Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park is one of two epic wildlife viewing destinations. If you are looking to see wildlife. Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley are some of the best wildlife viewing in the entire National Park System!.
What makes this area a haven for wildlife is the Yellowstone River meandering through the valley.
The river and valley provide everything wildlife needs to live their best life. Food, shelter, and water being the top three survival needs for wildlife.
Hayden Valley - Yellowstone National Park
Location – North of Yellowstone Lake and south of Canyon on the main loop road.
Hayden Valley is incredibly easy to get to within Yellowstone NP. The stretch of road through Hayden Valley is not long but it is packed with a ton of wildlife. This also means that it can take much longer than expected to get to your destination if you happen to run into a "wildlife jam".
It is not uncommon to get caught in a wildlife jam and have a short drive turn into an hour-long adventure as you wait for bison to cross the road.
Yellowstone Wildlife to look for
Wildlife to keep a lookout for include Bison, Elk, Wolves, Bear, and Ducks.
Harlequin Ducks – LeHardy’s Rapids near Hayden Valley is one of the only places in Yellowstone you can see Harlequin Ducks. They arrive for a short period of time in early Spring and then continue on in their migration.
Yellowstone Wildlife viewing includes elk, bison, wolves, grizzly bears, Black Bears, Bighorn Sheep, fox, deer, moose, and pronghorn antelope.
Make sure to plan time to visit Lamar Valley for additional wildlife viewing within the park.
Safety Tips
I know that I mentioned wildlife safety in our Yellowstone Animal Guide but I feel like it needs to be mentioned again just in case.
PLEASE remember that just because bison look like super cute fluffy cows it doesn’t mean they are not aggressive and LARGE.
Bison can run faster than you can and they are temperamental.
During our last trip through Yellowstone, we saw small children in flip-flops running down the side of the road to get closer to the bison. They ran right past bison in rut and didn’t even stop to make sure they were safe.
Please make sure you have a conversation with everyone you are traveling with about wildlife safety.
The animals in Yellowstone are WILD! I know it can feel like a drive-through zoo because there are so many of them but trust me they are wild and not tame!
Being safe and careful during any encounters with wildlife will save you from being the next headline on social media and the nightly news.
Travel Tips
There is a vault toilet in the middle of Hayden Valley but some days you may not be able to get to it because bison are next to it and who wants to wiggle through a bison jam to get to the bathroom.
It is worth stopping at Mud Volcano or Canyon to use the bathroom before heading into Hayden Valley.
Plan to spend a minimum of an hour if not more driving through Hayden Valley. Some days you can travel this portion of the road quickly and other days you may get caught in an hour-long Bison jam.
Plan to visit Hayden Valley a couple of times while spending time in Yellowstone. The bison move around a lot and you may drive through and only see them off in the distance. It is worth planning time to visit multiple times so you can experience the bison up close.
If you are looking to see wolf packs in Hayden Valley make sure to bring a spotting scope and comfortable chair.
To get out and explore more of the park the Mary Mountain Trail Nez Perce trail is a 20-mile long trail that stretches across the valley.
Where is Hayden Valley?
Hayden Valley is part of the Yellowstone Grand Loop Road. Located between Lake Yellowstone and Canyon Village.
Closest Lodging
Canyon Lodge
Closest Camping
Fishing Bridge Campground
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
Nearby attractions
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Lake Yellowstone
Fun Yellowstone National Park Tours and Activities
4-Hour Morning Kayak on Yellowstone Lake with Lunch- Admire the tree-fringed banks, beaches, and thermal pools of Yellowstone Lake from the water on this morning tour.
After a kayak lesson and time to familiarize yourself with your kayak, set out to explore the West Thumb with your guide. You will paddle for approximately two miles along the West Thumb Geyser Basin as you look for elk and bear along the lakeshore and marvel at the steaming geysers in this incredible area of the park!
Click here to book your tour for the 4-hour Morning Kayak on Yellowstone Lake with Lunch!
Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch - the lush riverside plains of the Lamar Valley are a wildlife watching hotspot within Yellowstone National Park. With this guided hike, you get to explore the natural landscapes as you venture off-road and seek out little-known spots, increasing your chances of seeing wildlife. Look out for buffalo, wolves, eagles, and other animals along the way and watch them from a safe distance in their natural habitat. Tour includes lunch, bear spray, binoculars, trekking pole, backpack(if necessary), coffee and/or tea.
Click here to book your tour for the Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch.
Yellowstone National Park Private Wildlife Tour - Book your private tour with Yellowstone Exposures to ensure a truly unforgettable day with a local expert. Have your day designed and mapped for you by a local professional so that you can utilize it to the fullest.
With snacks, High-quality spotting scopes and binos. Your guide will take photos and video throughout the day. Included a full picnic lunch, snacks, and refreshments.
Click here to book your tour for the Yellowstone National Park Private Wildlife Tour.
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Additional Yellowstone Resources
Yellowstone Lodging Guide -Check out all of the lodges you can stay in while visiting Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Camping Guide - Check out all of the campgrounds available within the park.
Things to do Yellowstone - Check out all of the top things to do in the park.
Yellowstone Facts - Learn more about the unique features in Yellowstone.
Free National Park Days - Check out all of the days the National Park Service waives park entrance fees.
National Parks in Wyoming - Check out all of the parks you can visit while in Wyoming.
If you are heading south to Grand Teton National Park which we highly suggest everyone visits here are a few more resources for the Grand Teton.
Grand Teton Camping Guide - Find out about all of the great campgrounds within the park.
Grand Teton Lodging Guide - Check out all of the lodges within Grand Teton
Grand Teton Wildlife Guide - Check out all of the epic animals you can see in the park and the best places to see them.
Best things to do in Grand Teton - Information on all the best things to do and places to see while in the park.
If you are heading to Yellowstone during your trip don't forget to stop in John D Rockefeller Parkway along the way.
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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