So I'm going to be in Yellowstone the better part of next week and am wondering if anyone has some advice for some "have to visit areas/times". I'll be coming in the east entrance and will work my way along the lake and down to the GC of the Yellowstone. Since the Dunraven pass road to Tower Junction won't be opened yet I'll have to backtrack to get over to the mammoth and Lamar valley areas. Plan to spend at least three full days in the park visiting prime wildlife areas in the mornings and evenings while photographing thermal features in the middle part of the day. Is that the smartest way to schedule our time to achieve the best photo possibilities? Will be staying each night just outside the park (first night in Gardiner and the next two in West Yellowstone then going to Jackson). Not asking for anyone to divulge family secrets here but would love some advice for some special spots. It's been 21 years since my last visit so needless to say I'm pumped.
John, I have an interactive online map that shows some of the most reliable spots for different wildlife species. Maybe it'll give you some ideas. You can view that here.
The best wildlife spots are in the north and eastern quadrants, making it difficult to split days with thermal viewing in between (since so many of the thermals are in the SW corner). West Yellowstone is not a great base for wildlife exploration since it's a bit far from these areas... you'll want to get a very early start if wildlife is your goal on those mornings.
Lately there have been wolf, black bear and moose sightings between Mammoth and the NE entrance, while grizzlies are popping up close to the road anywhere between Mammoth on down south to Norris, and also between Hayden Valley and the Lake area.
One good landscape photo op I should mention occurs if you get to Lower Yellowstone Falls around 9:30am on a sunny morning... that's when you get a nice rainbow on the falls.
Feel free to send me an email if you have more questions. I'll be in the park for a few weeks starting Friday evening. Maybe we'll run into each other.
Next week is a great time to visit the park. I live just outside the east entrance and have been in the park 3 days in the last week. There have been grizzlies between Sedge Bay and Lake Butte Overlook as well as near Roaring Mountain where I watched a sow grizzly and 3 cubs on Sunday. Rainy Lake area is usually good for black bear. The alpha female from the Canyon pack has been spotted along the river near Otter Creek. I have a shot of her from May 3rd on my website in the Wolves of Yellowstone gallery that's selling really well. I spent Sunday in the park and saw 8 bears. You've picked a great time to be in the park. It's still fairly cool, so the chances of seeing wildlife are greater than even in June.
Thanks for the great info guys, I really appreciate it. I wanted to be there before the summer crowds arrived.
Max, that's a cool interactive map on your site thanks for the link. How early in the morning should I leave Gardiner to get into the Lamar valley? How long a drive (time wise) is it? Should I start on the west end and work my way east or do it the other way around?
John, thanks for the tip on the ebook. Think I'll be putting it on the wifes ipad.
John, it will take you about an hour to get to the Lamar from Gardiner.
Keep in mind that there are good wildlife areas before you even reach the valley though, so it all depends on whether you specifically want to reach the valley, or you just want to get to a places where you may start seeing more wildlife.
The stretch between Phantom Lake and Tower is traditionally the best area for black bears in the park. There's also been a moose seen near Elk Creek/Petrified Tree lately. After leaving Roosevelt, you'll cross the Lamar River and will drive by the Yellowstone Picnic Area, where one or two foxes are commonly seen and bighorns come and go. There's also black bear activity there.
Then you hit Little America, the wide valley strewn with boulders. Look for grizzlies (usually very high up, but sometimes making their way across the flats), wolves and badgers here. Then you'll hit Slough Creek and the Lamar Canyon. If you drive down the Slough Creek campground road a bit, you'll see some ponds where yellow-headed blackbirds may be staking out territory. Entering the canyon, watch for fox, and peek down to the river in case otters make an appearance.
And then you'll reach the Lamar.
If you do want moose, continue past the Lamar. You may see them anywhere between Round Prairie (the huge round meadow beyond Trout Lake) and Silver Gate outside the NE entrance. It's the best area for moose in the park these days. On your way, keep your eyes peeled for a great gray owl in the meadows. One was frequently seen near the Barronette pullout last year.
Elaine has good suggestions for recent activity further south.
Max, a wealth of good advice. Thanks again for sharing. I know that the park is a mighty big place but who knows perhaps our paths will cross in which case I owe you a cold one!
John, as to the distances, it's over an hour from Mammoth to either the Lamar or Old Faithful at park speed limits and assuming no "critter jams" so your tentative schedule will mean lots of driving. If you're in Gardner during the day (9-5 this month), stop in at the Yellowstone Association store just before you get to the Roosevelt gate. They keep an updated map on critter sightings from the previous two days. Current sunrise is about 6 AM, which means leaving Gardner by 5 if you want to catch sunrise in the Lamar. From West Yellowstone, add another 1.25-1.5 hours to that drive. Sunset is about 8:45. I was at Norris for sunset last night and the last "cloud color" disappeared around 9 but the horizon was still glowing nicely when I left at 9:10.
Discussion
8 repliesThe best wildlife spots are in the north and eastern quadrants, making it difficult to split days with thermal viewing in between (since so many of the thermals are in the SW corner). West Yellowstone is not a great base for wildlife exploration since it's a bit far from these areas... you'll want to get a very early start if wildlife is your goal on those mornings.
Lately there have been wolf, black bear and moose sightings between Mammoth and the NE entrance, while grizzlies are popping up close to the road anywhere between Mammoth on down south to Norris, and also between Hayden Valley and the Lake area.
One good landscape photo op I should mention occurs if you get to Lower Yellowstone Falls around 9:30am on a sunny morning... that's when you get a nice rainbow on the falls.
Feel free to send me an email if you have more questions. I'll be in the park for a few weeks starting Friday evening. Maybe we'll run into each other.
Max
Max, that's a cool interactive map on your site thanks for the link. How early in the morning should I leave Gardiner to get into the Lamar valley? How long a drive (time wise) is it? Should I start on the west end and work my way east or do it the other way around?
John, thanks for the tip on the ebook. Think I'll be putting it on the wifes ipad.
Keep in mind that there are good wildlife areas before you even reach the valley though, so it all depends on whether you specifically want to reach the valley, or you just want to get to a places where you may start seeing more wildlife.
The stretch between Phantom Lake and Tower is traditionally the best area for black bears in the park. There's also been a moose seen near Elk Creek/Petrified Tree lately. After leaving Roosevelt, you'll cross the Lamar River and will drive by the Yellowstone Picnic Area, where one or two foxes are commonly seen and bighorns come and go. There's also black bear activity there.
Then you hit Little America, the wide valley strewn with boulders. Look for grizzlies (usually very high up, but sometimes making their way across the flats), wolves and badgers here. Then you'll hit Slough Creek and the Lamar Canyon. If you drive down the Slough Creek campground road a bit, you'll see some ponds where yellow-headed blackbirds may be staking out territory. Entering the canyon, watch for fox, and peek down to the river in case otters make an appearance.
And then you'll reach the Lamar.
If you do want moose, continue past the Lamar. You may see them anywhere between Round Prairie (the huge round meadow beyond Trout Lake) and Silver Gate outside the NE entrance. It's the best area for moose in the park these days. On your way, keep your eyes peeled for a great gray owl in the meadows. One was frequently seen near the Barronette pullout last year.
Elaine has good suggestions for recent activity further south.
Max
John