Lamar River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lamar River
The Lamar River in 1998 showing trees burned in the 1988 wildfires
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
Physical characteristics
Main source	Absaroka Range, Wyoming 44°21′19″N 109°49′33″W / 44.35528°N 109.82583°W / 44.35528; -109.82583
River mouth	Yellowstone River Tower Junction, Wyoming 44°55′45″N 110°24′07″W / 44.92917°N 110.40194°W / 44.92917; -110.40194
Length	40 mi (64 km)
Depth	Average depth: 884 cu ft/s (25.0 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries	Left: Soda Butte Creek Right: Slough Creek

The Lamar River is a beautiful river in Yellowstone National Park, located in northwestern Wyoming, United States. It flows for about 40 miles (64 km) and is a major branch of the Yellowstone River. The entire river is found within the famous national park, making it a special place for nature and wildlife.

History of the Lamar River

Before 1884, people knew the Lamar River as the East Fork of the Yellowstone River. During a survey of the park in 1884–85, a geologist named Arnold Hague gave the river its current name. He named it after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, who was the Secretary of the Interior at the time. Many other places in the park, like the Lamar Valley, also got their names from him.

An early explorer and trapper named Osborne Russell described the Lamar Valley in his journal in 1834. He called it a "beautiful valley" surrounded by mountains, with a stream flowing through it. He even found a small group of Snake Indians living there, calling it a "lonely and secluded spot."

In 1869, the Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition explored this area. They found the Lamar River (then called the East Fork) and traveled upstream, camping near where Calfee Creek joins the river.

Location and What You'll See

A black and gray female wolf on the roadway near the Lamar River bridge

A herd of bisons and pronghorns in Lamar Valley

The Lamar River starts high up in the Absaroka Range, which is on the eastern side of Yellowstone National Park. It then flows northwest through the park's northeast corner. Many smaller streams join it, including Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek. Finally, it meets the Yellowstone River near Tower Junction.

The Lamar Valley is super popular for seeing wildlife. It's one of the best places in Yellowstone to spot amazing animals like grizzly bears and wolves. In fact, in 1995, three spots in the valley (Soda Butte, Crystal Creek, and Rose Creek) were chosen to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone. The river also flows through an area that was heavily affected by the big Yellowstone fires of 1988. You can often see pronghorn, bison, and bears roaming around the Lamar River Valley.

Fishing in the Lamar River

The Lamar River and its smaller streams are a favorite spot for fishing in Yellowstone Park. It's easy to get to, and the fishing for Yellowstone cutthroat trout is considered some of the best in the world. You might find a few rainbow trout closer to the road bridge, but mostly it's about the cutthroat trout.

Fishing for cutthroat trout in the Lamar is great for "dry fly fishing." This means using flies that float on the water's surface. In July, you can see lots of insects hatching, like caddisflies and mayflies, which the trout love to eat. Later in the summer, other insects that live on land, called terrestrials, become important.

Usually, you can't fish the Lamar and its branches until about the second week of July because the water is too high from melting snow. It's always a good idea to check with local fishing shops for the latest conditions.

The National Park Service often updates its fishing rules for the Lamar River. In 2018, they made some important changes. Now, if you catch a non-native fish like a rainbow trout or a rainbow/cutthroat hybrid, you must keep it. This helps protect the native cutthroat trout. Also, you can no longer use felt-soled waders (special boots for fishing) anywhere in the park. Other rules that are still in place include banning barbed hooks, lead weights, and live bait.

Amazing Wildlife

The Lamar River area is famous for its incredible wildlife. It's often called "America's Serengeti" because you can see so many animals, just like in Africa!

• Mammals: You'll often spot pronghorn, bison, and different kinds of bears, including grizzly bears.
• Wolves: This area is one of the best places in the world to see wolves in the wild. Two well-known wolf packs, the Lamar Canyon and Junction Butte packs, live along the Lamar River.
• Fish: The river itself is home to many Yellowstone cutthroat trout, which attracts fishermen.
• Birds: Look up and you might see birds of prey like osprey and bald eagle soaring overhead.

Hiking Adventures

The Lamar River Trail is a great way to explore the area. It's about seven miles (11 km) long round-trip and is considered an easy hike, so you can usually finish it in one day.

As you hike, you'll get to see lots of the amazing wildlife the valley has to offer. Even if you only walk a few miles, you'll likely be close to herds of bison grazing along the trail.

There are also two good campsites along the trail, called 3L1 and 3L2, near Cache Creek. Just be aware that campsite 3L2 can be tricky to reach in the spring. This is because the Lamar River might be high, and you'll need to cross it to get there. For those who want to go deeper into the wilderness, some companies offer guided trips on horseback along the upper parts of the trail.

Climate of the Lamar Valley

Images for kids

• 

  Lamar River, 1959

• 

  Lamar River, 1969

• 

  Lamar River, 1977

• 

  Lamar River, January 2009

• 

  Photo from September 2018 looking from the Lamar River to the northeast toward Bison Peak