Into the vast wilderness of the world famous Lamar Valley, the Lamar River Trail is a classic Yellowstone trek where you can wander amongst the bustling wildlife and picturesque landscapes.
The Lamar River Trail, like many hikes in Yellowstone, can be extended many miles into the back-country. This particular hike is roughly 7 miles out and back, although there are plenty of options to add extra mileage by hopping on intersecting trails. This hike is considered easy since there’s no real elevation gain. This took us about 3 hours with numerous stops to whip out the binoculars, and some extra stoppage time while a herd of bison made their way across the trail. We hiked parts of the specimen ridge trail as well. Being in a national park, dogs cannot use this trail.
Details:
Directions (Google Maps): To get to the Lamar River Trailhead, search for the Lamar River Trailhead 3K1 in Yellowstone National Park, WY or click here.
Directions (old school maps): Take Highway 89 until you intersect with Grand Loop Road near Mammoth Hot Springs. Take it East towards the interior of the park. Near Roosevelt Lodge you’ll break left onto Highway 212. Take it for 14.7 miles and the turn off will be to your right to an overlook above the valley.
Driving Info: This is all paved so it’s accessible to anybody, although like anywhere in Yellowstone road accessibility can vary depending on weather or animal activity.
Time & Weather: We did this hike towards the end of May, when the weather was cool and sunny. But any hike in Yellowstone requires paying attention to the weather, as it changes quickly and can be extreme.
Gear: Always bring bear spray (and make sure you feel confident using it) while hiking in grizzly bear country. Due to the rain and rougher terrain, this trail is rarely smooth despite its flatness, so boots are still recommended. Bring your binoculars or telephoto camera lens to capture the abundant wildlife. Bring layers as always for hikes in Montana.
Trail Navigation: There are some trail junctions (for instance, Specimen Ridge Trail) but otherwise it’s an easy trail into the Lamar Valley. Every now and then the wildlife trails will look like the main path.
Water & Food: Pack water as always and some snacks depending on how much distance you want to cover.
Trailhead Info: The parking lot is decently large but since this is Yellowstone things fill up quickly.
Pictures of the Lamar River Trail:
Once you park, you walk a few steps into the valley and then cross the bridge over Soda Butte Creek. There are dozens of small branching streams like this one, set beautifully in front of the mountains.
The valley is often brimming with wildlife activity, so you’re likely to encounter this iconic American animal grazing the grass. This was taken in May, so the grass is fresh after the long winter. Remember to keep a safe distance (100+ yards) and never approach or feed the wildlife. Use zoom on the camera 🙂
Herds scatter across the valley to take advantage of the green grass. Stubborn bison may block your trail, in which case you need to wait patiently or turn around.
As we came back, we took the Specimen Ridge Trail to the Lamar River. It was running fast due to runoff after the long winter. Pay close attention for bear activity, especially close to the river.
A small trail that winds back into the valley along the Lamar River.
On the way back, the sun and the sky provided the ideal backdrop for another stunning view.
Tired after a long hike? The Lamar Valley is the perfect place to rest outside of your car and witness the variety of wildlife that wander in and our of the valley floors.
Want more amazing Yellowstone hikes? There's 1000 things to experience. One of our favorites is hiking Mount Washburn where you get the best views of Yellowstone! From the top you can see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, and all the surrounding mountain ranges.
