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Lamar River

Tributary in Wyoming

Travel Tips

Early morning or late evening are the best times for wildlife spotting. 1

Introduction

Wildlife

• 🐺 Wolves: The Lamar Valley is one of the best places in the world to watch wolves.
• 🐻 Grizzly Bears: Grizzlies are often seen, especially in spring and fall.
• 🦬 Bison: Large herds of bison are commonly spotted grazing in the valley.
• 🦌 Elk: The valley is home to some of the largest wild herds of elk in North America.
• 🦅 Birds: Bald eagles and ospreys are frequently seen along the river.
• 🦊 Other Predators: Coyotes, bobcats, and occasionally cougars and red foxes are reported.

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Fishing

• 🎣 Popularity: The Lamar River is a popular destination for fly fishing.
• 🐟 Species: Primarily known for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, with some rainbow trout below the road bridge.
• 🪰 Fly Fishing: Good dry fly fishing with heavy hatches of caddis, pale morning duns, and large Green Drakes in July.
• 🌊 Conditions: The river and its tributaries are usually fishable from the second week of July due to high water levels earlier in the season.
• ⚖️ Regulations: Anglers are required to kill all non-native fish, including rainbow trout and hybrids.

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Hiking

• 🥾 Lamar River Trail: A seven-mile round-trip trail with easy hiking difficulty.
• 🏕️ Campsites: Two campsites, 3L1 and 3L2, are located near Cache Creek.
• 🐴 Horseback: Outfitters offer guided trips on horseback along the upper sections of the trail.
• 🌼 Wildflowers: The trail is known for its wildflowers during the summer.
• 🦬 Wildlife: Hikers can see herds of bison and other wildlife along the trail.

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Historical Significance

• 📜 Naming: Named after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the Secretary of the Interior under President Grover Cleveland.
• 🗺️ Early Names: Previously known as the East Fork of the Yellowstone River.
• 📖 Trapper's Journal: Described by Osborne Russell in his 1921 'Journal of a Trapper'.
• 🧭 Exploration: Encountered by the Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition in 1869.

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Accessibility

• 🚗 Year-Round: The Lamar Valley is accessible by car throughout the year.
• 🛣️ Roads: Accessible via the Northeast Entrance Road and Grand Loop Road.
• 🏕️ Campgrounds: Slough Creek and Pebble Creek campgrounds are located in the valley.
• 🏞️ Pullouts: Numerous pullouts along the road for wildlife viewing.

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Best Times to Visit

• 🌅 Dawn and Dusk: Animals are most active at dawn and dusk.
• ❄️ Winter: Best time for wolf watching due to prey migrations and snowy landscapes.
• 🌸 Spring: Optimal for grizzly sightings as they emerge from hibernation.
• 🍂 Fall: Good for observing mating displays and seasonal migrations.
• ☀️ Summer: Fair weather but animals may move to higher elevations.

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