Yellowstone National Park Wildlife

Few places are home to such exciting and majestic megafauna as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). At the heart of this spectacular region is Yellowstone National Park. A visit to Yellowstone in summer can deliver encounters with bears, elk, bison, moose, wolves, and many, many more. Knowing what the different seasons offer and where in the park to look are key to successfully finding wildlife sightings of a lifetime. Booking a Yellowstone tour with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris is an excellent way to efficiently see the park with an experienced and passionate guide who knows where to go!

Yellowstone is a vast 2.2 million acre stretch of pristine wilderness, chock full of natural wonders and wild nature. With around 370 miles of paved roadway, it can be a daunting task to navigate the park effectively, particularly if you only have a day to explore. As with any wild place, there are certain times and certain areas that have higher chances of spotting animals. Knowing the preferred habitats, territories, and recent movements of the animals is what makes hiring a professional guide an invaluable resource!

The terrain of the park changes constantly as you travel. Forests, canyons, valleys, geyser basins, and mountains make up the character of Yellowstone. With 80% of the park forested, many areas are too dense for wildlife to move about. This does help to narrow it down somewhat- look for open fields and valleys that massive bison can roam and herds of elk can graze. Hayden Valley on the eastern side of the park offers open rolling hills with Yellowstone River winding through, providing excellent grazing grounds and the perfect environment for the bison rut. Lamar Valley, further north, is a hot spot for all species, earning its nickname of the “American Serengeti”. If large predators such as bears and wolves are of interest to you, this is the place to be! Keep a keen eye on tree lines and ponds as you move about for moose and bears, and gaze up at cliff faces in search of mountain goats and bighorn sheep!

When staying in Jackson Hole, you can explore Yellowstone in a day! It’s a lot of ground to cover, but our curated tour provides an exciting and engaging day packed full of beautiful sights and famous highlights. Your guide will pick you up from your place of lodging and take you north through Grand Teton National Park towards the south entrance of Yellowstone. You will be dropped right back to your hotel, or at a restaurant in town for dinner at the end of your adventure.

If you have some more time, a multi day tour is sure to delight you and your family, filling your visit with amazing experiences! Like our day tours, you will be picked up from your lodging. We will take care of your luggage in our vehicles and we spend our nights in comfortable accommodations just outside of the park boundaries in the northern range. Your days will end with an exciting game drive at peak wildlife activity during evening hours, followed by a relaxing dinner while you recount your favorite moments of the day. You’ll be back on the road early the next morning for another thrilling game drive! At the end of your tour, your guide will bring you back to Jackson, full of memories that you’ll talk about for years to come.

Depending on what you are looking to get out of the park, consider the time of year that you visit. The ecosystem changes month to month, so a season that stretches from April until October sees many different stages of the seasons.

The park becomes accessible from Jackson Hole through the west entrance on the third Friday of April. Three weeks later, the south gate opens and becomes our main access point. During April and May, there is still snow on the ground and the chance of winter storms remains high. It is important to keep an eye on weather conditions around this time, but the park is still in winter wonderland mode! As for wildlife, this is an exciting time as the elk migrate north to return to their summering grounds, bears are emerging from hibernation and entering their breeding season, and moose are still active in the cooler temperatures. Wildlife sightings tend to be more plentiful at this time than in the middle of the summer months when the temperatures begin to rise.

June is when things begin to thaw and spring starts to shine through. Snow is still a factor, but many areas of the park have begun to green up. June is the month of babies! Many animals like elk, mule deer, moose, and bison are calving or have just given birth, so be on the lookout for adorable newborns. Pronghorn antelope finally make their way back to the valley from their long migration and are an exciting sight on the landscape!

July heat moves in and melts more snow in the higher elevation habitats, allowing bears and elk to move upwards. Now they are not as common to spot as they were earlier in the season, but July is a wonderful time to hike the numerous, beautiful trails in the park. Our favorite thing about July are the blooms of wildflowers! Jackson Hole and Yellowstone become painted in a variety of colorful flowers, transforming the valley into a dreamscape.

August is typically the hottest month in the park, meaning many animals are moving around less and taking to the shaded areas of the forest. While it’s certainly not out of the question to spot a bear or a moose, the bison are the ones who will amaze you, as this is peak time for their rut! Bison herds are out in full force and they spend their time running, wallowing, bellowing, and fighting. They put on quite a show while pronghorn antelope graze and observe nearby, unfazed by the summer heat.

September is a magical time in the GYE. Fall colors begin to settle in, the elk return to the lower valleys for their own rut, and we begin to feel a little relief from the summer heat. Venturing into the park in the early morning light through the golden leaves and hearing the melodic elk bugle in the chilly air is one of the most special experiences you can get. Bears are beginning their stage of “hyperphagia”, meaning they have increased their caloric intake and spend every waking moment out looking for food. This means they have returned to the valley floor and are easier to spot once again!

October winds down with shorter days, thinner crowds, and fallen leaves. The moose are very active now, and what a time to see them as their antlers have fully grown to their impressive size! Bears continue to forage feverishly and elk are getting ready for their migration back to their wintering grounds. Temperatures can drop and we can see snowfall any time, but this time of year typically has pleasant weather. The imminent return of winter is palpable, and the animals are preparing for the tougher months ahead.

Wildlife safaris are one of the most popular activities for visitors to book during their time here, and the summer months can fill up quickly. Be sure to book your tour as early as possible to ensure your spot with us, particularly in July and August. You won’t want to miss out!

When planning your trip to Jackson, there are a couple of options to consider. If you are traveling by plane, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is conveniently located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park (the only airport fully within a national park!) only 15 minutes from downtown Jackson. Alternative airports that might suit your itinerary are Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) which is located about 90 miles west of Jackson, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) located 278 miles away to the south, and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) 225 miles to the north.

If you are hitting the road and driving in from the south, you’ll either arrive on U.S. Routes 191 or 89, both taking you north of Hoback Junction where they join just 20 minutes away from Jackson.

Coming from the west, you can veer south on U.S. 89 to go through Alpine, WY and travel through the Snake River Canyon to Jackson (about 45 minutes). Alternatively, drive the Teton Pass Hwy 22 from Victor, Idaho, a steeper but more direct route. Be prepared for steep grades up and down along the pass!

If you’ve been visiting Yellowstone National Park already on your way to Jackson, you’ll be arriving from the north. Traveling through the park is slower but of course far more scenic. If you are bypassing Yellowstone, you’ll want to come down the west side of the park past the West Entrance and head towards Teton Pass Hwy 22.

From the east, you’ll be coming in over Togwotee Pass on U.S. 26 from Riverton, and Casper, Wyoming. Interstate 80 through Rock Springs, Wyoming is generally the path taken, and will put you on to U.S. 191 heading north just as you would if you were coming from the south.

Jackson Hole is without a doubt a special destination that offers a unique opportunity to travelers looking for an unforgettable experience in nature. Book your tour with us now to guarantee your spot with us. We look forward to giving you that experience, and so much more!