Check Before You Go — Dunraven Pass May Be Closed
The road between Canyon and Tower-Roosevelt climbs over Dunraven Pass at 8,859 ft and can close in June due to snow. Call the park road hotline the night before: (307) 344-2177.
🟢 If Dunraven is open: West Entrance → Norris → Canyon → Dunraven Pass → Tower-Roosevelt (~2 hrs to Tower)
🔴 If Dunraven is closed: West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt (~2 hrs 15 min to Tower — adds about 15–20 minutes since you bypass Canyon but take the longer Norris–Mammoth–Tower road)
🟢 If Dunraven is open: West Entrance → Norris → Canyon → Dunraven Pass → Tower-Roosevelt (~2 hrs to Tower)
🔴 If Dunraven is closed: West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt (~2 hrs 15 min to Tower — adds about 15–20 minutes since you bypass Canyon but take the longer Norris–Mammoth–Tower road)
Day 3 Logistics — Prep the Night Before
Depart: 5:00am sharp · Return: ~2:15pm
Route (Dunraven open): West Entrance → Norris → Canyon → Dunraven Pass → Tower-Roosevelt → Lamar Valley → return same way
Route (Dunraven closed): West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt → Lamar Valley → return same way
Fuel: Fill up in West Yellowstone the night before — don't rely on park fuel for this long a day
Food: Pack everything. Roosevelt Lodge at Tower Junction has food (burgers, cowboy cookouts) — a great lunch stop. Nothing in Lamar Valley itself.
Gear: Binoculars are almost required. Bear spray if you get out of the vehicle at any pull-off. Layers — Lamar at 5am is cold even in June.
Route (Dunraven open): West Entrance → Norris → Canyon → Dunraven Pass → Tower-Roosevelt → Lamar Valley → return same way
Route (Dunraven closed): West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt → Lamar Valley → return same way
Fuel: Fill up in West Yellowstone the night before — don't rely on park fuel for this long a day
Food: Pack everything. Roosevelt Lodge at Tower Junction has food (burgers, cowboy cookouts) — a great lunch stop. Nothing in Lamar Valley itself.
Gear: Binoculars are almost required. Bear spray if you get out of the vehicle at any pull-off. Layers — Lamar at 5am is cold even in June.
Charlie Brown — Long Day in the Car
Most of today is wildlife viewing from the vehicle or roadside pull-offs — actually one of Charlie's better days since you'll be in the car most of the time anyway. Bring extra water for him — it will be cold in the morning and warm by afternoon. Never leave him in a hot car; the return drive will be warm. Tower Fall overlook is a short paved walk — no dogs on the trail to the falls base, but the top overlook is roadside accessible. Roosevelt Lodge has a dog-friendly outdoor area for your lunch stop.
Wildlife Jams — Be the Good Guy
When you see cars pulled over on the Lamar road, something is happening. Pull completely off the pavement before stopping. Don't block the lane. If someone has a spotting scope set up, ask before crowding in — most people are happy to share the view, but it's their equipment and their moment. Wildlife jams are a community experience. The more generous you are with other viewers, the better your Lamar day gets.
Today's Route — Start Before Sunrise
START — Dunraven Pass Open
START — Dunraven Closed
🟢 Dunraven open: West Entrance → Norris → Canyon → Dunraven Pass → Tower-Roosevelt | follow times below as shown
🔴 Dunraven closed: West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt | add ~15–20 min to all stops from Norris onward
📞 Check the night before: (307) 344-2177
🔴 Dunraven closed: West Entrance → Norris → Mammoth Springs → Tower-Roosevelt | add ~15–20 min to all stops from Norris onward
📞 Check the night before: (307) 344-2177
4:45am
Wake Up
Wake Up
Pre-Dawn Prep
Coffee, cooler loaded, binoculars in the cab, layers on. The park gate is open 24/7. You want to be moving by 5:00am.
