The Best National Parks for Wildlife Viewing!

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Podcast Episode Overview

The wildlife showdown is on! We’re covering the best national parks to see animals in the wild. Whether you’re hoping to see wolves in Yellowstone or whales in Glacier Bay, we share our favorite parks for seeing animals across the U.S.

In this episode, we cover:

• Our favorite national parks for wildlife overall, plus why Alaska is in a whole different weight class
• Where to go for specific animals, including black bears, grizzlies, moose, wolves, and buffalo (yes, we said buffalo)
• The best parks for sea life, from dolphins and manatees to whales you can literally hear from your room
• A rapid-fire list of parks for some surprising creatures, like condors, bats, bighorn sheep, and birds

Your task for today: What wildlife have you not seen yet that you really want to see in a national park? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Planning your own wildlife viewing adventure?

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The best national parks to see animals in the wild

Is there anything more magical than seeing wildlife in a national park? The quiet anticipation at sunrise, the gasp when a bear steps from the trees, the joy of watching dolphins race alongside a boat. Whether you’re chasing bison or listening for whales, we’ll help you plan your own wildlife adventure.

Best Overall National Parks for Wildlife

If you want to see animals everywhere you turn, Alaska wins hands down. The wildlife there is unmatched: bears, moose, caribou, and whales fill every corner of the landscape. I worked as a ranger in Glacier Bay, and there were days I couldn’t leave for work because a moose was on my porch!

In the lower 48, Yellowstone tops our list. It’s truly the North American safari, with huge herds of bison and elk, bears along the ridgelines, and pronghorn sprinting across open valleys. You’ll spot wildlife all over, but Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley are especially wild. We go in-depth on where and when to spot wildlife in Episode 73: Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. 

Everglades takes a close second for me. It’s not what most people picture when they think of wildlife, but it’s overflowing with birds, reptiles, and rare species like the American crocodile. We’ve seen manatees, dolphins, and more, all from the same park road. Glacier and Grand Teton also make the list for their mountain-dwelling animals, especially moose and bears.

Black bears and Grizzly bears

The Great Smoky Mountains are our top pick for black bears. We’ve never left a Smokies trip without seeing at least a few. Cades Cove in the evening is prime time. Shenandoah in Virginia also has plenty of bear sightings, and for a western park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon deliver again and again. Glacier’s east side is another strong spot for black bears.

In the lower 48, you can find grizzlies in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and maybe North Cascades. Northern Grand Teton, especially around Colter Bay and Jackson Lake Lodge, is great for sightings. In Alaska, they’re called brown bears, and they’re massive thanks to a diet of salmon. Katmai is the capital of grizzly country and home of the famous Fat Bear Week. Denali is another favorite for big bear encounters, especially from the safety of the park bus.

Moose

Denali delivers giant moose, but Glacier might be my favorite moose park. On the east side, they love hanging out in lakes like Josephine, Swiftcurrent, and Fishercap. Grand Teton also has fantastic moose viewing around the Gros Ventre Campground, Blacktail Ponds, and Jackson Lake Lodge. Rocky Mountain rounds out the list with solid moose sightings on the west side near Grand Lake.

Wolves

Wolves are elusive, but you’ll have your best shot in Yellowstone, especially in the Lamar Valley or Hayden Valley. We’ve seen them multiple times there, including one memorable sighting for my birthday. Isle Royale in Michigan is another great place to see wolves, and Denali has them too, though the population has declined in recent years.

Buffalo (Bison)

Yellowstone is the king of bison. Herds fill the valleys, creating the famous “bison jams” that stop traffic for hours. Grand Teton has smaller herds that you can often see near Antelope Flats or Cunningham Cabin. For unexpected buffalo encounters, head to Badlands, Wind Cave, or Teddy Roosevelt National Park, where we’ve seen them stampede through the grasslands at sunset.

Elk

Rocky Mountain National Park is an elk paradise. In summer, you’ll see them along Trail Ridge Road. In the fall, you’ll find them bugling and fighting near Bear Lake or Sprague Lake. Estes Park, just outside the park, is full of them, too. Other top elk spots include Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains (near Cherokee and Cataloochee), Olympic (home to the giant Roosevelt elk), Redwood, and even Grand Canyon.

Sea life

If you want manatees, dolphins, and alligators, the Everglades wins! But for sea lions, seals, and whales, head to Channel Islands or Glacier Bay. We’ve cruised past pods of dolphins on the way to Anacapa Island and watched seals bask along the cliffs. Glacier Bay, though, holds my heart. When I worked there, I could hear humpback whales from my room at Bartlett Cove. Kenai Fjords also makes the list for world-class whale watching.

More wildlife to spot

• Wild horses: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Condors: Grand Canyon, Zion, Pinnacles
• Bats: Carlsbad Caverns bat flight program
• Bighorn sheep: Badlands, Zion, and the canyon drive near Estes Park
• Birding: Everglades, Congaree, and Big Bend (especially around the Rio Grande Village)

Get out there and see some wildlife!

Wildlife is one of the most magical parts of visiting the national parks. Every park protects its own set of creatures, from ocean dwellers to alpine mammals, and seeing them where they belong makes each trip unforgettable. So get out there, keep your eyes open, and tell us what animal you’re still hoping to spot next!

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Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

• Episode 73: Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park
• Yellowstone National Park Wildlife
• Everglades National Park Wildlife
• Grand Teton National Park Wildlife
• Glacier National Park Wildlife
• Rocky Mountain National Park Wildlife
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildlife
• Shenandoah National Park Wildlife
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wildlife
• Katmai National Park (Fat Bear Week)
• Denali National Park Wildlife
• Glacier Bay National Park Wildlife
• Channel Islands National Park Wildlife
• Kenai Fjords National Park Wildlife
• Badlands National Park Wildlife
• Wind Cave National Park Wildlife
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wildlife
• Grand Canyon National Park Wildlife
• Olympic National Park Wildlife

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!