Lamar Valley
A broad valley known as the 'Serengeti of North America,' home to hundreds of bison and the best place in the world to watch wild grey wolves.
Lamar Valley lies in the northeast corner of Yellowstone. It stretches about 30 km along the Lamar River, a broad grassland valley between Tower-Roosevelt and the Northeast Entrance. Snow here is light in winter, so it is a wintering and calving ground for bison, elk and pronghorn. In summer, hundreds to thousands of bison wander and roll in the valley. Bulls bellow and face off during the rutting season in July and August. The hillsides are also home to grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, bald eagles and bighorn sheep. In 1995, 31 grey wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone from Canada. Since then, several wolf packs in Lamar Valley have become the world's textbook examples for studying and observing wild wolves. Early in the morning you will often see wolf watchers with long-lens telescopes by the roadside. Stopping where they are can be rewarding. The best way to visit is to drive slowly around sunrise and dusk. The speed limit is 45 mph, and there are many pullouts along the way. Bring 8x to 10x binoculars or a telephoto lens. The Slough Creek and Lamar River trails are good for short hikes, but you must carry bear spray.
Be patient when bison cross the road. Do not honk, get out of the car or approach them. Bison cause more injuries each year than bears. The road from the North Entrance to Cooke City at the Northeast Entrance is open all year, and in winter you can drive in to see wolves. Accommodation nearby is limited, so stay in Gardiner or Cooke City. It is about an hour from Mammoth.
Opening hours
Open all day (road open year-round)
Nearby sights
- Tower Fall
- Mount Washburn
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Mud Volcano & Dragon's Mouth Spring
- Hayden Valley
- Yellowstone Lake
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Norris Geyser Basin