Natural Attraction

Lamar Valley

Natural Attraction
A herd of bison grazing on grassy plains beside a meandering river in Yellowstone National Park.

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.

Planning advice

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.
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
Attraction Type
Wildlife Valley
Accessibility Level
Viewing is from roadside pullouts; no boardwalks required.
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.
Seasonal Access
Open to cars year-round via the Gardiner-Cooke City road - the only park road that stays open all winter.
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.
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.
Best Viewpoints
Signed pullouts along the valley road - never the road itself. Spotting-scope groups cluster at dawn where wolves have been active.
Photo Opportunities
Bison herds against the Absaroka backdrop; long-lens wolf and coyote work at dawn; winter frost scenes.
Cell Service
None through most of the valley.
Common Wildlife
Bison, elk, pronghorn, deer, wolves, coyotes, bears.
Best Wildlife Times
Dawn and dusk, year-round.

Firehole River

Rhyolite canyon walls frame a geothermal-warmed Firehole River, with Firehole Falls dropping 40 feet.

Slough Creek

Meadow stream, VIP Pool at Lamar confluence; shaped by fluvial erosion and glacial deposition.

Imperial Geyser

Imperial Geyser erupts from a 75×100 ft pool; silica-lined conduits feed vivid runoff mats.

Inspiration Point

Promontory overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone; rhyolite walls reveal millions of years of erosion.

Upper Falls View

Upper Falls, 109 ft drop over rhyolite—river erosion in a hydrothermally altered canyon.

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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.