Displaying items by tag: wildlife

Located in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City, Montana, the Northern Range is known for abundant wildlife, mature forests, and sweeping mountain vistas. Anglers flock to take advantage of blue-ribbon trout fishing on the Lamar River and Slough and Cache creeks. It's also one of the best places in the world to watch wolves in their natural habitat.

You could join the crowds of tourists lining the roads of this wildlife-watching mecca in the busy summer months, or you could see it the way early explorers first witnessed this beautiful area—by hitting the trail!

From family-friendly options to wildflower hot spots, here’s a round-up of our favorite Northern Range hiking trails.

Best Hikes for Families

Lost Lake Loop
Where: The trailhead begins behind Roosevelt Lodge; park at the Lodge parking lot.
Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Highlights: This trail climbs through a mature lodgepole forest and meets up with Lost Lake after 0.2 miles. Often covered in lily pads, this lovely mountain lake makes for a great spot to get your feet wet or enjoy a picnic. Turn back the way you came or make it a loop hike by continuing on to the Petrified Tree parking lot. From there, the trail climbs through a meadow and on down to the Tower Ranger Station area, followed by a short 0.2 miles to meet back up with Roosevelt Lodge. See the full trail description.

Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Where: The trailhead is located at the Yellowstone River Picnic Area, 1.25 miles northeast of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 3.7 miles roundtrip
Highlights: This hike follows the rim of the Narrows of the Yellowstone River. After a short but challenging climb to the rim, kids will love spotting marmots, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and birds of prey. Great views and dramatic geologic formations are highlights of this hike as well. See the full trail description.

Wraith Falls
Where: This trailhead is located at a pullout a half a mile east of Lava Creek Picnic Area on the Grand Loop Road.
Distance: 1.0 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Ideal for even the littlest of hikers, this mellow hike follows a boardwalk to Wraith Falls on Lupine Creek. Wraith Falls is also a nice early season hike when much of the park is still covered in snow. See the full trail description.

Best Hikes for Wildflowers

Specimen Ridge Trail
Where: The trailhead starts 2.5 miles south of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 2.4 miles to Agate Creek Trail Junction; 10.1 miles to the summit of Amethyst Mountain
Highlights: More advanced hikers will love the rewards of this more strenuous hike: alpine meadows, carpets of wildflowers, and sweeping vistas of the park. Specimen Ridge Trail is not as clearly defined as other trails in the park; it’s a good idea to bring a map and keep an eye on the trail and for cairns and other markers. See the full trail description.

Trout Lake
Where: The trailhead can be found at a small pullout south of Pebble Creek Campground on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 1.2 miles
Highlights: This short but steep hike offers a big payoff—Trout Lake is one of the most picturesque easily accessed lakes in the park. Wildflowers like lupine, Indian paintbrush, and arrowleaf balsamroot decorate the trail during the summer months. Consider bringing a fishing pole, picnic, or nature journal and spend the day here. See the full trail description.

Pebble Creek
Where: Pebble Creek Trailhead begins 200 yards east of Pebble Creek Bridge on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 6.6 miles to Bliss Pass Junction; 9.5 miles to the upper meadows
Highlights: This is your chance to leave the more drier areas of the Northern Range and enjoy the shade offered by a mature forest of Englemann spruce, lodgepole pine, and sub-alpine fir. In addition to peaceful meadows and views of the surrounding mountains, hikers will be greeted with a variety of wildflowers along this more challenging trail. See the full trail description.

Best Early Season Hikes

Hellroaring
Where: The trailhead begins at Garnet Hill approximately 50 yards north of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance road.
Distance: 6.2 miles
Highlights: This trail is for more advanced hikers looking for an early season Northern Range adventure (the trail can get quite hot come August). Highlights include crossing an old suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River, and the trail's end at a peaceful spot at the confluence of Hellroaring Creek and the Yellowstone River. See the full trail description.

Blacktail Deer Creek to Rescue Creek
Where: Start at Blacktail Deer Creek Trailhead, 7 miles east of Mammoth on the Grand Loop Road
Distance: 7 miles
Highlights: This early season hike is best accomplished with a shuttle. Drop one car off at the beginning of Rescue Creek located just south of the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, then begin the hike at the Blacktail Deer Creek trailhead. Hikers will enjoy rugged Northern Range scenery and plenty of potential wildlife sightings on this through-hike. See the Blacktail Deer Creek hike in this guide for the full description.

