COOKE CITY AND YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, and unique small-town charm dominate in the tiny outpost of Cooke City and its sister village Silver Gate.

They’re tucked between Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance and the imposing Beartooth Mountains. Outdoor activities loom large for locals and visitors alike—Cooke City and Silver Gate are surrounded by the park and the Gallatin National Forest, granting easy access to mountain trails, trout streams, and winter fun. And though Cooke City’s downtown spans only a few blocks, you’ll find great dining and lodging options and lot’s to do. Outdoor recreation is king in Cooke

In summer, travelers can reach Cooke City from the east via the Beartooth Highway; in winter, the only way in is through Yellowstone’s North Entrance, making it a convenient gateway for those coming from northern Montana and Glacier National Park or northern Wyoming. On your way to Cooke City (through the NE Entrance) you’ll drive through the legendary Lamar Valley where grizzlies, black bears, bison and wolves roam. And in Winter, this area is still the highlight to see Mountain Sheep, and Moose. Stop at one of the valley’s many pull-offs, get out your binoculars and look for some of the wildlife that has made Yellowstone famous.

What makes Cooke City a strategic place to stay while visiting Yellowstone National Park is it’s proximaty to Lamar Valley. Known as America’s Serengeti, Lamar Valley is a world class wildlife viewing destination located in Yellowstone National Park. Cooke City is 4 miles away from the NE Entrance making for a short drive to see one of the most photographed area in Yellowstone.

Here’s what to know.

  • Lamar Valley is not on Grand Loop Road.
  • Roughly 29 miles of road stretch through Lamar Valley.
  • It is open year round as well and it’s where most photographers flock here in the winter when it’s easier to spot wolves.

It’s going to be an early wakeup or a late evening to see animals! For wildlife viewing it’s best to get to Lamar Valley for dawn or dusk when the animals are most active. Which is why many people stay in Cooke City.

What Animals Can You See In Lamar Valley?: 

  • Wolves
  • Elk 
  • Bison
  • Grizzly Bears and Black Bears
  • Bighorn Sheep
  • Fox 
  • Deer
  • Moose 
  • Pronghorn 
  • Also, watch out for bald eagles and osprey in the Lamar River. 
Limpy the Coyote frequently is seen in Lamar Valley

Tips For Spotting Wildlife:

  • Animals are most active at dawn and dusk, particularly wolves. 
  • PLEASE remember that these are wild animals and that you should never (ever) under any circumstances approach OR feed them! 
  • Do NOT stop on the road unless you are in a bison jam and it is unavoidable. There are so many pullouts in Lamar Valley. See the photo below because bison jams are very real things. These guys move at their own pace but Park Rangers will help nudge them along.
  • No matter how calm the animals at Yellowstone may appear they are wild animals and are unpredictable at best. 
  • Did you know that an adult male bison can weigh over 2,000 lbs and can run up to speeds of 35 mph. That’s pretty much like being hit by a slow-moving car. 
  • If you spot wolves anywhere near developed areas please alert a Park Ranger immediately. 

What Do You Need To Bring To Lamar Valley?: 

Binoculars – 

Pack a great pair of binoculars, particularly if you want to spot wolves or bears you will most likely need binoculars. Don’t worry if you don’t have a great pair – many of the wolf spotters will let you look through their amazing gear to see wolves and bears. These are the binoculars that we use.

Spotting Scope –

Most buy this spotting scope specifically to watch wolves in Lamar Valley. But to be completely honest it wasn’t even close to enough magnification. It’s a great little scope but these wolves were very far away. The nice thing is that most of the wolf spotters will let you look through their professional spotting scopes and incredible telephoto lenses. Use this spotting scope specifically for the trip.

Camera –

Big fan of Sony. We use a Sony a6000Sony a7ii, and Sony a7rii and love them all! 

Telephoto/Zoom Lens – 

If you are into photography, make sure to pack a telephoto/zoom lens. Or you can rent a ridiculous zoom lens. It was amazing to take pics of the wolf pack where you can actually see that they are wolves. This was with a 600x zoom. 

*We rented a 200-600 Sony lens from Lensrental.com 

If you don’t have access to binoculars or a spotting scope of your own you can rent them at Optics Yellowstone. We have no affiliation with this place.

Mama Bear getting ready to come out for Spring

Even if you take all of the wildlife out to the equation, Lamar Valley is incredibly beautiful. Following the Lamar River, this verdant valley has been home to wildlife for centuries. This area also has some of the oldest rocks in Yellowstone.

Book one of the many Cabins or Lodges here in Cooke and enjoy!