May. The road from West Yellowstone to Mammoth is a great location for viewing bison, elk, and an occasional moose. Though less commonly seen, grizzly bears and wolves may be observed in Lamar Valley. Another good location for grizzly bears is the Pelican Valley, which is located on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. However, the valley is closed to hiking and camping during the months of May and June due to bear activity. There is a pull-out at where Pelican Creek flows into the lake.
Visitors can park and view wildlife from the vehicle.
Bring binoculars and scan the open valley from the parking area. If you are lucky, you just might see a bear. But, don't be disappointed if you don't see one, because relatively few visitors have the opportunity to observe bears in their natural habitat. For any additional information on closures and wildlife, visit the visitor's center at Mammoth. For those interested in collecting the new Yellowstone Anniversary commemorative coin to be minted by the U.S. Mint this summer, the U.S. Mint's website may be of interest.