Lamar Valley
The broad grassland valley in Yellowstone's northeast corner holds some of the largest wild bison and elk herds in North America - and is one of the best places
Natural Attraction
The broad grassland valley in Yellowstone's northeast corner holds some of the largest wild bison and elk herds in North America - and is one of the best places in the world to watch wolves.
Getting there & parking
- How To Get There
- From the North Entrance at Gardiner, drive through Mammoth to Tower Junction, then east into the valley. From the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City the valley begins almost immediately.
- Parking Availability
- Roadside pullouts only; dawn wolf-watching spots fill first.
When to go
- Best Time To Visit
- The first and last hours of daylight, in any season. Winter concentrates wildlife on the northern range and the road stays open.
- Seasonal Access
- Open to cars year-round via the Gardiner-Cooke City road - the only park road that stays open all winter.
What you will experience
- Attraction Type
- Wildlife Valley
- Main Features
- Open grassland along the Lamar River; roadside pullouts for wildlife viewing; access to Slough Creek and Trout Lake; the year-round road between Gardiner and Cooke City.
- What Youll See
- Elk, bison, deer, and pronghorn thrive in the grasslands, alongside wolves, coyotes, and the occasional bobcat, cougar, or red fox. The northern range hosts some of the largest wild herds of bison and elk in North America.
- Unique Characteristics
- One of the best places in the world to watch wolves, a distinction dating to the 1995-1997 reintroduction. The valley sits on the only park road open to cars year-round, so winter wildlife watching is possible without a snowcoach.
- Photo Opportunities
- Bison herds against the Absaroka backdrop; long-lens wolf and coyote work at dawn; winter frost scenes.
- Best Viewpoints
- Signed pullouts along the valley road - never the road itself. Spotting-scope groups cluster at dawn where wolves have been active.
- Common Wildlife
- Bison, elk, pronghorn, deer, wolves, coyotes, bears.
- Best Wildlife Times
- Dawn and dusk, year-round.
Facilities, fees & access
- Cell Service
- None through most of the valley.
- Accessibility Level
- Viewing is from roadside pullouts; no boardwalks required.
Safety
- Safety Considerations
- Bison and elk have injured people - keep 25 yards minimum. Never approach or feed any animal. Carry bear spray if you leave your vehicle.
Planning advice
- Tips Advice
- Arrive before sunrise for wolves; bring binoculars or a spotting scope - most sightings are distant
- Park fully inside pullouts; traffic accidents are the park's most common cause of injury
- Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from bison and elk
- Cell service is essentially absent - download maps before driving out
More details
- Park Area
- Northeast - Northern Range
More at Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring
Rainbow rim of a hot spring; colors arise from thermophiles in Yellowstone's volcanic system.
Yellowstone Lake
Caldera lake tilted by resurgent domes; hydrothermal vents dot the lakebed.
Lake Butte Overlook
Panoramic view of Yellowstone Lake from the caldera rim; distant Tetons on clear days.
Artist Point
Lower Falls overlook; canyon walls colored by hydrothermal alteration of rhyolite.
Gibbon River
84 ft Gibbon Falls; river through hydrothermal basins along Grand Loop Road.
Gibbon Falls
84-foot cascade over an ancient Yellowstone lava flow; drive-up overlook with a wheelchair-friendly path.
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Sources
- YourNPGuide Editorial
Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.
Last updated August 2026. Report an issue.