I’ve spent a lot of time pursuing wildlife stories across North America.
From alligators in Louisiana swamps to desert bighorn sheep in the Southwest, from the marshes of the Texas coast to the high country of the Rocky Mountains, I’ve been blessed to witness some incredible things. I’ve spent years researching and documenting great white sharks, including encounters along the Pacific Coast and off Cape Cod. I’ve photographed wildlife in places ranging from remote mountain ranges to coastal ecosystems and have dedicated much of my life to telling the stories of wild animals and the people who care about them.
But if someone asked me where I’ve had the highest concentration of memorable wildlife encounters in the Lower 48, my answer would come without hesitation.
Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park.
Known by many as the “Serengeti of North America,” Lamar Valley is located in Yellowstone’s northeast corner and follows the Lamar River through a vast landscape of grasslands, sagebrush flats, river bottoms, and mountain slopes. What makes it unique isn’t just the wildlife—it’s the scale.
Most people hear the word “valley” and imagine a relatively small area. Lamar Valley is anything but small. The broader Lamar wildlife corridor stretches roughly 29 miles from the Tower area toward Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance. The valley itself forms one of the largest open wildlife-viewing landscapes in Yellowstone, creating opportunities to observe wildlife behavior on a scale rarely found anywhere else in the continental United States.
Unlike many wildlife destinations where animals disappear into dense forests, Lamar’s open terrain allows visitors to watch wildlife across tremendous distances. It is one of the few places left in America where you can sit in one location and potentially observe multiple iconic wildlife species during a single morning.
The valley’s history is deeply connected to Yellowstone itself. Long before the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, Native American tribes traveled through and hunted the region. Later came mountain men, trappers, explorers, and early tourists. As wildlife populations declined across much of the West, Yellowstone became one of the last great refuges for many species.
Today, Lamar Valley remains one of the most important wildlife strongholds in North America.
I’ve seen that firsthand.
One of the most incredible wildlife behaviors I’ve ever witnessed happened there and involved an animal many Yellowstone visitors overlook.
Pronghorns.
I once watched two bucks engaged in a fierce rutting battle. Their horns clashed repeatedly as they pushed, twisted, and maneuvered against one another for dominance. I watched them for more than an hour before finally leaving.
Later, I returned.
They were still fighting.
A few hours after that, I came back again.
They were still at it.
More than three hours after I first saw them, those two animals were still locked in one of the most intense wildlife contests I’ve ever witnessed. It remains one of the most impressive displays of endurance and determination I have ever seen in the wild.
Lamar Valley is also famous for wolves.
The controversial reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 remains a topic of debate among wildlife managers, ranchers, hunters, and conservationists. Regardless of where someone stands on the issue, wolves have become one of the valley’s signature species.
During one of my visits, I was fortunate enough to photograph wolves in Lamar Valley. Seeing a wild wolf moving through that landscape is certainly an unforgettable experience.
I’ve also seen grizzly bears there, another species that immediately commands attention whenever it appears. Watching a grizzly move through the valley reminds you quickly that Yellowstone remains one of the last truly wild places in America.
Then there are the bison.
Every visit seems to include unforgettable encounters with these iconic animals. One of my favorite sights is seeing the young calves that appear each spring. Their reddish coloration has earned them the nickname “red dogs,” and watching them run, play, and interact with the herd against the backdrop of Lamar Valley is one of Yellowstone’s classic wildlife experiences.
I’ve also seen bighorn sheep in the area, another species that never fails to impress. Their presence only adds to the remarkable diversity of wildlife found within the valley and surrounding mountains.
Lamar Valley has also become an important part of the outreach work we do through Higher Calling Wildlife.
Over the years, we’ve brought young people from our programs into Yellowstone and introduced them to wildlife on a scale many never imagined possible. Watching a child see wild bison, bighorn sheep, or other iconic animals for the first time is every bit as rewarding as the wildlife encounters themselves.
Lamar Valley has also been the setting for some memorable conservation media projects. During one visit, I had the opportunity to film there with my friend Paul Fiesinski of Aptitude Outdoors. Paul does outstanding work highlighting wildlife, conservation, and outdoor adventure, and Lamar Valley provided the perfect backdrop for capturing the kind of authentic wildlife experiences that make Yellowstone so special.
Whether photographing wildlife, filming conservation stories, or mentoring young people through Higher Calling Wildlife, Lamar Valley has repeatedly proven itself to be one of the most inspiring places I’ve ever visited.
Those experiences are a major reason the valley means so much to me.
Wildlife can change lives.
I’ve watched young people develop a passion for conservation after seeing Yellowstone wildlife. I’ve seen photography inspire confidence and purpose. I’ve watched kids who had rarely ventured beyond their hometown suddenly realize there is a much bigger world waiting to be explored.
Lamar Valley has played a role in many of those moments.
But as incredible as wolves, grizzlies, bison, and bighorn sheep are, my favorite Lamar Valley wildlife encounter involved a much smaller animal.
A badger.
For many wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a badger is actually harder than seeing a wolf or a bear. They are secretive, often active during low-light periods, and surprisingly easy to miss.
One day in Lamar Valley, I was fortunate enough to watch one.
There was no crowd gathered around it. No roadside traffic jam. No line of photographers stretching down the highway.
Just a badger going about its business.
To this day, it remains one of my favorite Yellowstone wildlife memories.
Which brings me back to the question: Is there anywhere else in the Lower 48 quite like Lamar Valley?
There are certainly great wildlife destinations. Hayden Valley elsewhere in Yellowstone is outstanding. Grand Teton National Park offers incredible opportunities. Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front is spectacular. The National Elk Refuge near Jackson is world-famous.
But none combine wildlife diversity, visibility, accessibility, and sheer scale quite like Lamar Valley.
In a single day, visitors might see bison, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, elk, and countless other species.
There may be places that rival Lamar Valley for a particular animal.
But when it comes to the overall wildlife experience, I don’t think there’s another place quite like it in the Lower 48.
Every time I visit Yellowstone, I find myself drawn back there.
Maybe it’s the possibility of seeing a grizzly around the next bend.
Maybe it’s the chance of spotting another badger.
Maybe it’s remembering the kids we’ve brought there through Higher Calling Wildlife and the impact those experiences had on their lives.
Whatever the reason, Lamar Valley has given me more unforgettable wildlife encounters than any place I’ve visited in the continental United States.
And that’s saying something.
Chester Moore
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