Yellowstone Itinerary: Gardiner & Lamar Valley

Yellowstone's Lamar Valley on a blue-sky day.

Yellowstone National Park offers a breathtaking expanse of natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and geothermal wonders. One of the best ways to experience the natural majesty is to spend a day driving the northern stretch of the “Upper Loop” from Gardiner, Montana, through the Lamar Valley.

This itinerary takes you on a scenic journey through Blacktail Plateau Drive, Lamar Valley, and key wildlife viewing spots, offering recommendations for where to stop for lunch and find bathrooms along the way.

Lamar Valley Tour Opportunities

A Lamar Valley guided tour could also be a good idea, if you want to get more of the local insights. I've taken one before, and the boots on the ground experience really helped me go deeper into my wildlife viewing experiences in future trips.

I think this Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch offers the best bang for the buck.

A West Yellowstone: Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour by Van is also a great opportunity to experience the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park, without having to do a lot of hiking or put boots on the ground.  

Starting Point: Gardiner, Montana

Gardiner is one of the iconic gateways to Yellowstone. You can start your day with breakfast at Tumbleweed Bookstore & Café, which has some amazing fresh pastries and coffee. You can pick up everything you need for a picnic at Ridley’s Market and be ready to go.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Yellowstone’s North Entrance starts at Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the park’s most unique geological features. The terraces, formed by mineral-rich hot water, create otherworldly formations worth exploring via the boardwalk trails.

If you’re starting the day early, you’ll be able to experience Mammoth Hot Springs without all the crowds. This is the time to check out the lower terraces. If you’re staying in Gardiner or the Paradise Valley, I’d save the less popular upper terrace drive for later.

NOTE: The bathroom facilities in Mammoth are the last flushing toilets you’ll see for a while.

Drive from Gardiner to Blacktail Plateau Drive

Begin your journey eastward on Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road toward Blacktail Plateau Drive. It’s a one-way road from west to east, and it takes about half an hour to get there. There are a few optional minor stops to consider along the way, but I would skip them if you’ll be making a return journey to Gardiner in the late afternoon.

Undine Falls

Undine Falls, just outside Gardiner, offers a quick photo opportunity.

This is a cute little roadside stop where you can snap a quick pic of the falls in the distance.

Glacial Boulder

This is literally a big rock amongst a copse of trees. The parking lot for it is to the left and the Blacktail Plateau “Ski Trail” is to the right. DO NOT turn right, as it’s a dead end, but it’s a sign telling you that you’re getting close to the turn-off.

Scenic Detour: Blacktail Plateau Drive

Blacktail Plateau Drive is a 6-mile unpaved road offering a quiet, off-the-beaten-path experience. My late father used to describe it as “A shortcut to avoid all the guys clogging up the main road squinting at elk on the horizon.”

Blacktail Plateau Drive is one way from west to east and offers a break from the traffic of Yellowstone's Grand Loop Road.

This one-way route takes you through rolling meadows and pine forests, where you have excellent chances of spotting wildlife such as bison, elk, and even the occasional black bear.

This is where I stared eyeball-to-eyeball with a bison as a 12-year-old boy, mere inches and a pan of minivan window glass separating us before it licked the window.

Blacktail Plateau Drive is one of the last roads to open in Yellowstone in the early summer. It’s often poorly maintained, so it’s best to take it slow.

There will be moments where you come across someone squinting at a brown stump on the horizon, wondering if it’s a bear, and you’ll have to squeeze around them.

The road has occasional blisters and extra wide curves to let you pull off. About a mile and a half in there’s a side that turns into an ATV track that’s easy to stop at without blocking the road. On a quiet day, it’s a nice place to stop, step out, and feel alone with the natural splendor of Yellowstone.

The Lamar Valley Serengeti of North America

Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, one of the most famous wildlife viewing areas in the park. It’s known for its wide, open grasslands that consistently hold large herds of bison, pronghorn antelope and a thriving wolf population. You’ll even come across the occasional bear and moose.

Pro Tip: Bring binoculars or a spotting scope to get a closer look at distant wildlife. Make sure you always have your bear spray anytime you get out of the vehicle.

