Want to know the absolute best part about visiting Yellowstone? Spotting incredible wildlife with your kids! I still remember when my wife Emily and I were on a couples trip in Argentina after first being married. We stayed in an Airbnb owned by an Argentine wildlife biologist, and his first questions weren’t about our trip – they were all about Yellowstone! Yes, he dreamed of visiting Africa, but what he wanted to do most in all the world was to see the animals in Yellowstone.
We’ve since made it our mission to master wildlife viewing in the park. We go almost every May because we have it down to a science – we spot bears and wolves every single trip. After helping countless families plan their Yellowstone adventures, not a single family who’s followed our exact instructions has missed seeing bears. Let me share our guaranteed spots and proven strategies for amazing wildlife encounters with kids.
Best Guaranteed Wildlife Spots in Yellowstone
Mammoth: Your Sure Thing for Elk
If you want a guaranteed animal sighting, head to Mammoth. You’ll spot elk right in town any time of year! We especially love visiting in September and early October during rutting (mating) season. The big bulls put on quite a show, screaming and grunting while chasing the cow elk around. It’s nature’s version of dinner theater, and the kids are always mesmerized.
Lamar Valley: Prime Bear and Wolf Territory
This is the spot for serious wildlife watching. If you’re committed to seeing bears and wolves, plan at least one morning AND evening in Lamar Valley. One of our most memorable experiences was watching a young grizzly feasting on a buffalo carcass right across from us on Soda Butte Creek. Suddenly, a much larger grizzly charged in and ran the younger one off. We watched for 20 minutes as he chomped and shredded the bison kill. At one point, he lifted up a bison leg in his mouth just like we would eat a chicken leg – our kids thought it was hilarious!
Hayden Valley: Action Central
Talk about excitement – we once watched a grizzly chase a herd of 50 elk here! The bear made multiple full-speed sprints, hoping one of the new elk calves would drop behind. He’d run, rest for five minutes, then try again. We watched this drama unfold for a solid 30 minutes. These are the kinds of memories your kids will never forget.
Tower-Roosevelt Area and Madison River Corridor
These areas round out our must-visit spots for reliable wildlife viewing. The Madison River corridor is especially good for morning wildlife, while Tower-Roosevelt rarely disappoints for bear sightings.
Our Proven Timing Strategy
The secret to successful wildlife viewing? Be in position 30 minutes before sunrise. Yes, it means early mornings, but it’s absolutely worth it. Here’s our tested strategy:
- Save Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon for the middle of the day
- Focus on animal viewing spots at dawn and dusk
- When you see multiple cars stopped at sunrise, it’s usually because they’ve spotted a bear or wolf
- Take time to properly join other wildlife watchers (more on this below!)
Essential Gear and Viewing Tips
We’ve learned that each of our kids needs their own pair of binoculars, even if they’re the inexpensive kind. It keeps everyone engaged and prevents squabbling over whose turn it is to look. Here’s a pro tip: the dedicated wildlife spotters you’ll meet often have incredible spotting scopes (we’re talking $5,000 equipment) and are usually happy to let kids take a peek if you approach them the right way.
Speaking of approaching other wildlife watchers – avoid the drive-by window roll-down to ask what they’re seeing. Instead, park your car, get out, and make an effort to spot animals yourself. We learned in our first few trips that serious wolf and bear spotters appreciate this approach much more. When you join respectfully, they often take an interest in the kids and offer to share their spotting scopes.
We also let our kids take pictures of the animals themselves. They get so proud when they capture a good shot, and it keeps them engaged in the wildlife watching experience.
Hard-Learned Lessons for Wildlife Watching with Kids
One of our biggest lessons? Sometimes it’s better not to mention far-away animals to the kids. We’ve learned this the hard way – multiple times! There’s nothing more frustrating for a child than being told there’s an amazing animal that they just can’t see. Now we only point out wildlife when we’re confident the kids will be able to spot it too.
On another trip, we watched a pack of wolves cautiously following a herd of pronghorn. The wolves stopped on top of some boulders and started howling – our kids were both thrilled and terrified by the sound. These unexpected moments make the early mornings and patient waiting all worthwhile.
Planning Your Visit
For the best wildlife viewing experience, try to plan at least one morning and evening in the Lamar Valley if you’re serious about animal spotting. You could add another morning or evening in the Hayden Valley too. Remember to save Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon for the middle of the day when wildlife is less active.
Driving Tips for Wildlife Spotting
Here’s a secret – some of our best animal encounters have happened just by driving through these areas at dawn or dusk. You don’t always have to be parked and waiting! If you’re driving to or from your hotel near sunrise or sunset through Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, or any of our recommended spots, keep your eyes peeled. We’ve often spotted bears, wolves, and other wildlife just by being in these areas at the right time. Just remember to use pullouts when stopping – never stop in the road!
Best Locations for Specific Animals
Want to know exactly where to find each animal? Here’s our family’s tried-and-true guide for spotting specific wildlife:
Grizzly Bears
- Lamar Valley (especially in spring for winter kills)
- Hayden Valley (morning and evening)
- Mount Washburn area
- Roosevelt to Tower Junction
Black Bears
- Tower to Mammoth area (especially in spring)
- Roosevelt area
- Near Yellowstone Lake
- Behind Mammoth Hot Springs
Wolves
- Lamar Valley (best spot in the park!)
- Hayden Valley
- Between Roosevelt and Northeast Entrance Pro tip: Listen for them howling at dawn
Elk
- Mammoth (guaranteed sightings year-round)
- Madison River area
- Gibbon Meadows
- Lamar Valley Best time: September-October for rutting season
Bison
- Hayden Valley (huge herds!)
- Lamar Valley
- Madison River area
- Old Faithful area Pro tip: You’ll definitely see these – they’re everywhere!
Moose
- Willow Park between Mammoth and Norris
- Northeast Entrance Road
- Near Fishing Bridge
- Madison River Pro tip: Look in willow thickets near water
Mule Deer
- Mammoth Hot Springs area
- Tower Fall area
- Near developed areas throughout the park Pro tip: Most active at dawn and dusk
Bighorn Sheep
- Mount Washburn
- Between Mammoth and Gardiner
- Tower-Roosevelt area Pro tip: Look on steep, rocky cliffs
Pronghorn
- Lamar Valley
- North Entrance Road
- Blacktail Plateau Drive
- Gardiner to Mammoth
Coyotes
- Lamar Valley
- Hayden Valley
- Near Mammoth
- Throughout the park in open areas Pro tip: Often seen hunting in meadows
Bald Eagles
- Near Yellowstone Lake
- Madison River
- Yellowstone River
- Lamar Valley Pro tip: Look for them perched in large trees near water
Following these locations and timing strategies has never failed us or any of the families we’ve helped. Yes, those early mornings can be tough, but trust us – seeing a grizzly bear lift a bison leg like a chicken wing makes it all worth it! Your kids will be talking about these experiences for years to come.
Have questions about planning your Yellowstone wildlife adventure? Drop them in the comments below!
