Ski Trail which all venture into the northern range.