25 Beautiful Photos of Yellowstone's Northern Range Wildlife

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is famous around the world for its abundant wildlife and vast wilderness areas. Within that sprawling region, which also encompasses Grand Teton National Park, there’s one particular area that’s especially rich in wildlife: the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone’s Northern Range spans much of the park’s northernmost area. It essentially encompasses all major rivers and streams in northern Yellowstone, including Soda Butte Creek, the Lamar River and its valley, the Gardner River and the Yellowstone River itself.

The Northern Range stretches from Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt to the park’s most northeastern corner near Silver Gate.

Taking in the dry sagebrush-covered slopes around Mammoth, as well as beautiful Blacktail Plateau and the breathtaking Lamar Valley, it’s a wildlife haven unlike anything else in North America.

Map of the Northern Range in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park Northern Range Map - Credit NPS — *Image credit: NPS*

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The “Serengeti of North America”

Although it encompasses only ten percent of national park, the Northern Range is “the hub of wildlife in Yellowstone National Park”, according to the National Park Service.

For example, this is where half of Yellowstone’s wolves live, while you can also see black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes, cougars and foxes. It’s one of—if not the—most carnivore-rich areas in all of North America.

Additionally, the Northern Range is the winter range of Yellowstone’s largest elk herd. It’s also a phenomenal place to see American bison in the wild.

Fun fact: Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.

Other herbivores, both large and small, that roam the Northern Range of Yellowstone in vast numbers include bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer and marmots.

So, it’s no surprise that the wildlife-rich Northern Range of Yellowstone has been called the “Serengeti of North America.” It’s the single best place in the United States to see all these animals in the wild, in their natural habitat, and interacting with each other.

Also, this is the only part of Yellowstone that’s accessible by car year-round. While all other roads in the park close for winter, the road between Gardiner and Cooke City remains open.

In other words, you can enjoy some world-class wildlife watching in the Northern Range literally every season, month and day of the year.

Especially spring is a great season to see wildlife in Yellowstone, with young bison and elk calves running around, bears foraging for food after hibernation, and wolves prowling the slopes. See some recommended spring hikes in Yellowstone here.

If you want to go on a wildlife safari in America, Yellowstone National Park’s Northern Range is the most spectacular destination to do it.

25 Beautiful Photos of Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park’s Northern Range

Just to give you an idea of the sheer numbers of Yellowstone Northern Range animals you can see in just a couple of days, I’d like to share some of my own wildlife photos.

All photos below were taken in the timespan of just two and a half days in Yellowstone’s Northern Range.

Just for reference, as you enjoy all these Yellowstone Northern Range wildlife photos, you’ll travel across the area roughly from west to east. You’ll start at Mammoth Hot Springs and finish at the eastern end of the Lamar Valley.

Mammoth Hot Springs Wildlife

Most famous for its stunning hot spring terraces, boardwalks and historic district, Mammoth Hot Springs is also home to lots of wild animals.

From elk and bison to bears and various birds, when spending a day or two at Mammoth Hot Springs, you’re almost guaranteed to spot some iconic wildlife.

Bison and elk often come to the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District to graze on its lawns, while nearby trails run through prime bear habitat.

Bison at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park — *The lush lawns of Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District are a popular dinner destination for American bison.*

Palette Spring with elk, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park — *A herd of elk grazes on the slopes below the Lower Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.*

Osprey nest near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park — *An osprey lands on its treetop nest just north of Mammoth Hot Springs.*

Bison calf at sunset near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone — *The crest of a hill is the perfect place for a newborn bison calf to enjoy one of its first colorful sunsets.*

Chipmunk at Sheepeater Cliff, Yellowstone National Park — *The smallest member of the squirrel family, a least chipmunk rests on a boulder after running around industriously.*

Bighorn sheep near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park — *Four bighorn sheep show off their rock climbing skills on a clifftop along the Gardner River.*

Grizzly bear close to Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park — *A lone grizzly bear strolls down a sagebrush-covered slope east of Mammoth Hot Springs*.

