Best National Parks for Wildlife Viewing

The standouts

• Yellowstone, Wyoming — The benchmark for roadside megafauna — bison on the Lamar and Hayden valleys, elk at Mammoth, wolves in Lamar when luck and optics align. Grizzlies appear across the park; give them space and never approach for photos. Summer traffic is heavy; dawn in Lamar buys quieter viewing.
• Denali, Alaska — Bus-only access deep into the park puts moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and grizzlies on the same gravel road — wildlife density varies by season but the scale is unmatched in the lower 48 sense of wild. Denali itself hides in clouds more often than not; treat wildlife as the main event, not the summit.
• Katmai, Alaska — Brooks Falls is the brown-bear icon — salmon runs concentrate dozens of bears July through September. Fly-in logistics and limited lodging make this a planned expedition, not a drive-by. Brooks Camp has boardwalks and rangers; elsewhere in Katmai is true backcountry bear country.
• Grand Teton, Wyoming — Moose in Willow Flats and along the Snake, elk on the National Elk Refuge edge, bison and pronghorn on Antelope Flats — big animals with the Tetons as backdrop. Pair with Yellowstone on the same trip; GTNP is denser scenery with fewer thermal crowds. Dawn and dusk beat midday heat for ungulates.
• Everglades, Florida — Alligators are guaranteed at close range on Anhinga Trail and many boardwalks — wading birds, roseate spoonbills, and manatees in winter add variety. Mosquitoes own the wet season; dry winter months are the comfortable window. Airboat tours outside the park are loud; stick to NPS trails for quieter ecology.
• Glacier Bay, Alaska — Humpback whales, sea otters, harbor seals, and coastal brown bears from boat decks — most visitors arrive by cruise or day boat from Gustavus. Glacier calving steals headlines but wildlife along the fjords is the repeat reason to look away from the ice. Rain gear and binoculars are daily essentials.
• Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee & North Carolina — Black bears in Cades Cove and along Roaring Fork — the most accessible bear country east of the Mississippi if you accept crowds. Elk were reintroduced to Cataloochee Valley; dawn visits improve odds and parking. Never feed wildlife; bear-proof food storage applies in backcountry camps.
• Theodore Roosevelt, North Dakota — Bison herds on scenic loops, prairie dogs at roadside towns, wild horses in the south unit, and elk in the badlands — underrated wildlife density without Alaska logistics. Summer heat is sharp; spring and fall are kinder for all-day driving loops. Remote relative to interstates; plan fuel.

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