Hiking trail runs across America’s Serengeti

Among the best spots to see bison is Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.

Topo map for Lamar Valley Trail.

Bison, elk, other
wildlife make
their homes near
Lamar Valley Trail 

Day hikers can explore the “Serengeti of North America” on the Lamar Valley Trail at Yellowstone National Park.

Like the mountain-ringed African plain, Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley serves as home to the classic megafauna that define North America. Bison, elk, grizzlies, black bears, wolves, coyotes, eagles, osprey and more all can be found there.

The entire Lamar Valley Trail runs up to 5.3 miles one-way, but you only need to walk a segment of it, running about 3.8-miles round trip, to the Lamar River. Dawn and dusk are the best times to see active animals.

Creek crossing
To reach the trailhead, from the Lamar Ranger Station/Northeast Entrance Road off of U.S. Hwy. 212 near the Wyoming/Montana border, head east about four miles to the Lamar River Valley Trailhead. Another trailhead exists only 2.8 miles from the ranger station, but this generally is used for horse riders and requires fording a creek.

From the trailhead parking lot, head east. A wooden footbridge crosses Soda Butte Creek. The trail then veers south along Lamar Valley's eastern edge at Mount Norris' base.

Though flat, the trail as passing through sagebrush and bunchgrasses also is fully exposed, so be sure to don a sunhat and sunscreen. Be careful to not turn off onto game trails, which crisscross the valley floor.

Once the horse trail joins the hiking trail from the northwest, the thin path climbs a steep bench. From there, you should be able to spot any grazing or hunting wildlife, so be sure to carry binoculars.

Bison and elk
Bison and elk usually can be seen in the valley’s southern end during the day, as they move in and out of the forest's protective cover.

Bison spend all year in Lamar Valley. Males can weigh up to 2000 pounds, the size of a small car. Females weigh up to half that amount at best. Though large, bison are agile and can run up to 30 miles per hour. They typically mate in late July through August; new calves usually can be spotted in late April or May. Around 5000 bison call Yellowstone home.

Elk are comparatively smaller – males weigh about 700 pounds while females are about 500 pounds – but the bulls’ antlers make them stand out on the horizon. They mate in September and October; newborns can be seen in May to late June. During summer, between 10,000–20,000 elk, separating in six or seven herds, make Yellowstone their home.

Coyotes also can be seen wandering about, looking for a meal. Bald eagles and osprey grace the skies as well. Grizzlies reside in the woods, but they and the area’s other big two predators – black bears and wolf packs – prefer to remain under cover than be seen.

Lamar River
Atop the bench, the trail junctions with the route heading for Upper Lamar to the east; continue left/southwest. In the distance you’ll notice a grove of cottonwoods; that is your destination.

The cottonwoods offer picnic shelters. On the other side of the picnic area is the Lamar River, which cuts down the valley’s center.

This marks a good spot to turn back. Crossing the Lamar River is dangerous and should only be attempted in late summer or autumn by those with fording experience.

If you do ford the river, the trail continues into the range beyond, roughly paralleling an unnamed creek. The trail is one way to reach Amethyst Mountain, the highest peak on the valley's southwest horizon at 9,614 feet.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Video of bugling bull elk at Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park often is called the “Serengeti of North America.”

The park’s Lamar Valley contains the greatest collection of large animals in North America: bison and elk herds, grizzlies in the woods, wolf packs, black bears, and osprey and bald eagles in the skies. A great trail to see elk and other wildlife in Lamar Valley is the the 5.3-mile Lamar Valley Trail.

The trailhead is east of Lamar Ranger Station. Dawn and dusk mark the best times to see active animals.

Here’s a video of a bull elk bugling loudly at Yellowstone:

For other top sites and trails at the park, see this article.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Best hikes for seeing Yellowstone's wonders

The Fairy Falls Trail passes the Grand Prismatic Spring
in Yellowstone National Park.

Try these 5 routes for geysers, wildlife, waterfalls

Among the best ways to see Yellowstone National Park’s major sights is via a day hike. Just five short trails will allow you to see each of the park’s highlights – geysers, hot springs, wildlife, waterfalls and canyons.

Old Faithful
Yellowstone’s most famous geyser erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 100 feet high for anywhere from 1.5 to 5 minutes. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path. Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail. There are some steep spots, but crowds are smaller, and you’ll see it from a unique vantage point.

Lamar Valley
Known as the “Serengeti of North America,” the valley contains the greatest collection of large animals in North America: bison and elk herds, grizzlies in the woods, wolf packs, black bears, and osprey and bald eagles in the skies. For the most intimate experience, hike a segment of the 5.3-mile Lamar Valley Trail (trailhead is east of Lamar Ranger Station). Dawn and dusk are the best times to see active animals.

Grand Prismatic Spring
The beautiful and oft-photographed hot spring boasts multicolored rings of algae. As the water temperature changes, so does the kind of thermophile living in it, resulting in a rainbow of colors. The prismatic spring is best seen from the 2.5-mile Fairy Falls Trail, which heads to a 197-foot waterfall and leaves from Grand Loop Road north of Old Faithful.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River carved out this fantastic canyon below the 308-foot high Lower Falls. The 3.8-mile North Rim Trail runs along the canyon’s northwest wall. Parts of the trail are paved and there’s only 250 feet of elevation change.

Bechler Basin waterfalls
Located in the park’s southwest corner, the basin boasts dozens of waterfalls. From the Bachler Ranger Station, try the 3-mile round trip Cave Falls Trail, which follows the Falls River to Bechler Falls. The hike is best done in August and September when the mosquito population is the lowest, as the bogs are drier.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
These hot pools cascading over travertine terraces are a spectacular sight in the park’s northern section. The disconnected Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks, accessible from Grand Loop Road, weaves through and around the springs for nearly 4 miles of hiking. The pools’ temperatures here can reach up to 163 degrees F.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.