West Yellowstone in June/July

[finnbay]

Heading out towards West Yellowstone the end of June and am looking for suggested areas to look for wildlife that might be willing to be shot by a camera. Elk, sheep, bison a priority but wouldn't pass up grizzlies, wolves, antelope, moose etc. Thanks!

[DrKen]

The park is full of bison and likely you will have to stop on the road at one point to let them pass. Elk are plentiful especially by Mammoth, Sheep are unlikely unless you are in the back country, You can see goats on the road between the park and Cooke City. Coyotes and wolves are distributed throughout the park, Moose are common by Tom Thumb and in the Hayden Valley area. Antelope are not common in the park but very common in flats and prairie throughout Montana and Wyoming. Bears, both black and Griz are unusual. The park makes a concerted effort to keep bears and humans seperate. Make it a point to stop and see the Museum in Cody. Fantastic place. Have fun.

[finnbay]

That's the kind of stuff I was looking for! Thanks a ton!

[so haaad]

Check out the Lamar Valley (Road to Cooke City) for bison, wolves, and bears. Also look grizzlies and black bears between Tower Junction and Canyon...more specifically north of Mt. Washburn. This area is great in the late afternoon and evening. The road along the Madison River from West Yellowstone often has lots of elk. Like DrKen said, the Hayden Valley area holds lots of animals. One thing to expect though, is lots of people and traffic in these areas. But if you expect it then it's tolerable.

[finnbay]

Thanks for the info. I'm not going to get away from the crowds much. Family vacation and I'll have limited time for photography, but would like to get to know that area a bit, and spend a serious photo excursion there in the near future.

[BorderView]

If driving, the Beartooth Highway is a MUST DO. Head south on Hwy 212 just west of Bozeman. Through Red Lodge, staying on 212. Clearly marked. Lots of landscape / high mountain wildflower prairies / run off streams / 20' snowpack and wildlife photo ops.

Might be the most beautiful drive in the country. And you end up at the east entrance of Yellowstone.

[Jackpine Rob]

Just west of Billings.

[SportFishin']

Yep that would be correct exactly 9 miles west of Billings is the exit. There is a Big Brown National Park Sign #333 on the interstate with regards to Yellowstone being 90 miles. The pass is great right now! The alpine lakes at the top were still frozen over last week with 10-15ft of snow pack at the top of the pass. Gonna be great over the 4th weekend to escape the heat of Billings & go play in the snow for the day and come back down to 90 degrees.

Another "Must Do" over the pass is the Snow Creek Saloon in Red Lodge! Or the Tap Room at Red Lodge Ales for a Gallon "Growler" of fresh brew "To Go" for the trip over the pass. Glacier Ale or Bent Nail is the Best!

Regards

Chris

[finnbay]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm in Big Sky right now, been to Yellowstone once and back again tomorrow, making trips to several areas around southwest Montana. Plenty of bison and elk in the Park. Three grizzlies, all outside the Park. Three more days before we head home!

[Wallydog]

Finn, thanks for sharing the great images.

We'll continue sending some terrific weather form SW ID to ya!

WD

[so haaad]

Nice shots, Finn! Three grizzlies outside of the park?!? Where did you find them? Along Hwy 191 near the top of the Gallatin River?

[Wallydog]

Finn, Your pics include 2 blacks and 1 griz...........not nitpicking, sorry.

[finnbay]

Yep, those first three were on 191 just south of Big Sky. Nit-picking not a problem. Forgive a northern Minnesota boy with no grizzly experience and only seeing 1 cinniman black bear cub out of hundreds. The Park was gracious today. Here's a few:

Really stretched my lens on this one. 300mm with a 1.4 on a 1.6 crop camera. Then cropped the bejesus out of it!

More of what I'm used to:

[so haaad]

Finn, Your pics include 2 blacks and 1 griz...........not nitpicking, sorry.

Good eye! And you are correct!

[so haaad]

Where were you at today? Lamar Valley?

[finnbay]

Yep. Went on the north loop to Mammoth, then almost to the northeast entrance before turning around. One more trip through tomorrow on our way to Cody, then home.