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7 Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

Perhaps even more famous than its geysers, is the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Sometimes called the “Serengeti of North America”, Yellowstone is home to an astonishing abundance of wild animals, including many of the continent’s megafauna.

If you want to see bison, grizzlies, wolves, moose and bald eagles—among dozens of other species—in the wild, there’s no better place in the Lower 48 to visit than Yellowstone National Park.

Below, you’ll find all you need to know about wildlife watching in Yellowstone. I’ll talk about the most iconic wildlife you can see at Yellowstone, as well as where to see animals in Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park Wildlife Watching: All You Need to Know

Bison crossing Yellowstone River bridge, Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park

Of course, discussing wildlife safety is important, too, especially concerning the many large mammals that live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which also encompasses nearby Grand Teton National Park.

See the end of this post for tips to safely view Yellowstone wildlife.


This post about the best wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park contains affiliate links. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here.


Which Animals Can You See in Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone wildlife viewing is one of the park’s absolute highlights. In fact, many of its millions of annual visitors come here to see huge herds of bison, imposing grizzly bears, aloof moose and prowling wolf packs.

Other Yellowstone animals you might spot include beavers, river otters, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, pronghorn and black bears.

Check out the most iconic animals that are regularly seen in Yellowstone below, as well as where you have the best chance of spotting them.

American Bison

Bison at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see bison in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • Hayden Valley
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • North Entrance
  • Old Faithful

Beavers

Beaver in Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Neal Herbert
Image credit: NPS / Neal Herbert

Where to see beavers in Yellowstone:

  • Beaver Ponds (north of Mammoth)
  • Willow Park (halfway between Mammoth and Norris)

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see bighorn sheep in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • North Entrance
  • Tower-Roosevelt Area

Black Bears

Black bear on Blacktail Plateau in Yellowstone National Park

Where to see black bears in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • Hayden Valley
  • Yellowstone Lake
  • Tower-Roosevelt Area
  • Mammoth Hot Springs

Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bear in Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see grizzly bears in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • Hayden Valley
  • Fishing Bridge
  • Pelican Valley
  • Yellowstone Lake

Elk

Elk at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see elk in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • Tower-Roosevelt
  • Hayden Valley
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • North Entrance
  • Old Faithful

Moose

Moose in Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Neal Herbert
Image credit: NPS / Neal Herbert

Where to see moose in Yellowstone:

  • Hayden Valley
  • Fishing Bridge
  • Yellowstone Lake
  • West Thumb
  • Willow Park (halfway between Mammoth and Norris)

Pronghorn

Pronghorn in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see pronghorn in Yellowstone:

  • Lamar Valley
  • North Entrance

River Otters

River otter at Lamar River, Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Josh Spice
Image credit: NPS / Josh Spice

Where to see river otters in Yellowstone:

  • Madison River
  • Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley
  • Yellowstone Lake

Wolves

Black wolf in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see wolves in Yellowstone:

  • Hayden Valley
  • Blacktail Deer Plateau
  • Tower-Roosevelt
  • Lamar Valley

Bald Eagles

Bald eagles in Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Jim Peaco
Image credit: NPS / Jim Peaco

Where to see bald eagles in Yellowstone:

  • Madison River
  • Hayden Valley
  • Fishing Bridge
  • Yellowstone Lake

Osprey

Osprey nest near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see osprey in Yellowstone:

  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • North Entrance
  • Tower-Roosevelt
  • Firehole River Valley
  • Yellowstone Lake

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill cranes at Swan Lake, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see sandhill cranes in Yellowstone:

  • Swan Lake
  • Lamar Valley
  • Yellowstone River

Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter swans on Swan Lake, Yellowstone National Park

Where to see trumpeter swans in Yellowstone:

  • Swan Lake
  • Madison River
  • Yellowstone River below Fishing Bridge

White Pelicans

White pelicans on Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Neal Herbert
Image credit: NPS / Neal Herbert

Where to see pelicans in Yellowstone:

  • Pelican Valley
  • Yellowstone River
  • Yellowstone Lake

More About Yellowstone National Park


What Are the Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park?

Although wildlife roams the entire 3,000 square miles (7,500+ square kilometers) of Yellowstone National Park, there are a number of places where they tend to congregate.

From the shores of Yellowstone Lake and the warmth of Old Faithful to the Lamar and Hayden valleys, these are the absolute best places to see Yellowstone National Park wildlife.

1. Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin

Old Faithful Geyser sign, Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park
Bison at Black Sand Basin in the Upper Geyser Basin, one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park

The hydrothermal basins at and around Old Faithful are a critical overwintering habitat for bison and elk.

Both animals live in the area all year. In winter, they come here for the thin—if any—snow cover, warm ground and access to vegetation.

In spring, on the other hand, the bison and elk that didn’t survive winter, known as winter-kill, attract black and grizzly bears to the Old Faithful area.

Especially the Midway and Lower Geyser Basins, a few miles north, are home to many bears in spring. Therefore, (parts of) this area may be closed for bear management in spring. Old Faithful, however, is always open to visitors.

2. Tower-Roosevelt Area

The heart of Yellowstone’s wildlife-rich Northern Range, the Tower-Roosevelt area is characterized by sheer cliffs and rock formations.

This terrain, especially between Tower Junction and Tower Fall, provides the ideal habitat for sure-footed mammals such as bighorn sheep and deer.

Various birds of prey nest and hunt in this area, including peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks and osprey. In spring, both black and grizzly bears are commonly seen here—Tower is one of Yellowstone’s best spots to see black bears.

Just west of Tower Junction, the Blacktail Deer Plateau offers decent chances to see the famous Yellowstone wolves, bears, bison and elk.

3. North Entrance

Just south of Gardiner, Montana, the Yellowstone North Entrance is famous for the iconic Roosevelt Arch. Additionally, the area is also one of the best places in Yellowstone National Park to see a variety of large herbivores.

Elk are abundant here—they are even regular visitors to downtown Gardiner. Other commonly seen animals around the North Entrance include bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Look for osprey on the cliffs just south of the entrance.

4. Mammoth Hot Springs

Elk live in the Mammoth Hot Springs area year-round. Sightings are almost guaranteed, but remember that these are still wild animals, even if they seem accustomed to people.

Year after year, visitors get chased, trapped or injured by elk, particularly in the spring calving season and fall mating season. Bison also occasionally wander into Mammoth Hot Springs, as do black bears.

A few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs, Swan Lake is the (seasonal) home of elk, bison, grizzly bears, wolves, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans.

5. Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake is home to North America’s largest population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Although fishing in no longer allowed there, Fishing Bridge does still offer a great chance to see these trout, as well as other fish. This abundance of fish, of course, attracts many predators to the area.

On the water or in the sky, look for river otters, white pelicans, bald eagles and osprey. On land, watch for black bears, grizzly bears and, sometimes, wolves.

The greater Fishing Bridge area includes the Pelican Valley, which is one of the best places to see grizzlies south of the Canadian border.

Because of this density of grizzly bears, the Fishing Bridge RV Park is Yellowstone’s only campground where tent camping is not allowed—only hard-sided vehicles are allowed.

Additionally, lucky visitors may also see moose on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Look for them along the water’s edge and marshes.

You might also see elk, bears and deer at the amazing West Thumb Geyser Basin.

6. Hayden Valley

Situated halfway between Canyon Village and Lake Village, the Hayden Valley is one of the absolute best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.

Once filled by an arm of vast Yellowstone Lake, this valley is now home to essentially all of the largest Yellowstone mammals.

Vast herds of bison and elk often gather and graze in the Hayden Valley, while pronghorn skip through the marshy grasslands. Moose can occasionally be seen grazing in riparian areas. If you want to see bears in Yellowstone, this is one of the best locations you could go to.

Both blacks and grizzlies are often seen in this area. Wolves roam the Hayden Valley, too. Visit in the early morning or late evening for the best chances to see these imposing predators.

7. Lamar Valley

Bighorn sheep and American bison in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Home to a breathtaking abundance of megafauna, the grasslands of Yellowstone’s Northern Range are often called “North America’s Serengeti.” The entire Lamar Valley is a wildlife paradise and the best place to see numerous iconic Yellowstone animals.

Large herbivores like pronghorn, deer, elk and bison roam the Lamar Valley year-round, often in enormous numbers. In fact, this area is home to some of North America’s largest wild herds of bison and elk.

In winter, they’re a critical food source for several wolf packs, while black and grizzly bears, re-emerged after months of hibernation, feast on winter-kill and prey on newborn calves in spring.

Coyote sightings are quite common as well. Other predators thrive here, too, but are less often seen—they include red foxes, mountain lions and bobcats.

