Lamar Valley: Yellowstone National Park (YNP)

Probably our favorite area of YNP is the more remote, less visited Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of the park. We devoted an entire day to re-visit this area and it was incredible! We visited other points of interest on the way, and we were rewarded with more fantastic scenery and wildlife. Wildlife Report: Black bears, wolves, coyotes, antelope, bison herds, elk, grouse. We were within 25-yards of a black bear, coyotes cross in front of our car, and we were able to see wolves thru spotting scope that nice folks offer to use. Fishing Report: I was able to fish for a couple of hours and was rewarded with a personal best. A 17" Yellowstone Cutthroat that is the largest and most beautiful cutthroat in my experience. Also caught another 14" cutthroat and missed a couple more in this size range. Caught in the Lamar River in the Valley of the same name - what an experience! And wouldn't you know that I didn't take my camera this time - you do believe me don't you? After I got out of the river, we were pleased to meet and visit with Rich and Julie Schaaf. Rich has property across the White River from our property and his brother used to guide there. Rich is a professional photographer with a unique approach to his prime subject, flyfishing. His work has appeared with some of the best on Midcurrent. com. Rich's website is eastforkfly.com. He has some very interesting and quality images of our sport. It was getting late on our return to camp, so we stopped for dinner at the Mammoth Springs Restaurant. The dinner was good and we had window seats overlooking the old parade grounds, where we were entertained by an excited bull elk that was bugling and running off younger bull competitors and rounding up his harem when they strayed. Undine Falls Black bear on road to Tower Falls Tower Falls "Bear Rock" on Blacktail Plateau Drive Yellowstone River on Tower Falls Road Lamar Valley Lamar River: where I caught the cutthroats Lamar River Dusk at the pass in to Mammoth