Yellowstone National Park: Where the Buffalo Roam

Early afternoon, I left Mammoth Hot Springs to drive towards Hayden Valley. The valley, known for its abundance of wildlife, is most popular during the spring and fall seasons. I was looking forward to taking in the surrounding landscape and hoping to see some amazing animals on my drive.

Quickly into my road trip, I caught my first glimpse of a herd of bison. Stretching for miles, I was impressed with their large number. With stocky bodies and thick fur, I was amazed at how beautiful they were. Attempting to cross the road, they seemed to know that they had the right of way and took charge when trying to do so.

I was thrilled to watch the calves chasing after their mothers. The herd was moving slowly on each side of the road until they decided to cross, seeming a little hesitant and looking both ways.

Bison Stopping Traffic in Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley

Herds of Bison at Yellowstone National Park

A Bison Calf Among the Herd, Yellowstone

Sightings of Bison in Yellowstone National Park’s Hayden Valley

Along the roadway, the river appeared at random intervals. Slowing down at the bends and curves, I was hoping for the chance to catch a glimpse of a bear or wolf, which make this valley their home. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found, but I was more than happy seeing all of the bison in Hayden Valley.

I was so close to the Montana border when I decided to drive a small portion of the Beartooth Highway, entering Gallatin National Forest.

Glimpses of snow appeared along the shadowed crevices on the mountainside.

My first pronghorn antelope sighting!

An Elk Bull at Yellowstone

I hadn’t ventured too far along the Beartooth, knowing that I needed to make it to Grand Teton National Park, but I was happy that I stepped over the state line to explore more of this gorgeous scenery.

What animals did you spot while vacationing at Yellowstone? Is there another US National Park that you recommend for wildlife sightings? I would love to hear your recommendations or about your experience vacationing at Yellowstone if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading my travel blog on Yellowstone and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7381

Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Yellowstone National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Yellowstone National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Yellowstone National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding and llama packing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
Scenic View: Take in the view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook off of the Fairy Falls Trailhead. For the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, you can see this beautiful waterfall from several locations offering different views of the falls: Brink of Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail and Artist Point. Check out the stadium seating at Old Faithful for a front row seat of this geyser that erupts every 35 to 120 minutes. The park’s Twitter account, @GeyserNPS, the Geyser Activity Page on their website or the Geyser App lists the predicted times for Old Faithful.
Length of Visit: Three days is recommended to see all of the attractions at Yellowstone.
Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.

Where to Stay:

I was fortunate enough to stay at one of the lodges at Yellowstone. I absolutely loved staying at the park and have Melba Coleman to thank for assisting me in my reservation.

Where to Eat:

Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
Yellowstone Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7311

For a light lunch, I ordered the charcuterie plate which included meats, cheeses, olives, walnuts and whole grain crackers. It was the perfect location to enjoy the park sitting by a large viewing window, mesmerized by the spectacular view.

What to Eat:

Bison Burgers
Buffalo Steak
Chicken Fried Steak
Chuck Wagon-Style Dinners which usually include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans and corn bread
Cowboy Cookies: cookies made with brown sugar, cinnamon, oats, chocolate and nuts
Elk Steak
Fry Bread is similar to puff pastry and is the base for taco salads.
Jerky
Morels
Old Fashioned Soda
Pig Candy: Applewood smoked bacon covered in brown sugar and spices
Prime Rib
Rocky Mountain Oysters: deep-fried calf testicles
Soda Bread: Discovered by American Indians, this bread is made from a mixture of flour and soda (naturally found in wood ashes) creating a quick-rising bread
Trout
Wyomatoes are a type of tomato found in Wyoming. Known for their sweet taste, they are unlike any other varietal
Wyoming Whiskey

What to Read:

The Stories of Yellowstone, by Mark M. Miller
Mountain Spirit, by Lawrence L. Loendorf
Decade of the Wolf, by Douglas Smith
Bring Jade Home, by Michelle Caffrey
Letters from Yellowstone, by Diane Smith
Yellowstone Has Teeth, by Marjane Ambler
Dangerous Beauty: Encounters with Grizzlies and Bison in Yellowstone, by Carolyn Jourdan
Death in Yellowstone by Lee H. Whittlesey
Empire of Shadows, by George Black