Lamar Valley: Yellowstone's Wildlife Serengeti

A Long History of Wonder

Lamar Valley's name dates to the 1880s, when geologist Arnold Hague named the Lamar River's east fork after his supervisor, Interior Secretary L.Q.C. Lamar. Long before that, the valley served as a hunting ground for the Crow, Shoshone, and Bannock, who tracked bison herds along what became known as the Bannock Trail. The valley itself was carved by glaciers roughly 21,000 years ago.

Getting There
Distance from Gardiner & North Entrance: 33 miles, 45 minutes–1 hour
Distance from West Yellowstone & West Entrance: 66 miles, 2–2.5 hours

Lamar Valley sits in the northeast corner of Yellowstone, between Tower-Roosevelt Junction and the Northeast Entrance. From the North Entrance at Gardiner, it's the closest gateway, and the drive passes Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt Junction along the way. Just keep an eye out for bison on the road; they don't hurry for anyone.

What You'll See

Often called the "American Serengeti" for its concentration of large mammals, Lamar Valley is Yellowstone's premier spot for viewing bison, elk, pronghorn, and grizzly bears, along with the wolf packs that draw spotting-scope crowds along the roadside most mornings. A few smaller landmarks are worth a stop along the way, including Soda Butte, the remnant cone of an extinct hot spring, and Trout Lake, a short and popular hike just off the road.

Visitor Tips

Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk, so a pre-sunrise arrival is the single best way to improve your odds of seeing wolves or bears — many guided wildlife tours build their whole day around it. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope, since most sightings happen at real distance across the valley floor, and keep well back from any animal near the road — at least 25 yards from bison and elk, 100 yards from bears and wolves. Sudden roadside "wildlife jams" are common, so build extra time into your drive, and fuel up beforehand — there are no gas stations within the valley itself.