Blacktail Plateau & Tower-Roosevelt Wildlife

One of the most underrated areas in Yellowstone National Park, Blacktail Plateau features pristine forests, meadows and sagebrush-covered hillsides.

This might just be the best area in the park to see black bears, while other commonly seen animals include elk, mule deer and grizzly bears.

Tower-Roosevelt, on the other hand, is home to a historic village and lodge, riverside cliffs, waterfalls and grasslands. It’s well-known for its bighorn sheep and birds of prey. Bison are also very common here, as is the occasional bear.

Marmot on Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park — *A marmot takes a morning walk among the frost-covered grass on Blacktail Plateau.*

Black bear on Blacktail Plateau in Yellowstone National Park — *Blacktail Plateau is arguably the best place to see black bears in Yellowstone National Park.*

Black bear at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *The winding road across Blacktail Plateau offers plenty of opportunities to find black bears; here’s another one.*

Bighorn sheep at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *Bighorn sheep are commonly seen on the cliffs and slopes around Tower-Roosevelt.*

Bison crossing road at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *American bison cross the road just east of Tower-Roosevelt, while a bus of visitors watches from a safe distance.*

Bison at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *Born from late-March through May, bison calves have a distinct orange-red color, which earned them the nickname “red dogs.”*

Pronghorn at Tower-Roosevelt in Yellowstone National Park — *A solitary pronghorn grabs a bite to eat in the meadows of Tower-Roosevelt.*

Elk at Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *This trio of elk keeps a watchful eye on both the road and the wilderness from a commanding ridgetop vantage point.*

Bison crossing Yellowstone River bridge, Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park — *A large herd of bison leisurely crosses a bridge across the Yellowstone River, stopping traffic and causing a so-called “bison jam.”*

Lamar Valley Wildlife

Few places in North America, if not the world, compare to the Lamar Valley when it comes to accessible wildlife viewing.

In the entire Northern Range, this is the easiest place to see large game in vast numbers. You can always find bison here, while elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn are also present.

Lucky visitors might spot a black or grizzly bear, a coyote or a fox. The main highlight in the Lamar Valley, however, is its wolves.

The permanent home of a number of wolf packs, it’s possibly the world’s best location to see these fascinating predators in the wild.

Bison herd in Lamar Valley, a spectacular place to see wildlife in Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range — *Home to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, the Lamar Valley is the birthplace of wildlife conservation in America.*

Bison close-up, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park — *A bison willingly poses for a close-up picture (taken from the car).*

Pronghorn in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park — *The fastest land animal in North America, pronghorn can reach a top speed of 55 miles per hour. This one enjoys a well-earned minute of rest.*

Bighorn sheep and American bison in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park — *Besides elk and bison, the Lamar Valley is also home to sizable herds of bighorn sheep.*

Bison herd in Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park — *Vast numbers of bison roam the Lamar Valley, nicknamed the “Serengeti of North America.”*

Bison crossing Lamar River in Lamar Valley, Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park — *Three bison look for a bite of fresh grass, while another pair crosses the Lamar River in the background.*

Bighorn sheep in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — *A bighorn sheep tries to hide among one of the Lamar Valley’s countless patches of sagebrush.*

Bison and calf in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park — *While eager to explore its new surroundings, a “red dog” rarely strays too far from its mother.*

Black wolf in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — Since gray wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone in 1995, they’ve been exceptionally visible in the Lamar Valley, arguably the best place in the world to see wolves in the wild. This dark-colored wolf was photographed while walking just a few yards from the road.

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Wildlife Safety While Spotting Animals in Yellowstone National Park’s Northern Range

I probably don’t have to tell you that all the animals in Yellowstone National Park are, in fact, wild. But I’ll remind you nonetheless. For the safety of both yourself and the wildlife you’re watching, it’s important to follow a number of guidelines.

You really do not want to surprise a grizzly bear, approach a bison, walk through an elk herd or pet a wolf—just to name a few very bad ideas.

I recommend reading the following specific wildlife safety guides for more information about how to responsibly, successfully and, above all, safely watch wildlife in the Northern Range.