The road across the Lamar Valley, between Tower Junction and Cooke City, just outside the park’s Northeast Entrance, is open throughout the entire year.

It offers truly world-class Yellowstone wildlife viewing opportunities in every season, especially for iconic national park mammals.


Map of the Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

Map of the Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

What Is the Best Time for Yellowstone Wildlife Watching?

You can see wildlife in Yellowstone year-round, but there are a few peak periods throughout the year.

Winter

Wolf pack in Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Jacob W. Frank
Image credit: NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Winter is a great time to see bison and elk in the Northern Range or around the hydrothermal areas, while the Lamar Valley wolves are exceptionally visible in the snow.

In winter, it’s also possible to see red foxes and coyotes hunting in snow-covered meadows, while trumpeter swans hang out in rivers with open water.

Spring

Bison and calf in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Spring is arguably the best season for wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park.

This is when black and grizzly bears emerge from their dens and roam the lower elevations, roadside meadows and valleys, searching for winter-kill and other food sources.

You can find more information about bear hibernation in Yellowstone National Park here.

May is probably the best time to see bears in Yellowstone. Make sure to carry bear spray at all times.

Additionally, spring is also the calving season for all large mammals in Yellowstone. May is when bison and moose are calving in the Lamar Valley and wolf pups emerge from their dens. In late-spring, elk calves can be seen at Mammoth Hot Springs.

You can find an overview of the best spring hikes in Yellowstone National Park here.

Summer

Grizzly bear close to Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

July and August are the peak tourist season in the park, but is, ironically, perhaps the “worst” season to see animals in Yellowstone National Park. That said, however, “worst” in Yellowstone is still significantly better than almost all other places, at any time.

Although bison, pronghorn and other herbivores remain in the Lamar and Hayden valleys—summer is the bison rut—bears move to higher elevations this time of year and are less visible from Yellowstone’s roads.

Fall

Elk at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park - Credit NPS Neal Herbert
Image credit: NPS / Neal Herbert

Come fall, black and grizzly bears descend from the mountains and are, once again, a regular presence in roadside meadows.

September announces the elk rut around Mammoth Hot Springs, which continues through October. The bighorn sheep rut at the North Entrance is from November to December.

Both Yellowstone bear species have denned by the end of November, but this time does kick off the best wolf viewing season in Yellowstone.

In conclusion, spring—especially May through early-June—is the best time to go wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park. This brief period offers everything from wolf pack hunts and grizzly bear sightings to an abundance of bison, elk and moose calves.

You can learn more about seasonal highlights in Yellowstone National Park on the park’s website.

Grizzly bear at Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Wildlife Watching Safety Tips

Many visitors might consider grizzly bears to be the most terrifying wild animal in Yellowstone, but, in general, more people are injured by bison and moose.

Always remember that all Yellowstone wildlife is, in fact, wild and unpredictable.

Here are some basic tips to safely observe wildlife in Yellowstone, which will keep both yourself and the animals unharmed:

  • Never approach wild animals or follow them.
  • If an animal approaches you, back away slowly to keep a safe distance.
  • Use binoculars, a spotting scope or telephoto lens to view or photograph Yellowstone wildlife.
  • As a general rule of thumb, if an animal reacts to your presence, you’re too close. Move away.
  • When possible, hike in groups of at least 3 people.
  • Stay inside or close to your car when observing black or grizzly bears.
  • You must stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from all other animals, including birds.

Additionally, you can find more detailed information about how to behave during encounters with potentially dangerous animals in the following wildlife safety guides.

American bison safety tips and guidelines
Elk safety tips and guidelines
Black bear safety tips and guidelines
Moose safety tips and guidelines
Grizzly bear safety tips and guidelines
Mountain lion safety tips and guidelines

Bear Spray

Arguably the most essential item to safely watch wildlife in Yellowstone is bear spray. Carry it with you at all times, and know how to use it.

Binoculars

While less powerful than spotting scopes, binoculars are much more portable, making them a handy Yellowstone wildlife viewing tool on hikes.

Spotting Scope

For roadside wildlife watching in Yellowstone, nothing beats a quality spotting scope. Set up your tripod and spend a few morning or evening hours scanning the landscape for bears, moose, wolves, etc.

Telephoto Lens

Considering the mandatory distance rules (100 yards for bears and wolves, 25 yards for all other wildlife, including birds), taking amazing wildlife photos in Yellowstone is virtually impossible without a good zoom lens. Go for at least 400mm.


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