Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park , also known as America's Serengeti, is without a doubt one of the best places in the world to watch wildlife. It is a place where nature has been allowed to return as it was before human interaction and has become a true refuge for wildlife.
Here are my top finds for Gardiner, Montana (North Entrance of Yellowstone)
🏨Hotels/Lodges: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (inside the park)
📍Tours: Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour, Guided Yellowstone Wildlife Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Lamar Valley - Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley is the place to go for wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. This area is often called the American Serengeti because of all the large wildlife you can see during a visit. You can go on a wildlife safari as you explore Lamar Valley.
Yellowstone Wildlife viewing includes elk, bison, wolves, grizzly bears, Black Bears, Bighorn Sheep, fox, deer, moose, and pronghorn antelope. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled along the Yellowstone River and Lamar River for bald eagles, ospreys and waterfowl.
Where is Lamar Valley?
Lamar Valley is located in the Northeast corner of the park between Tower Roosevelt Junction to the northeast entrance road at Cooke City, Montana. It is also the only portion of the park with year-round access as it is the only access for the northeast gateway cities of Cooke City (Originally called Shoo Fly) and Silver Gate.
The only way for the citizens of these towns to get out each winter is to drive through Lamar Valley and then out through the Northern Gateway city of Gardiner. From Gardiner, take highway 89 to Interstate 90 and Livingston.
Why is Lamar Valley considered America's Serengeti?
The high concentration of wildlife in the valley is due to animals having everything they need for a great life (food, water, shelter).
The rivers provide water, forested areas for protection, and ample food sources. Along the road, you can expect to see bison, bears, pronghorn antelope, and if you are lucky Yellowstone wolves.
Where can you see Lamar Valley Wolves?
The Junction Butte and Lamar Canyon wolf packs can be found in the valley. It is not uncommon to see people lining the roads with spotting scopes and gigantic camera lenses watching for wolves.
The most famous wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is probably the Yellowstone Wolves. They are loved, hated, and feared all at the same time depending on who you talk with.
Many visitors will spend hours waiting and hoping to see a wolf in Yellowstone.
During our last trip to Yellowstone, we lucked out and were finally able to see our first wolf in the park. A bison was killed from a rut injury and passed away just off the main road through Lamar Valley. We spent hours waiting and hoping to see a wolf.
We arrived at 5:30 am so we were there for sunrise. Seeing a wolf in the wild has been on my National Park Bucket List for a very long time and I was going to be there if one showed up!
All I can say is that it was an awe-inspiring moment watching the wolf crest the hill and walk down towards the bison. One part awe and one part of oh my what are we about to see all happened at the same time.
I will put out the warning that if you are hoping to see a wolf and are traveling with kids, you will want to have the conversation ahead of time about wolves preying on other animals for food.
While we were watching the wolf on the bison, there were a few kids that were not prepared for seeing the natural cycle of life and began crying and wanting it to stop.
Tips for seeing Yellowstone Wolves
A lot of people congregate on the road leading to the Slough Creek Campground in hopes of seeing Yellowstone Wolves.
It is not uncommon for people to spend hours a day waiting and watching for the wolf pack.
If you plan to spot wolves in Yellowstone you will want to be prepared with binoculars or a spotting scope.
Be prepared to arrive before sunrise to claim a spot in this busy area.
We also brought a camp chair and blanket as we were there for several hours.
Best time to see wildlife?
The best time to see wildlife is early morning or late evening. If you can, make sure to set your alarm and get to Lamar Valley before or near sunrise.
Animals are most active during the cooler temperatures of the day. This is also when there are fewer people in the area for wildlife to contend with.
While wildlife is prevalent through Lamar Valley you will want to plan ahead to get the best opportunity to see wildlife.
Things to bring with you
Binoculars - Avalon Optics 10×42 PRO HD Binoculars
You can buy cheaper binoculars but these are really good for wildlife viewing as the 10x magnification allows you to have a focal length from 10 yards to a thousand yards. I like these because of their clarity, lets in a good amount of light, and is waterproof and fog proof.