Best Hikes for Anglers

Slough Creek (to first meadow)
Where: The trailhead is located along the road to Slough Creek Campground where the road bears left. Park at the pit toilet.
Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Slough Creek is a popular fly-fishing stream, but anglers and hikers alike will enjoy this pleasant day-hike to a scenic meadow. The trail follows an old wagon trail, so be on the lookout for stock users as well as bears and moose. See the full trail description.

Lamar River Trail
Where: The trailhead starts 4 miles west of Pebble Creek Campground.
Distance: 7 miles to Cache Creek Junction (roundtrip)
Highlights: Anglers, hikers, and wildlife all take advantage of this corridor located in Yellowstone’s famed Lamar Valley. The trail begins with a wide open meadow of sage and grasses and moves into a more forested area. The trail parallels the Lamar River and is a popular place to enjoy some off-the-beaten-path fly fishing. See the full trail description.

Handy Hiking Sources

Staying Safe in Bear Country
Where to Purchase Gear and Supplies
Hire a Hiking Guide
Fishing Information

All photos courtesy of Yellowstone National Park. 

Yellowstone Wonders LLC offers private, customized wildlife and scenic tours of Yellowstone National Park and are designed to meet the specific interests of our clients. If you’re a first-time visitor to Yellowstone, we will design a one day or multi-day tour to show you the iconic places in the Park and we can include some of the lesser known, but no less spectacular features that make Yellowstone unique. All the while discussing the history of a place that has fascinated the world since its inception as the very first National Park over 145 years ago.

Our tours are designed for small, intimate groups of family or friends. We do not combine bookings or groups. Tours will take place in a Chevy Suburban that allows for roomy, comfortable seating and plenty of cargo space for camera gear, backpacks and other necessities for your tour.  We provide spotting scopes/binoculars for wildlife viewing, flexibility based on current sightings or events and personalized service. While this is a customized tour and we can start the day whenever you wish, we strongly recommend starting before sunrise for the best wildlife viewing opportunities and to get out ahead of the crowds.

Once you have selected an available date for your tour from our website, we will start designing your itinerary. This trip plan will be based on your priorities for visiting Yellowstone. We will follow up to discuss the itinerary and other recommendations for your Yellowstone Wonders tour. For special discounts on multi-day tours, please contact us directly.

We are based in Gardiner, Montana (adjacent to the North Entrance of Yellowstone) and are full time, year-round residents of Gardiner. We average well over 200 days per year inside Yellowstone National Park, visiting and photographing all the Park has to offer. You can put this local knowledge and experience to work for you with a private tour from Yellowstone Wonders LLC.

Fall in Gardiner, Montana and northern Yellowstone is spectacular—especially if you love wildlife watching, photography, and classic mountain town recreation. Here are just a few reasons to plan a fall adventure to Nature’s Favorite Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

The elk rut. Fall in Gardiner and northern Yellowstone means elk mating season is in full swing. You can be at the center of the action and watch the bulls (males) compete for the attention of females. Just be careful—the bulls are easily agitated this time of year so give them plenty of space. Check out this video from Yellowstone National Park if you need some visual proof.

Beautiful hiking weather. The Gardiner area is still relatively dry but the daytime highs are cooler, making the weather more comfortable for a day hike. Our favorite hikes this time of year include Knox Lake (Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, inquire at the Gardiner Ranger Station), any of these northern Yellowstone hikes, and Pine Creek Lake. All our favorite spring hiking adventures are great options in autumn as well.

Camping. Crisp mornings give way to warm, sparkling autumn days in Gardiner, Montana. We have a campground recommendation for every vehicle type and recreational interest, from just outside town to Yellowstone National Park to Cooke City. Just remember some campgrounds close by late September, so be sure to check with the Forest Service or Park Service before you go.

Scenic drives. Paradise Valley, Jardine Road, Yellowstone’s Northern Range, and the Beartooth Highway all offer spectacular scenic drives filled with alpine scenery, fall color, and opportunities for viewing wildlife—including bears, elk, and moose. 

Yellowstone has fewer crowds. Cooler temperatures mean the thermal features are even steamier than in the warmer months—plus you can view them without the usual summer crowds. Though September is still considered peak season in the park, October and early November are some of our favorite times to enjoy the wonders of Yellowstone National Park at your own pace (and find parking, too!)

