Lamar Valley

The temperature dipped just below freezing overnight, making for a chilly start to the day. We hit the road early, eager to spot some wildlife (particularly bears and wolves) along the North East Entrance Road that meanders through the scenic Lamar Valley.

Dunraven Pass

To get to the Lamar Valley, we once again found ourselves winding through the steep yet picturesque Dunraven Pass. The crisp, clear morning offered stunning visibility from the various lookout spots along the route.

Tower Fall Close Encounter

Not far past the Tower Fall parking area, we were fortunate to spot a pair of mountain sheep grazing right next to the roadside.

We weren’t the only ones captivated by the sight—other wildlife enthusiasts had also gathered, hoping to snap close-up shots of these peaceful animals.

It was a rare and peaceful moment to be so near the mountain sheep, with neither the animals nor the people feeling uneasy or threatened.

Naturally, we managed to capture some incredible close-up shots of the mountain sheep.

Lamar Valley

After leaving the mountain sheep to graze undisturbed, we continued on to Tower Junction and turned onto the Northeast Entrance Road. Our original plan was to follow the route nearly all the way to Silver Gate, keeping an eye out for wildlife along the way. However, those plans quickly changed when we hit a construction zone that brought traffic to a standstill—with delays stretching over 30 minutes.

Forced to change course, we turned back and took a detour onto a side road that winds along Slough Creek. Almost immediately, our decision paid off—when we stopped at a nearby lookout, we spotted a large herd of bison grazing just a short distance away.

In contrast to the forested terrain of the Canyon area, the Lamar Valley is dominated by expansive grasslands—an ideal habitat that naturally draws the park’s massive bison herds.

We were fortunate to spot a coyote in the distance, intently hunting unseen prey across the open terrain.

Even with a long lens, capturing a clear photo of the distant coyote proved to be a challenge.

As the herd crossed the creek, they were followed by a family of magpies, either opportunistically snatching up insects stirred by the bison or defending their turf from the massive intruders.

As we watched the bison crossing the creek, we suddenly realized the rest of the herd had appeared from behind, much closer than expected.

Aware of the bison’s tendency for sudden aggression, we made sure to maintain a safe distance. The herd, undisturbed by our presence, continued on calmly as though we didn’t exist.

As we departed Slough Creek and made our way back toward Tower Junction, the bison once again took over the scene—this time by crossing the main road and triggering another unexpected traffic jam.

One of the big bulls walked straight in front of our car making me very nervous.

Eventually, the animals cleared the road and wandered off into the grasslands, resuming their routine undisturbed.

We continued on as well, quickly shifting our original plans, to return to the Mammoth Hot Springs area, where we had more to explore.

Just before reaching Mammoth, we paused to hike the short trail to Wraith Falls—one of Yellowstone’s many waterfalls and among the more easily accessible. Unfortunately, the falls were underwhelming, reduced to a mere trickle due to the dry season’s late-stage conditions. After a brief visit, we headed back to the car and resumed our journey to Mammoth Hot Springs.