Yellowstone - Day 2

On Day 1, we explored the southeast side of Yellowstone, near where we were staying. Today, we set out to discover the Northeast. Our thinking was that by covering the eastern part of the park now, we’d already have that area checked off before moving to our next stop at Under Canvas in West Yellowstone.

After a day full of thermal features and waterfalls, we decided to shift the focus to wildlife. A park ranger had told us that Lamar Valley was “the Serengeti of Yellowstone,” so we knew it would be the perfect place to spot animals. And it didn’t disappoint—besides seeing hundreds of bison, the big find of the day was coyotes.

Faith and I first spotted one during a roadside stop before lunch. We didn’t catch a photo, but we followed its path for a bit before heading on. After lunch, we returned to the same area—and sure enough, the coyote came right up near the car! It was an exciting moment, not just because it was so close, but because we found it. So often, we’d been joining other crowds who had already found something. This one was ours.

We also enjoyed another beautiful picnic lunch today. Near the park’s Northeast entrance, we discovered a small river with a narrow "island" just wide enough for a blanket. It was a bit of a risk being that close to the water—and we were right. Both Marley and Faith ended up getting wet. Still, it was a stunning, peaceful spot for a riverside picnic under the Montana mountains.

But the highlight of the day (and maybe the whole trip so far) was dinner. Annie had booked a wagon ride cookout, and it was everything we envisioned. We rode out to the site in a wagon pulled by draft horses—a 30 to 45-minute journey through beautiful terrain and bison. Once there, Marley made a beeline for the lasso-roping area while dinner was being prepared. The site also had animal bones to examine, horses to pet, and live music to dance to. Best of all—we saw our first bear!

By the time the wagon ride back rolled around Marley was talking more than the guide (who thankfully seemed entertained by his charm). On the drive home, the wildlife sightings kept coming: another coyote, a fox, a second bear, and even a wolf.

All in all, Day 2 was a huge success. On our wildlife quest, we spotted bears, bison, coyotes, a fox, elk, and many more creatures the kids could check off in their Junior Ranger books. We returned late and enjoyed one final night in Lake Village before heading on to West Yellowstone.