Slough Creek Campground

Yellowstone’s premier wildlife-watching camp in the Lamar Valley

Location: Northern Range, Yellowstone National Park, WY, WY

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 (1840 reviews)

Season: Mid-May – late October

Slough Creek is the most beloved campground among serious wildlife watchers in Yellowstone. Sitting at the end of a 2-mile dirt road in the Northern Range at 6,250 ft, it places you deep in the Lamar Valley — the park’s wildlife corridor where bison herds, wolf packs, grizzlies, and elk converge daily. Only 16 sites, generators prohibited, best suited for tents and small rigs under 25 ft. The Slough Creek Trail begins here, following a historic wagon track into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Vault Toilets, Potable Water, Picnic Tables, Fire Grates, Fishing Access (Yellowstone permit required)

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/slough-creek-campground-yellowstone to be notified when sites open up.

Slough Creek is where serious wildlife watchers come to Yellowstone. The Lamar Valley is North America's best accessible wildlife viewing corridor — wolf packs, grizzly families, bison herds, pronghorn, and elk all visible from pullouts within miles of camp. At 16 sites with no generators allowed, it's intimate. The Slough Creek cutthroat fishery is legendary among fly fishermen. And at night, you may hear wolves.

Set your alarm for 5:00am, drive to the Lamar Valley pullouts as the sun rises, and watch the wildlife with a spotting scope. The Lamar has the highest density of megafauna viewing in North America outside of Africa. Most people sleep through it. ⇒ Water: The first meadow section of Slough Creek, 1.5 miles south of camp, holds trophy Yellowstone cutthroat trout averaging 16–18 inches. One of the least-pressured blue-ribbon streams in the park. Fly fishing only in this section; no bait.

What is new at Slough Creek Campground: 2026: All Yellowstone campgrounds require reservations. Book on Recreation.gov as soon as your window opens. Slough Creek fills weeks in advance.

Wildlife alert: Grizzly and black bear country. Hard-sided vehicles and bear canisters required. Wolf pack territory — keep all food secured. Bison wander through camp — maintain 25-yard distance.

Fire rules: Campfires in fire rings only. No outside firewood. Generators prohibited. Fire restrictions common in late summer — check current conditions at nps.gov/yell.

Things to do near Slough Creek Campground: Dawn wildlife drive in Lamar Valley. Slough Creek Trail (follows historic wagon route to backcountry meadows). Cutthroat trout fishing. Night sky from camp (no light pollution).

Insider tips for Slough Creek Campground: Lamar Valley Institue wolf trackers post daily sighting reports — search "Yellowstone Wolf Project" on social media for real-time locations Bring a 20x spotting scope — binoculars alone won't cut it for wolf or bear viewing across the valley The Slough Creek Trail first meadow is 1.5 miles — accessible to all fitness levels and extraordinary for wildlife

Skip Slough Creek Campground if: You have a rig over 25 ft. You need hookups or generators. You want to be near park amenities.

Best time to visit Slough Creek Campground: May — Wolf pups visible. Calving season for bison and elk. Fewer visitors.. Jun — Wildlife most active. Long days for watching.. Sep — Elk bugling. Bison rut aftermath. Grizzlies feeding heavily before denning..

Common issues at Slough Creek Campground: 25 ft hard limit — the dirt access road has a tight turnaround. Tent campers and small Class B/C motorhomes are ideal. Large rigs cannot stay here. Very remote — 7 miles from Tower-Roosevelt, 26 from Cooke City. Fill gas and groceries at Mammoth Hotel or Gardner before heading east. The road to camp is rough. Fishing requires a Yellowstone-specific permit, not a state fishing license. Buy the Yellowstone Fishing Permit in advance at nps.gov/yell or at any visitor center. $18 for 3 days.

What campers say about Slough Creek Campground: "Woke at 5am, drove to the Lamar Valley, saw a wolf pack chasing elk. Back for coffee by 7. Best morning of my life." — Reddit r/Yellowstone "Heard wolves howling from the campsite at 2am. I cried." — The Dyrt "The 2-mile dirt road to camp is slow and rough. Don't arrive after dark your first night." — Campendium

Nearby campgrounds: Tower Fall Campground (YELLOWSTONE, WY), Pebble Creek Campground (Yellowstone National Park, WY), Snowbank Campground (Gardiner, MT), Mammoth Campground (Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY).