Where to See Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Home to hundreds of bears, Yellowstone National Park is the perfect place to visit for viewing bears. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of a black bear or grizzly bear, here’s where to see bears in Yellowstone.

There’s nothing quite like seeing a wild bear in its natural habitat! If you’ve been wondering where to see bears in Yellowstone, you’ve come to the right place because I am obsessed with bears.

On our trip to Yellowstone, I was on high alert for bears at every stop. While seeing a bear in the wild is never a guarantee, we did spot two black bears before the end of our trip.

I’ve rounded up all the best places for seeing bears in Yellowstone so you can plan accordingly. Here’s hoping you see lots of bears on your trip!

Best Places to See Bears in Yellowstone

1. Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is probably Yellowstone’s most famous wildlife haven, often called “America’s Serengeti” for its incredible abundance of wildlife.

So it’s no wonder it’s a great place to find grizzly bears.

Dawn and dusk are the best times to see grizzly bears in action. This is also a great time to see wolves, and if you spot a wolf out on a kill, a grizzly bear probably isn’t far behind to take over the bounty.

Be sure to bring along some binoculars so you can view the bears from a safe distance (find more Yellowstone packing tips here).

2. Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is another one of the best places in Yellowstone National Park to spot wildlife. These grasslands serve as a gathering spot for grizzly bears, with various roadside pullouts and lookout points providing excellent vantage points for observing wildlife from a safe distance.

Again, dawn and dusk are the prime times to catch grizzly bear activity.

A great place to stop is the Yellowstone River Overlook at Hayden Valley, also known as Grizzly Overlook.

3. Dunraven Pass

Dunraven Pass is the mountain pass along Grand Loop Road that runs between Tower in the north and Canyon in the south.

This pass is the highest in Yellowstone, and the bears tend to frequent higher elevations during the summer since it’s cooler. So this is a great place to spot both black bears and grizzly bears.

In the late summer and fall, bears will gather here to munch on pine nuts from the Whitebark pine trees that grow in this higher elevation. You may find black bears harvesting up in the trees.

In fact, driving Dunraven Pass at dusk is where we saw a momma black bear and her cub when we visited in the last week of August! The two of them were on the side of the road, eating from the tall grasses and wildflowers.

Be sure to drive carefully along this winding pass, especially at dawn and dusk. Keep alert for bears and other wildlife.

4. Tower/Roosevelt

The Tower and Roosevelt area is known as the “Bear-muda Triangle” because of all its bear activity — both black bears and grizzly bears. It’s one of the few areas in the US where both bear species coexist.

You may spot a black bear close to the road while driving through here. If a bear approaches your car, honk and drive away; you don’t want to encourage bears approaching vehicles.

If you see one bear, take a look around and up in the trees: you may have gotten lucky to see a momma bear and her cubs.

5. Yellowstone Lake

Look for grizzly bears along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. They particularly like the small creeks that flow into the lake.

Fishing Bridge near where the Yellowstone River meets Yellowstone Lake is a great spot to find bears. They are attracted to the area’s dense forests, open grasslands, and water source for fishing.

Keep an eye out for bears along the lake shores, fishing in the small spawning creeks, and along Mary Bay or Sedge Bay.

6. Mammoth Hot Springs

Black bears are commonly found around the Mammoth area, and grizzly bears are fond of the area as well.

Grizzly bears feed on elk, and there’s a huge elk population at Mammoth. You may even see a bear wandering through town.

Stay alert when hiking the Beaver Ponds Trail and the Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Always be sure to hike in groups of 3 or more.

Best Time to See Bears in Yellowstone

The best time of year to see bears is in spring when the bears have emerged from hibernation and are actively foraging for food in lower elevations.

Bears emerge from their hibernation in Yellowstone in March and April. You can typically find them grazing the roadside meadows, like Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley. This is a great time to see bear cubs.

During summer, the bears typically move to the cooler higher elevations, like Dunraven Pass. Sightings may be less frequent as the bears stick to the woods.

In the late summer and autumn, you can find bears again very actively foraging for food as they fatten up for the winter. You’ll see them in roadside meadows getting the last bit of energy they need before hibernation.

The best time of day to see bears is at dawn or dusk. Bears are most active during these hours because it is cooler and light is lower, which makes it easier for them to forage for food and move stealthily.

Bear Spotting Tips

• Your best chances of seeing a bear are at dawn and dusk.
• Keep an eye out in known bear-spotting areas like Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley, and Dunraven Pass.
• Look for bears along the tree line against a meadow or the side of the road.
• Be patient.
• Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to get a closer look.
• When driving, pull over when you see other cars pulled over. You can always ask if anyone has seen a bear!

Know Your Bears:

• Black Bears can be colored black, brown, cinnamon, and blonde, so it’s not always easy to tell just based on their coloring. Their muzzle is typically a lighter color than their fur. They have a fairly flat back — they don’t have a hump and their butt is higher than their shoulders. They have a straight, flat profile that almost seems like their snoot has been smooshed. Black bears tend to be smaller.
• Grizzly Bears can be colored blonde, brown, and even a dark brown or black. But they typically have a white-tipped fur that gives them the grizzled look. The grizzlies in Yellowstone typically have a light brown “girth band” where their fur is lighter in color just behind their front legs. They have a distinctive hump on their back right at their shoulder, and their butt is lower then their shoulders. They have a dish-shaped profile with a distinct separation of forehead and snoot. Plus, they have a ruff on long fur under their neck. Grizzly bears tend to be bigger.

Bear Safety in Yellowstone

Spotting wildlife in Yellowstone is one of the most exciting parts of the trip, but you have to remember that you’re venturing into the bears’ home, and you need to be alert and safe at all times. Here are a few bear safety tips to follow:

1. Carry Bear Spray & Know How to Use It: The park recommends each adult should carry one can of bear spray in a readily accessible location. Renting bear spray can get expensive, so at least one person in your party should have bear spray. Keep it on a quick-draw holders (not stowed away) and know how to use it.
2. Stay Alert & Stay Together: Pay attention to your surroundings, especially when hiking, and keep kids close by. Making some noise will let bears know you are there, but too much noise will scare the bears away, which you don’t want when safely viewing them from a distance but is helpful to keep in mind if a bear approaches you.
3. Leave No Trash or Food Scraps: Leave No Trace is essential in bear country. Don’t leave food or trash along the trails or give food to the bears. Leaving scraps teaches bears to associate trails and humans with food.
4. Keep Your Distance: Give wild bears plenty of space. Keep at least 100 yards (or 8 bus lengths) away from bears. Getting close-ups is what you brought your binoculars and telephoto lenses for!
5. Discourage Bears from Approaching Your Car: Since you spend so much time in Yellowstone driving in a car, it’s likely you’ll see a bear from your car. If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away. Bears that don’t view cars as a danger are more likely to be hurt in a road accident.
6. Know What To Do For Each Type of Bear: Bear safety is different for different bear species. You need to know how to de-escalate an encounter with a black bear vs. a grizzly bear.

What To Do If You Encounter a Black Bear

Black bears are a less aggressive species, and you may see a bear before it notices you; stand still and don’t approach, enjoy the sight, then move away quietly.

If a black bear sees you, you want to back away slowly, never run.

Hold your ground if a black bear approaches and make a lot of noise, waving your arms slowly to make yourself seem bigger.

If a black bear makes contact wit you, fight back aggressively.

What To Do If You Encounter a Grizzly Bear

For grizzly bears, you should still stand your ground even if it approaches. If it’s not approaching, you can back away slowly, never run.

If a grizzly bear approaches you, slowly wave your arms and talk to it in low tones so it knows you are human and not prey.

Grizzly bears may bluff an attack by charging then turning away at the last second.

If a grizzly bear makes contact with you, play dead by laying flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Make it hard for the bear to turn you over, and remain still until the bear leaves the area.

If the bear does not leave after a few minutes, then you should fight back vigorously, aiming for the face.

Bear attacks are rare. Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are the best ways to stay safe in bear country.

Bears in Yellowstone FAQ

Map: Where to See Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Use the map below to find all these top places for seeing bears in Yellowstone.

I hope you have a great time and see lots of bears!

Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park? It’s the best place to stay when visiting! There are 9 lodges inside the park:

• Where We Stayed: Old Faithful Inn
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
• Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
• Canyon Lodge & Cabins
• Lake Lodge Cabins
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
• Grant Village
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabin
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins

Yellowstone also has 12 campgrounds that you can reserve in advance.

More Wyoming Itineraries

Use the posts below to help plan out your perfect Wyoming vacation.

• Perfect 7 Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton Itinerary
• 35 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
• Old Faithful Inn Review: Is It Worth It?
• 21 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
• Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa Review: Jackson Hole Hotel
• 11 Best Things to Do in Jackson, Wyoming
• Yellowstone Packing List: Essentials for Stress-Free Sightseeing
• Easy 1 Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary
• 4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary for First-Timers
• 8 Best Yellowstone Restaurants: Where to Eat in the Park

Cheers!

Paige

Are you excited to see bears in Yellowstone National Park? Let me know in the comments below!