Yellowstone’s Best Wildlife Hikes

Adventure photographer Nate Dodge stepped foot in Yellowstone for the first time last fall and was amazed by its sheer size. “I had no concept of the scale of the national park,” he says. “As we were driving to a trailhead, going over these mountain passes and vast landscapes, I kept asking, ‘Are you sure we’re still in the national park?’ The answer was always yes.”

But size is just the start. “The whole thing is alive,” he says, noting the game trails crisscrossing meadows and forests. It’s also ground zero for some of the country’s most successful efforts to protect endangered species.

That’s something that Dodge loves to discover—and share. “This career has given me the opportunity to visit a lot of places that have fragile ecosystems,” he says. “I can only hope that the imagery I capture encourages people to get out there for themselves.”

The Wild Bunch

Meet a few of Yellowstone’s most charismatic regulars.

• Pronghorn: These American ungulates can sprint up to 60 mph, likely because they evolved to outrun the American cheetah. The American cheetah is now extinct, but the pronghorn’s turbocharged genetics remain.
• Grizzlies: Grizzly bears can lift 700 pounds and run 40 mph, but one of their most unique talents is their aptitude for napping. Each winter, Yellowstone’s grizzlies sleep for five months straight, losing up to 30 percent of their body weight.
• Bison: Yellowstone’s prairies have evolved a symbiotic relationship with its bison, thanks to the way bison spread out their impact, giving native grasses time to regrow and boosting biodiversity.

Where to See Them

Spot Yellowstone’s five most iconic wildlife species on these hikes.

Grizzly Bears: Pebble Creek

Keep a sharp lookout for grizzlies on this ramble through wildflower-studded meadows. Shuttle a car to do the full 11.8-mile point-to-point from Pebble Creek Trailhead to Warm Creek Trailhead, or choose any length out-and-back.

Bison: Specimen Ridge

The Lamar Valley is one of the best places to glimpse the park’s massive bison herds. Start at the Specimen Ridge trailhead and take the namesake trail as far southwest as you like, scanning the grassy slopes below for the massive animals.

Wolves: Slough Creek

Stroll along Slough Creek for your best chance at spotting one of Yellowstone’s elusive wolf packs. Pro tip: Wolf viewing tends to be better in winter, when packs are more active and their dark coats are easy to spot against the snow.

Bighorn Sheep: Gardner Canyon

Drive along the North Entrance Road to spot bighorn sheep tiptoeing along Gardner Canyon’s rocky ledges. Prefer to stretch your legs? Hop out at the Lava Creek Trailhead and stroll 5.4 miles south to Undine Falls, glassing for sheep all the while.

Pronghorn Antelope: Lamar Valley

Head for the Soda Butte Creek Trailhead. Antelope favor lower elevations during fall and winter, but you can still spot them on higher slopes in summer. Follow the Lamar River Trail for an out-and-back customized to your time and ambition.

Raise a Toast: Spirit of the Plains

Celebrate a great day in the national park with this custom recipe and Yellowstone Bourbon, which was founded in 1872 to honor America’s first national park, and which continues to support the national park system today.

Glassware: Coupe

Ingredients 

• 2 oz Yellowstone Bourbon Toasted
• 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 oz cinnamon simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract)
• 1 egg white
• Sage leaf for garnish

Directions 

• Add ingredients to a shaker and dry shake.
• Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a coupe glass.

Established in 1872, Yellowstone Bourbon was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America’s first national park. It’s what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.