Spotting Scope - I have not personally used a spotting scope in a long time. I think this is primarily because I already have binoculars and a lot of camera equipment. I know you can get spotting scopes now with camera and cell phone attachments but again I don't personally know much about them.
Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR Camera Body.
This is my go-to camera base and I have been using a Canon Mark 5 body for years.
Telephoto Lens - We shoot with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
This has been my go-to camera lens for shooting wildlife. I have to admit that I had difficulties shooting the wolf as it was quite a ways out. (Wolves like their space), I think that I am going to research renting a larger lens for my next trip as the lens I want to try is well, over 10k!
Yellowstone Wildlife Pocket Guide - These are great especially for kids to be able to identify the wildlife they are seeing.
Wildlife Safety
It is time for me to put on my flat hat and have a bit of a ranger talk about wildlife safety!
PLEASE remember that even with millions of visitors the animals in Yellowstone are STILL WILD!!!
This means keep your distance of at least 25 yards, except for Wolves, bison, and Bears where you should stay at a minimum of 100 yards away. If you plan on spending time around animals, make sure you can tell their warning signs as most will give you hints that they are not happy before charging.
Remember, an adult male Bison can weigh well over 2,000 pounds which is equivalent to the same weight as a 2016 Chevy Spark (yes a car!) and they can run up to 35 mph. The fastest recorded human was 23 mph!
Lamar Valley Travel Tips
Plan to spend a minimum of a few hours exploring Lamar Valley.
There is no lodging or services in Lamar Valley so you will want to have water and snacks packed with you.
There are a few bathrooms along the road but this is definitely an area that you will want to use a restroom when you see it. There is a possibility of being stuck in a bison jam and not being able to reach a bathroom for a while.
If you park on the side of the road make sure your entire vehicle is past the white lines. This will help hopefully prevent someone from running into you or your car.
Look for groups of people with large camera lenses and spotting scopes. This is a great indicator that wildlife is nearby or has been seen.
Best Yellowstone National Park Tours & Activities
Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Stars (208+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🥾🦬 Check Rates and Availability
Take a guided small-group hike into the Lamar Valley is the wildlife-watching experience that serious Yellowstone visitors come back for year after year. Often called America's Serengeti, Lamar Valley is the best place in the park to spot bison herds, pronghorn, coyotes, badgers, wolves, and grizzly bears, and having an expert guide from Yellowstone Hiking Guides on your side dramatically increases what you see and understand. Guides consistentaly earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of animal behavior, their ability to navigate around bison safely, and their genuine passion for the park. A packed lunch including sandwich, fruit, nuts, and snacks is provided, along with bear spray, binoculars, and trekking poles.
Montana Whitewater Rafting on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner
⭐️ Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars (381+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚣🏔️ Check Rates and Availability
This is by far the most popular non-park tour among visitors staying in Gardiner at the North Entrance. The Yellowstone River runs right through town, and this half-day whitewater rafting trip on Class I to III rapids is a perfect complement to a full day inside the park, giving guests an exciting, active afternoon on the river without sacrificing a full day of sightseeing.
Guided Yellowstone Wildlife Tour from Gardiner
⭐️ Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars (107+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours | 🔭🐺 Check Rates and Availability
This wildlife-focused guided day tour departs from Gardiner at Yellowstone's famous Roosevelt Arch entrance and takes small groups through both Hayden and Lamar Valleys with a professional wildlife guide who uses inter-guide communication to track animal locations in real time across the park. Guides earn extraordinary reviews for finding wolves, grizzlies, and other wildlife that most self-guided visitors never spot, with one reviewer noting their guide located 10 grizzlies and 5 wolves in a single day. The guide provides a spotting scope, binoculars, and deep commentary on animal behavior, ecology, and Yellowstone's geology throughout the day. A genuinely different and more focused experience than the van sightseeing tours, built for travelers who want maximum wildlife encounters.
Click here to find more great Yellowstone National Park Tours.