Fly fishing. The Yellowstone River runs right through town—and just happens to be a world-class fishing destination. Try your luck in Gardiner, Tom Miner Basin, and the Paradise Valley. Visit the local fly shops to find out what the fish are biting on and where.

Endless photography opportunities. Wildlife are more active as the ungulates (elk, pronghorn, and deer) head into mating season and bears prepare for hibernation. Grab the big lens and take advantage of premier wildlife watching and photography opportunities. Bonus: If the animals are being elusive, you can always capture the stunning fall colors that surround Gardiner on all sides. Some excellent places to photograph fall foliage include Paradise Valley, the Tom Miner Basin, and Yellowstone’s Northern Range.

Best of all, many of the shops, restaurants, and comfortable accommodations available during the summer months are still open and ready to serve you. Try delicious local cuisine like elk burgers and huckleberry milkshakes, stay in a comfortable hotel or cozy cabin, and pick up all the supplies and mementos you and your family desire.

We look forward to seeing you in Gardiner this fall, where skies are cobalt blue and the air is filled with the sounds of bugling bull elk!

Photo Credits: Knox Lake; camping image: Loren Barrett/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. Fall foliage and dirt road: Jean Modesette. Fall foliage in Paradise Valley: Zondra Skertich/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. All others courtesy of Yellowstone NPS.

Here at the historic entrance to Yellowstone, May might feel like we’re standing at the water’s edge, getting ready for the plunge that is peak summer visitation. That said, it’s an incredibly rejuvenating and exciting time of year! Our seasonal employees are returning, offering a vibrant mix of the young, the old, and the adventurous. Baby animals - on the farm, in the park, and on neighboring forest land - are being born before our very eyes. With so much beauty and renewal happening all around us, we’ve taken a moment to reflect upon just a few of our favorite things about Gardiner in the month of May.

1. Everything is green. For us, April showers bring vivid, nutrient-rich spring grass to the hills above town and along the Paradise Valley. New leaves bursting from cottonwoods and aspen shimmer in the sunlight. Bison and elk calves teeter on unsteady legs in verdant fields. And speaking of going green, some of our area restaurants serving local, sustainably sourced meat and produce are just opening up for the busy summer season, offering a delicious and environmentally friendly dining option.

2. Wildlife watching. If you ask Chamber Executive Director Loren, baby bison alone could be numbers 1-5 for this post. There’s a reason she and our local guiding companies love the month of May. Brand new bear cubs and playful bison calves provide for endless hours of observation. Elk calves are born towards the end of the month, followed by baby pronghorn. May is the perfect time to watch these youngsters take some of their first steps.

3. The annual Hell’s A-Roarin’ Horse Drive Fundraiser. If you ask us, unique events like this one are just one of the things that make our community so special. Each Memorial Day, the Hell’s A-Roarin' Ranch moves their herd of horses from pasturing in eastern Montana​. It’s a step back in time as visitors and locals watch the horses pass through Gardiner to their mountain ranch located up a narrow, winding road ​in neighboring ​Jardine, Montana​. The drive is followed by a cowboy cookout and western dance.



4. Whitewater rafting. For the more adventurous types, spring runoff makes May one of the most exciting times to take to the Yellowstone River. The experts at our local rafting companies have been helping visitors and locals alike enjoy a safe but high-octane adventure on the Yellowstone River for decades. Choose between a few-hour scenic float to a multi-day rafting adventure in some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.

5. Scenic driving. As the plows continue to clear snow in Yellowstone National Park and along the Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways, more roads begin to open for the season. This increase in access provides for endless scenic driving opportunities. Try the drive from Gardiner, Montana through Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley to Yellowstone Lake for incredible wildlife watching opportunities and fewer crowds. Or be sure explore Yellowstone's Northern Range with a visit to our friends in Cooke City then continue on to the Beartooth Highway for a taste of truly rugged - and breathtaking - southwestern Montana scenery. The Chief Joseph Highway on to Cody, Wyoming, is currently open, and the remainder of the Bearthooth Highway on to Red Lodge will open towards the end of the month.

What do you love about May in your corner of the world? Don’t forget to tag your adventures with #VisitGardinerMT if you’re lucky enough to experience our little town this time of year for a chance to be featured on our website and Instagram!

Photo Credits: Gardiner Bridge and Horse Drive, J. Modsette. Baby Bison in Yellowstone: Evan Barrett. Whitewater rafting: Paradise Adventure Company. Yellowstone Lake: Yellowstone NPS.