Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

Many people know Yellowstone National Park for Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Prismatic Spring. Did you know that some of the most abundant wildlife in Wyoming lurks between these iconic natural features?

Yellowstone National Park is a great place to see species that rarely live elsewhere, like the gray wolf and grizzly bears! Wildlife thrives in the 3,437 square miles of wilderness that make up Yellowstone, the United States’ first national park.

We’ll give you insider tips on the best time and best places to catch sight of some of the most elusive wildlife in Yellowstone. If you want your best chance to see a wolf pack, we’re here to help! Make sure you grab one of our Yellowstone National Park itineraries to plan your perfect trip.

Podcast Episode Overview

The wildlife in this park is incredible. It’s the North American Safari! Join us as we explore the top spots in Yellowstone to see wildlife, with a sprinkle of wildlife-themed dad jokes along the way!

In this episode, we discuss:

The unmatched spot in this park to see the best wildlife
Where to find the most buffalo
The best spots to see wolves
Our favorite places to see grizzly bears
The one place to go if you want to see some elk
The different types of birds you can see in the park
Where to see the fastest animals in North America
The best times of year to see these animals

We hope you enjoy hearing about the wildlife in Yellowstone. This park is packed full of amazing wildlife, and we hope you get the chance to see it this year!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

The top three places to see the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park

Lamar Valley

Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley is the best place for wildlife viewing, but most visitors don’t make it all the way to the Lamar Valley. It’s in the northeastern corner of the park, making it more remote. It’s absolutely worth the trip.

This area of the park snakes around the Lamar River and is one of the largest expanses of grassland you’ll find in Yellowstone.

Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is like a smaller version of Lamar Valley, which is why we rank it as the second-best place to see wildlife. It’s located just south of Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, so it’s a highly visited area.

Madison River

Madison River between Madison Junction and West Yellowstone is the third best place to see wildlife. We consistently see wildlife when we drive into the park from the west entrance toward Madison Junction. Madison River itself is an excellent spot for fly-fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish.

The wildlife of Yellowstone you can expect to see

Our number one tip for viewing wildlife in Yellowstone is to stay safe! Always stay a safe distance from bears, buffalo, wolves, elk, and any other wildlife you may encounter in the park.

The National Park Service recommends you always “remain at least 100 yards (91 meters) from bears or wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 meters) from all other wildlife.” Wildlife safety is critical to having the best time on your trip!

Bison

You will see bison everywhere in Yellowstone! Nothing is cuter than a newborn baby bison still in their orange fur in the spring and summer.

Have you ever heard of a bison jam before? No, it’s not a nice jam you can pick up in one of the visitor centers. It’s a traffic jam when large herds of bison block the road. When you get stuck in one of these unique jams, roll down your window and listen to the sounds of the herd growling and gruffing.

Lamar Valley is our favorite place to go to see large herds of bison. You will often also catch them crossing the river in the Hayden Valley.

The Madison River is another good place to see one or two bison on their own.

Bison also often hang out around Midway Geyser Basin and Fountain Flat Drive, so we’ll drive those areas as well if we’re hoping to spot something near the geyser basins.

Gray Wolves

Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley is the best place to see a gray wolf. After becoming endangered, the gray wolf was reintroduced to their natural habitat in the park in 1995. Today, there are 141 wolves in Yellowstone across ten packs.

One wolf pack lives near Slough Creek in Lamar Valley. We’ve seen lone wolves near the Yellowstone Institute. Pack your spotting scope and telephoto lens if you want to see the wolves up close! Winter is a great time to see wolves because it makes seeing their movement against the snow easier.

There are wolves in Hayden Valley, though we’ve never had luck seeing them there. Let us know if you see wolves in Hayden Valley!

Grizzly Bears

Lamar Valley really is the place to be if you want to see wildlife! We have seen grizzlies between Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs. You can’t camp at Fishing Bridge if you don’t have a hard-sided trailer to prevent grizzly bears from learning humans are a food source.

Most grizzly bears tend to live between the northeastern corner of the park and the southeastern corner. Grizzly bears and black bears are common sights in Yellowstone.

Currently, 965 grizzlies live in the Greater Yellowstone Area. As long as you practice wildlife safety by keeping your distance, carrying bear spray, making noise, and storing your food in an approved container. Check out our posts on what to do if you see a bear and preventing bear encounters so you’re prepared before you travel.

Elk

Mammoth Hot Springs is the place to be if you want to see elk.

The best time of year to see elk is during mating season in the fall months, otherwise known as the rut. Big bull elk will bugle for all to hear. This is easily one of Ash’s favorite sounds to hear in nature!

Early morning and sunset are the best time of day to see and hear elk during the fall rut; however, the town of Gardiner through the north entrance is often filled with elk!

On our hikes, we’ve also seen elk near the Madison River, Hayden Valley, and Grand Prismatic Spring!

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep love to climb, so you’ll have to climb to see them. We’ve seen bighorn sheep at higher elevations in Lamar Valley near Tower Junction and in the rocky areas driving to Gardiner.

Bighorn sheep are one of the more challenging wildlife species to find in Yellowstone. Staying at lower elevations during your trip may mean missing out on the bighorn sheep.

Moose

There are less than 200 moose in Yellowstone. Their ability to conceal themselves makes it hard for even the National Park Service to get an accurate count.

If you want to see moose, head to Grand Teton National Park instead! Use our Grand Teton National Park itinerary to plan your hikes to see moose.

Birds

Around 300 species of birds have been documented in Yellowstone, and 150 bird species nest in the park. Bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and great blue herons are found throughout the park.

We’ve had great luck in Hayden Valley following the Yellowstone River as it flows into Yellowstone Lake. Le Hardy Rapids Picnic Area is an excellent spot to stop and look for birds around the river.

Pronghorn

Pronghorn are the fastest land animals in North America, running up to 60 miles per hour! They’re commonly mistaken for antelope, but they’re a different species that evolved independently. The term “pronghorn antelope,” you’ll often hear them called, came about during the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

You’ll know you’re looking at a pronghorn when you see their white behinds and pronged horns (hence the name!). Don’t mistake them for white-tailed deer!

The Lamar Valley is a great place to see pronghorn. Driving between Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs, you’ll notice drier areas, and you may see small herds or lone male pronghorns in those areas.

Timing your visit

Each day during your visit, your best bet is to see wildlife in the early morning and late evening.

May is the best time of year to see baby animals.

September into early October is perfect for catching the fall rut for elk and bison.

Winter is the best time of year to see wolves.

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Have you had a wildlife encounter in Yellowstone? Tell us about it! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Podcast minute markers for trip planning

Top three places to see wildlife in Yellowstone (8:07)
Bison (11:37)
Gray Wolves (15:17)
Grizzly Bears (18:13)
Elk (22:26)
Bighorn Sheep (25:03)
Moose (25:58)
Birds (26:50)
Pronghorn (29:20)
Timing your visit (32:29)

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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