Estes Park has a population of elk that treats the town as part of its range. Herds graze on golf courses, lawns and roadsides, and the surrounding meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park are among the best places in the country to watch them. In autumn the rut turns the valley into a stage: mature bulls gather harems of cows, spar with their antlers and bugle, a high whistling scream that carries across the meadows at dawn and dusk. The park's best viewing areas are Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, where wide open valleys let you watch from a safe distance, and the fields around the Beaver Meadows entrance. In spring, cows give birth in May and June and the herds are scattered in the high country; in summer many animals move upslope to cooler elevations; in winter they come down again to the valley floors. A guided elk-watching tour is the easiest way to see them well, because guides know the herds' current locations, bring spotting scopes and can tell you what the animals are doing and why. You do not have to hike, and the vehicle does the work.
Elk are wild animals and can be dangerous, especially during the autumn rut, when bulls are aggressive and unpredictable. Stay well back, use a zoom lens rather than your feet, stay beside your car in the meadows, and never position yourself between a bull and a cow. Park rangers and volunteers often manage crowds at the best viewing spots at dusk in September and October, and their instructions are there for a reason. Do not approach, feed or follow the animals, and do not park on the road; use the marked pullouts.
The best times to look are early morning and the hour before sunset, when the animals are active and the light is soft. September and early October are the peak of the rut and the most popular time, and accommodation in town books up. If you cannot visit in autumn, the elk are still present in other seasons, and a winter outing in a vehicle with a guide can bring herds on the valley floor with snow in the background.
Tours generally depart from Estes Park and combine elk with other wildlife such as mule deer, bighorn sheep and coyotes, and a good guide will point out bird life and explain local ecology.
Entry to the national park requires the standard entrance fee, and during the summer and early fall season the timed entry system applies at certain hours, so ask the operator how it is handled when you book. If you drive yourself, the bugling is often audible from the roadside at Horseshoe Park and Moraine Park after dark; listen at a respectful distance and do not shine lights. Bring binoculars, warm layers and patience; the animals work on their own schedule.
Photography tips are simple
Bring the longest lens you own, shoot at dawn and dusk when the animals are active, and stay in your car in the open meadows, which works as a hide. If you travel in a group, take turns at the window so the animals are not disturbed. Even a quiet evening in the valley, with no bugling at all, is a reminder of how wild this corner of Colorado still is, and many visitors rate it among the best parts of their trip.
What to expect
The experience
A guided wildlife outing in a 4x4 vehicle to the best elk viewing areas around Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, or a self-guided evening in the meadows.
Best time
Dawn and dusk; September to mid-October for the bugling rut.
How long
Two to three hours on a guided tour.
Tips
Bring binoculars and a zoom lens, dress in warm layers, stay in or beside your vehicle in the meadows and keep a long distance from every animal.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Wildlife lovers and photographers.
- Families
- Kids love it, but keep them close and quiet; the rut can be dangerous.
- Couples
- A quiet sunset in the meadows with a guide is a memorable evening.
- Pair with
- Moraine Park, Sprague Lake and the Stanley Hotel at night.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
When is the elk rut?+
Roughly September through mid-October, with the loudest bugling at dawn and dusk.
Where can I see elk without a tour?+
Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the meadows near the Beaver Meadows entrance, plus the streets and golf courses of Estes Park.
Is it safe?+
Only if you keep your distance. Elk can charge, especially in the rut. Stay beside your vehicle and use a zoom lens.
Do I need a timed entry permit?+
During the summer and early fall season, most of the day does. Ask the tour operator, and check the park website.
Can I see elk in winter?+
Yes. Herds move to the valley floors, and winter tours and drives are quieter.