Nearby Attractions to Lamar Valley
🌡️ Drive west to Mammoth Hot Springs to walk the extraordinary travertine terrace boardwalks, where superheated water deposits calcium carbonate in cascading formations of white, gold, and rust that change appearance day by day
🚗 Take the Blacktail Plateau Drive, a one-way unpaved road through open sagebrush and forest that is one of the best kept secrets in the park for wildlife watching away from the main highway
🌲 Stop at the Petrified Tree, a remarkably preserved ancient redwood turned to stone by volcanic activity millions of years ago, standing beside a short roadside pullout near Tower Junction
🌊 View Tower Fall, a dramatic 132-foot cascade plunging through a canyon of volcanic pinnacles into the Yellowstone River gorge below
💧 Drive south to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Upper and Lower Falls, where the Yellowstone River drops 308 feet into a vivid yellow and orange canyon that inspired the park's name
🦬 Continue south to Hayden Valley, one of the largest open meadow corridors in Yellowstone and a premier destination for bison, grizzly bears, coyotes, and sandhill cranes in a broad river valley rivaling Lamar for wildlife abundance
🐻 Watch for grizzly bears on the open hillsides of Dunraven Pass on the road connecting Tower Junction to Canyon Village, one of the most reliable roadside bear viewing corridors in the park
🏔️ Hike Mount Washburn from the Dunraven Pass trailhead for one of the finest summit views in Yellowstone, with the entire park visible from the fire lookout at the top
🏕️ Join the famous Roosevelt Old West Cookout, a beloved Yellowstone tradition where guests ride horseback or take a wagon through the sagebrush to a chuck wagon dinner under the open sky
🐴 Book a guided horseback ride from the Roosevelt Corral, one of the most popular trail riding operations in the national park system
Lodging Options in the Mammoth Hot Springs Area
Lodging options inside the park include
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel has hotel rooms and cabin accommodations. (Cabins are seasonal) and steps away from Mammoth Hot Springs and a great option for exploring Lamar Valley and wildlife viewing.
⭐️ 3.7 of 5 Stars - Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
These Cabin accommodations is the closest lodging in the park you can get to Lamar Valley! Caution, these rooms are hard to get as they are very popular. They also have an Old West Dinner Cookout, offer horseback rides, and Stagecoach Adventures.
Lodging Options in Gardiner include
⭐️ 4.9 of 5 Stars - Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.
One of the most unique places to sleep near any national park in America, a luxury glamping resort featuring 20 individually decorated tipis tucked in the Montana mountains just minutes from Yellowstone's North Entrance!
Each tipi features memory foam beds with down comforters, premium bedding, rainfall showerheads in the private-use bathrooms, eco-friendly toiletries, free WiFi, and a furnished private patio with mountain views. Every evening guests gather around a communal campfire for s'mores, wine, and beer under some of the darkest skies in Montana, and a free continental breakfast with grab-and-go hiking options is served each morning. Additional amenities include BBQ grills, a garden, gift shop, EV charging, concierge services, and free parking. Steps from Gallatin National Forest, the Yellowstone River, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and fly fishing. Pet friendly and open seasonally!
Check out my Yellowstone Lodging Guide for a complete Guide to Yellowstone Lodging options inside America's first national park!
Click this link or the map below for a complete list of hotels and vacation rentals in the Gardiner, Montana Area.
https://www.stay22.com/embed/699ccfc98a014664584ca03dClosest Campground
Check out all of the Yellowstone Campgrounds to help plan your time in the park.
Closest Yellowstone Lodging
Roosevelt Lodge - We haven't had a chance to stay in the Roosevelt Lodge yet. We will update this as soon as we stay there.
Closest Visitor Center
- Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Yellowstone National Park Information
- Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!
- Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!
- Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.
- Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
- Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins
- Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds
Additional Montana National Parks
- Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!
- Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park
- Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.
- Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.
- Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana
Check out all of the Montana National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Wyoming, National Parks in South Dakota, North Dakota National Parks, and Idaho National Parks.
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