Yellowstone National Park 2026 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
October 6th through 10th, 2026
Yellowstone National Park
Beautiful Mountain Lion ~ Lamar Valley ~ April 10th, 2023 ~ Photo by Linda Rudge Carney © All Rights Reserved
Mountain Lion ~ also known as the Cougar, Puma, Panther, or Catamount ~ Puma concolor
~ October 2026 ~
October 6th - Tuesday
37 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 74 degrees out in the park this afternoon. I watched the loose horse, Evie, again in Slough Creek again near a bison herd. I had a small bull moose cross the road just as I entered Silver Gate this evening. At 6:45 a.m. Marisa de F found a large dark grizzly just across the Lamar River viewed from Trash can Pullout. It was moving slowly to the east and in view a long time this morning. At 6:55 a.m. Michael S, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, called with a grizzly on Amethyst Bench. It appeared to be the two and one-half year-old light colored sub adult and soon went out of sight in the tree line.
October 7th - Wednesday
33 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 79 degrees north of Gardiner this evening. I saw a fox just off the road near the NE Entrance this morning. The loose horse again in sight in Slough Creek, close to a bison herd again. At 7:00 a.m. Frank H called with a dark grizzly moving east in front of the Western Foothills. It took its time this morning and was in view for fifteen minutes or so. At 7:15 a.m. Jayden A, Silver Gate Guides, pointed out a second grizzly above the Western Foothills. It appeared to be the light colored two and one-half year-old Ski Slope sub adult. Not in view very long this morning. I ventured out of the park and north of Gardiner today to watch for grizzlies. I ended up with thirteen this evening: a sow with one cub of the year (coy), a sow with two coys, a sow with three large yearlings, a pair of larger sub adult grizzlies, and four separate single grizzlies. I camped outside of Gardiner this evening.
October 8th - Thurday
39 degrees north of Gardiner this morning warming up to 78 degrees this afternoon out in the park. I had a skunk on the road north of Gardiner this morning. I went to watch for grizzlies again north of the park this morning. I had fourteen this morning before I left about thirty-five minutes after sunlight. Fourteen grizzlies this morning: a sow with one coy, a sow with two coys, a sow with three yearlings, and five individual grizzles. I had no grizzlies returning to the park in early morning.
October 9th - Friday
32 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 75 degrees with high winds this evening out in the park. I watched the loose horse again at Slough Creek this morning, close to a bison herd again. I hiked Trout Lake with Frank H today. I was disappointed that they have signs blocking travel to Buck Lake for restoration. We watched a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes and a pair of Common Goldeneyes swimming in the lake. Frank pointed out an osprey nest in a dead tree north of the lake. I cannot remember ever seeing a nest that close to the lake (no birds on the nest this late in the year). The Beartooth Highway closed for the year today at 2:30 p.m. At 8:45 a.m. Matt D, Yellowstone Wild, called with a grizzly in view behind the Western Foothills viewed from Trashcan Pullout. I joined Matt to find that only the top of the grizzly was in view. Others were looking further to the east from Enclosure Pullout, but parking was tight. So, I went on the Footbridge Pullout. It was the two and one-half year-old Ski Slope light colored sub adult. In view for well over an hour of watching, digging for breakfast.
October 10th - Saturday
I winter storm is coming late today and lasting through Sunday and Monday; therefore, I headed home for a few days. A warm 44 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 72 in Idaho Falls this afternoon. I had a large bull moose walking down the park road on the way into the park this morning. He took his time wandering off the road so I could pass by. I had a fox just inside the NE Entrance before daylight this morning. The loose horse was again in Slough Creek a little farer away from a bison herd this morning. Just after 7:00 a.m. Michael S, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, called with a grizzly south of Old Road Pullout. It was a nice sized grizzly out in the flats. It traveled to the east on this side of the Lamar River then traveled south. In view for about fifteen minutes.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Wendy B, Dan and Laurie L, Marisa de F, Ilona P, and Bucket Bob J. From Missouri: Frank H, From Colorado: Mark and Carol R. From Wyoming: Gabriel M and his father. From California: Glenda M and Kathie L. From Florida: Andy and Missy O. From Arizona: Steve J. And from North Dakota: Sandy H. Bear Watchers seen this report: From Montana: Doug M, Cam H, and Alan C. From Utah: Scott M. From Idaho: Blake M. From Wyoming: Tom H. From Colorado: Tanner H. And from Oregon: Larry and Char T. Others seen this report: From Montana: Dan Hm, Micheal S, Quinn H, Alexander M, Audra C, Amanda E, Jayden A, Andrea B, Grant J, and Matt D. From Washington: Aaron M.
Beautiful Mountain Lion ~ Lamar Valley ~ April 10th, 2023 ~ Photo by Linda Rudge Carney © All Rights Reserved
Mountain Lion ~ also known as the Cougar, Puma, Panther, or Catamount ~ Puma concolor
Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
| Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2032 | 2026 | 2020 | 2014 | 2008 | 2000 |
| 2031 | 2025 | 2019 | 2013 | 2007 | 1999 |
| 2030 | 2024 | 2018 | 2012 | 2005 | 1998 |
| 2029 | 2023 | 2017 | 2011 | 2004 | 1997 |
| 2028 | 2022 | 2016 | 2010 | 2003 | 1996 |
| 2027 | 2021 | 2015 | 2009 | 2002 | 1995 |
| Yellowstone Geyser and Thermal Videos | |
|---|---|
| Beehive Geyser Eruption | Old Faithful with Bison |
| Beehive Geyser Eruption Two | Pocket Basin |
| Fan and Mortar | Roaring Mountain |
| Grand Geyser | Rocket and Grotto |
| Old Faithful One | West Thumb |
| Yellowstone Waterfall Videos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cave Falls | Mesa Falls | Undine Falls |
| Gibbon Falls | Rustic Falls | Upper Falls |
| Lower Falls | Tower Fall | Wraith Falls |
| Yellowstone Ranger Station Videos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bechler | Tower Fall | |
| Yellowstone Area Videos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lamar Valley | Picnic Areas | Ponds in Little America |
| Yellowstone National Park WebCams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| All WebCams | East Entrance | Mammoth | Mount Washburn |
| North Entrance | Old Faithful Live | West Entrance | YVO WebCam |
| Entrance Cities and Gateway Towns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardiner, Montana | Silver Gate, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana | Cooke City, Montana |
| Livingston, Montana | Cody, Wyoming | Jackson Hole, Wyoming | Yellowstone National Park |
| Links | |
|---|---|
| The Great Outdoors Net | Great Outdoor Recreational Places |
| Gardiner, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana |
 |  |