Lamar Valley from West Yellowstone is over a 2 hour drive one way. There are plenty of sights along the way, but the trip makes for a long day. In the past we’ve stayed in Gardiner, which is the north entrance and so much closer. The Park Headquarters, provisions, and a restaurant are located in Mammoth. In 1872, Yellowstone became our first National Park. Lamar Valley is where there are huge herds of bison. Sometimes wolves and grizzly can be seen, but to the naked eye, they are usually just specs in the distance.
Norris Geyser Basin
Near Norris is Terrace Spring. Seems like hardly anyone stops here, but it’s beautiful nonetheless! Sunrise colors on the steam coming off Terrace Spring.
Gibbon Falls is a popular stop, if not to get out of the car and stretch.
Beryl Spring is the next stop headed north. In the morning, the steam can obscure driving visibility as you cross the bridge to the right of it.
The Artists Paintpots are a nice walk around bubbling mud pots.
The Norris Geyser Basin has a nice boardwalk around the numerous geothermal features.
A little north of Norris are open fields with deer and an occasional bison.
Frost covered fields in the early morning.
We came across at least 6 river otters in the Sulfatra Creek. They are usually seen at dusk or dawn. These river otters can grow up to 4 feet in length and weigh up to 33 pounds. They were playful, not shy, and swam right up to us. Unfortunately, the sun was just rising, so the photos are marginal, but we were very fortunate to even see them.
Mammoth Hot Springs-Gateway to Lamar Valley
A very scenic drive into Mammoth Hot Springs.
Towards the end of our stay, the fall colors were at their peak.
There always seems to be resident elk around the Park Headquarters. These two were walking though the geothermal pools. They are majestic creatures.
There are boardwalks to see the numerous sites at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley is a wide expansive valley where the Lamar River runs through it. It’s home to bison, elk, wolves, coyotes, moose, and grizzly. Best animal viewing is at dusk or dawn, but there is something to see all day.
It snowed one of the days we were there, leaving a dusting on the mountains.
Undine Falls are off the road headed toward Lamar Valley.
There are enormous herds of bison throughout Lamar Valley. Traffic is frequently blocked as the buffalo cross the road.
Sometimes in the distance we caught a glimpse of antelope. Their white butts give them away.
Wolves were seen every time we were in Lamar Valley, but they were usually hundreds of yards away, and always near a herd of bison. Occasionally, one would get about 100 yards away, good enough for a photo.
Deer and bighorn sheep were in the area too, but we also enjoyed the aspen groves.
Even though we saw numerous hawks and bald eagles, only this one was close enough to get an image.
Northeast Entrance Lamar Valley
The drive to the northeast entrance is scenic and more rugged compared to the Lamar valley. Along the way we came across a bull moose with a few cows. Such a treat. A younger bull moose was interested in the cows, but the mature one would have nothing to do with him and chased him away a couple of times.