5:00am
Depart
Depart
West Entrance — Lights On
The gate is unstaffed this early — drive through. The road to Madison is dark and wildlife-active at this hour. Drive slowly and watch for bison on the road — they're impossible to see until you're close in the dark. Headlights on, speed down.
5:45am
Norris Junction — Pass Through
Don't stop at Norris today (that was Day 2). Continue east toward Canyon — the light is just starting on the open plateau and you may see elk in the meadows along the road.
🔴 If Dunraven is closed: turn north here toward Mammoth Hot Springs, then east to Tower-Roosevelt. Skip the Canyon Junction and Tower Fall Overlook stops below — they're on the closed road. Pick back up at Tower-Roosevelt (~7:20am).
6:15am
Canyon Junction — Dunraven Pass Road
From Canyon, take the road north toward Tower. The road climbs over Dunraven Pass at 8,859 feet — the highest road point in the park. The open subalpine terrain here is excellent black bear and grizzly habitat in June. Scan the slopes carefully as you climb. The Absaroka Range view from the pass on a clear morning is stunning.
6:50am
Tower Fall Overlook
A 132-foot waterfall dropping into a narrow canyon of volcanic pinnacles. The top overlook is a very short walk from the parking lot — worth 10 minutes. The trail to the falls base is steeper and doesn't allow dogs. Stretch your legs here before the final push to Lamar.
7:05am
🔴 7:20am
Tower-Roosevelt Junction
Short fuel/bathroom stop if needed. Roosevelt Lodge opens for breakfast — if you didn't eat before leaving, this is a good quick stop. Otherwise continue northeast — Lamar Valley is 20 minutes ahead and the best light won't last forever.
7:30am
🔴 7:45am
Lamar Valley — First Light Wildlife
You're here. The road into Lamar follows the Lamar River through a wide open valley backed by the Absaroka Mountains. Stop at every pull-off and scan. Grizzly bears are regularly spotted on the hillsides above the valley in June — digging for roots, chasing elk calves. Bison herds graze the valley floor. Wolf pack territory runs through here. If you see a cluster of vehicles stopped with spotting scopes out, pull over — it's real. Allow 2–3 hours of active viewing time in the valley.
9:00am
🔴 9:15am
Soda Butte Creek & Pullouts
The northeastern end of Lamar where Soda Butte Creek joins — willow thickets along the creek hold moose in June. The thermal cone of Soda Butte itself (a dormant hot spring mound) is right at roadside. Keep scanning. Some of the best bear sightings in the valley happen in this northeastern section along the slopes above the creek.
11:00am
🔴 11:15am
Turnaround — Head Back to Roosevelt
Start heading back toward Tower-Roosevelt for lunch. The return drive through Lamar is still productive — wildlife doesn't disappear midday, it just becomes harder to spot. Keep scanning.
11:15am
🔴 11:30am
Lunch at Roosevelt Lodge
The most rustic and characterful lodge in the park — log cabin dining room, cowboy feel, solid American food. Burgers, bison chili, good coffee. The outdoor area works for Charlie. This is a well-earned lunch after a big morning.
12:15pm
🔴 12:30pm
Return Drive — Dunraven Pass & Canyon
The return over Dunraven Pass often produces afternoon bear sightings on the grassy slopes — the angle of light is different and you may spot things you missed on the way out. Slow down on the descent. Back through Canyon and Norris, then west toward Madison.
2:15pm
🔴 2:30pm
Back at Grizzly RV Park
That's Lamar. The biggest day of the trip. Rest up.
✅ The Whole Point of Today
🐻
Grizzly bear sighting — scan the hillsides above the valley floor. Early morning is your best window. It's not guaranteed, but June in Lamar is as good as it gets.
🦬
Bison herd with red calves — the calves are 4–8 weeks old in June. Still orange-red colored, staying close to their mothers. You'll see them.
🌄
First light over the Absarokas — the mountains behind the valley at sunrise are one of the great views in Yellowstone.
🔭
Stop at every wildlife jam — trust the spotting scopes. People don't set up expensive equipment for nothing.