Driving the Lamar Valley

The Lamar Valley drive from Tower Junction to the Trout Lake Trail Head offers some of Yellowstone's best wildlife viewing experiences. This calls for joining the Grand Loop Road again for about a mile. Then turn left when you hit Tower Junction.

Tower Junction General Store has picnic supplies and good bathrooms.

Tower Junction & General Store

Yellowstone’s Tower General Store and Tower Junction is the last places to pick up last-second supplies and the only other flushing toilet bathrooms on this itinerary.

 

Key Wildlife Viewing Stops in Lamar Valley

Chances are very good that you’re going to get stopped a time or three at animal jams in this stretch of the Lamar Valley. Yet, even if you don’t, the following are some potential stops to get out, stretch your legs, and snap a few social media pics while scanning the horizon for animals.

Yellowstone River Picnic Area

This is a nice little stop to enjoy an early lunch, with a good chance of spotting wildlife. I’ve seen grizzly and bison here before. A short stroll after your picnic offers some stunning views of the Yellowstone River with canyon vibes.

Lamar River Bridge

The bridge is one of those secret wildlife-viewing gems that most people drive past.

The Lamar River Bridge has parking on both ends and can be a great place to spot bison herds.

Not only does it offer sweeping views of the valley, but there’s often buffalo on the rolling plains. Especially in early summer when the grass is green and prime for grazing.

There’s a modest area for parking on each end of the bridge going with the flow of traffic. So, you can drive over the Lamar Bridge, soaking in the view, and be prepared to pull to the right to park and take in a view. It’s not a bad place to enjoy a snack and watch for wildlife.

Slough Creek

For starters, the parking area leading to the Slough Creek trailhead has lesser-used vault toilets right at the roadside. This whole area is also a great spot for wolf watching, as members of the famous Junction Butte Pack are often seen here.

Hitching Post Pullout

One of the best places to stop and scan for wolves and grizzlies, particularly in the early morning or evening.

Soda Butte Creek in the Lamar Valley

I’ve spotted moose here two out of the last three times I stopped.

Soda Butte Creek is one of the best places in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley to spot moose.

I believe it’s because the braided streams make an easy habitat for moose to browse without being harassed by wolves. So, it’s worth stopping and scanning with binoculars. This is also a good area to spot bald eagles.

NOTE: Vultures and crows in this area often indicate an animal carcass is nearby, and the chances of a bear, wolf, or coyote is much higher. If you see things circling in the sky, you need to be aware that there’s a higher chance of a potential problem on the ground.

Trout Lake

The trail to Trout Lake is arguably the best short hike in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.

Trout Lake's mirror-like reflection is one of the best short hikes in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.

Signage is sparse, and it looks like a blister on the side of the road with enough parking for 10 cars.

The hike is a little over a quarter mile, with only a slight elevation gain. My father did it at 65 with just a little huff and puff. At the top is a beautiful little mountain lake that has a mirror reflection on a calm day.

The Turning Point

Trout Lake is a good turning point. If someone in your group needs the bathroom, there are small vault toilets a mile ahead at Pebble Creek Trailhead and Campground. You can then turn around and stop anywhere you might have missed or be surprised by some new animal jam that popped up after you drove by earlier.

NOTE: Blacktail Plateau Drive is one-way, so if you’re returning to Gardiner, you can take the Grand Loop Road, hitting anything you missed earlier.

Final Thoughts on Gardiner to the Lamar Valley

This itinerary offers an incredible day of wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and a taste of Yellowstone’s natural beauty. Whether you’re watching wolves in Lamar Valley, exploring the hidden gems of Blacktail Plateau Drive, or enjoying a peaceful picnic by Slough Creek, this journey through Yellowstone will leave you with unforgettable memories. Be sure to bring a camera, binoculars, and a sense of adventure as you explore one of the most remarkable landscapes in North America!

The West Yellowstone: Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour by Van might also be a good idea if you want to spend more time saying "Oooh and Ahhh" and less time behind the wheel.

A Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch is also a great way to get deep knowledge about Yellowstone wildlife, that you can use to spot them throughout the rest of your trip.

To learn more about Yellowstone and enjoy other outdoor adventure guides you should follow Eric Beuning's Author Page.

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