West Yellowstone to Wildlife Viewing

We will be in Yellowstone mid June. We will be driving and coming into the park from Cody. Currently, we are booked to stay two nights in West Yellowstone. How far is it from West Yellowstone to good wildlife viewing in Lamar and Hayden Valleys? We would want to do this one morning or evening. Which location is better? Also, am I reading this correct that the road between Madison and Norris doesn%26#39;t open until 8am?

I am really wanting to stay in the same locations for two nights but want to make sure the drive is not too far.

Thank you for your help.

West Yellowstone to Wildlife Viewing

Here%26#39;s a link to an interractive map we put together. It shows estimated driving times.

alandsuejohnson.com/yellowstone_map_pics/yel…

NPS website says open 8:00AM until 10:00PM with delays. I%26#39;d consider moving to Canyon or Lake if you can get anything. You can get to Hayden Valley by way of Lake or dealing with the construction. Getting to Lamar will be worse but you can deal with the construction.

West Yellowstone to Wildlife Viewing

West Yellowstone offers the most in terms of accommodations, dinning and ammenities when visiting YNP. However it is not the ideal base for touring the northeastern area of the park. From West Yellowstone to the center of Lamar Valley is around 70 miles, plus you will have to deal with the road construction delays both coming and going. If possible, a better plan would be for you to stay inside the park at the Canyon area. Call Xanterra,

toll free @ 1-866-439-7375, don%26#39;t rely on their web site. If you are unable to get reservations inside the park this late, the Silver Gate/Cooke City area just outside the northeastern gate would be a good choice. From Cooke City to the middle of Lamar is about a twenty minute drive through some of the most spectacular scenery in the park.

Due to the sheer size of Yellowstone, which is larger than both Delaware and Rhode Island combined, it really is hard to choose just one base for visiting the entire park.

This National Park website contains a lot of very good information, plus an interactive map. http://www.nps.gov/yell/

Official Lodging and Tour vendor for Yellowstone National Park (Call them frequently, cancellations occur.)

http://www.travelyellowstone.com/

For wildlife viewing and photography:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60999-c96653/Yellows…

If I remember right, we went from west yellowstone to the first junction and it took about 45 minutes. However within that time we stopped for 2 eagles and bison use that road to travel into the park so we got caught in two bison jams. then from that junction we cut across to get to canyon valley and it took about 45 minutes but didn%26#39;t see any animals, very mountainy. but once in canyon, head south and you see hayden and animals galore. In a day we seen bear, otters, coyotes, buffalo crossing the river, wolfs attacking a herd a elk amoung other things.

Now if you head north from canyon you would have to drive about an hour I believe to roosevelt and then north into lamar. You%26#39;ll drive about an 45 min through lamar veiwing the scenery. Lamar was ok but the valley is so huge you need a scope or a good zoom on a camera to see everything. Just to give you another idea, the drive from roosevelt to Mammoth springs, we must have seen a total of 6 black bears and 1 grizzly feeding. Maybe, if you go to llamar valley, take that way back to west yellowstone to maybe catch any wildlife.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I changed our first night to Cooke City. Second night we will be in West Yellowstone.

We%26#39;re driving from Cody our first day, spending one night in Cooke City and one night in West Yellowstone. We are then spending two nights in Jackson.

I would appreciate any thoughts on those ';don%26#39;t miss spots'; in either place.

Thanks again.

Lakegirl - It%26#39;s a long drive from West Yellowstone to Lamar and Slough. The best wildlife viewing is early in the morning. Your best bet is to camp at Slough Creek campground:

parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yel…

which puts you right on the animals in the AM. You can ever hear the wolves howl at night! Unless you get up before dark you will spend a lot of time driving, and driving Yellowstone at dark is not the best idea.

Until you grasp the size and diverse sights of YNP, you might not understand this, but I%26#39;d cut one night at GTNP in favor of YNP. GTNP is truly a scenic delight, but more of a drive through, take photos, park (yes, great for hiking, river running, and so on). But YNP, in its immensity, offers much variety and things to see and to do, at your own pace, at many turns of the road. See AKJ%26#39;s website of both to get a ';picture'; of what I%26#39;m trying to say.

ojon