Elk (Cervus canadensis), also known as wapiti, are large deer that are naturally found in much of Western North America, and in Siberia and Eastern Asia. They have tan bodies and dark necks and heads, and males (bulls) may have massive antler racks. Weighing up to around 1,300 pounds, elk are often coveted by people who partake in wildlife watching. Following are some of the best national parks for spotting elk in the United States.
Yellowstone National Park, Where Spotting Elk is Easy
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), a great place for wildlife watching in general, has extremely high concentrations of wapiti (up to 25,000 at any point within the park's boundaries). Although they sometimes come close to the park's entrance, and its lodgings and hotels, more commonly they are seen or heard (as male elk "bugle") by those hiking the park's many trails. Numerous other mammals inhabit the park, and after bison and occasional moose, elk are the largest animals in Yellowstone.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain NP is another one of the top recreation locations for spotting wapiti in the United States. Located in Northern Colorado, the park is made up of meadow, montane forest, lakes, rivers, and mountains, making for excellent elk habitat. It encompasses over one quarter of a million acres of Colorado's beautifully pristine wilderness, and park visitors and hikers commonly spot and hear Rocky Mountain elk.
Glacier, a Top National Park for Spotting Elk in the Wild
Glacier in Montana (bordering Canada) is another top national park for spotting Rocky Mountain elk. With abundant alpine forest adjacent to expansive meadows and grassy areas, elk thrive in the park. Also a prime recreation area for hiking, visitors enjoying wildlife watching are sure to spot elk from the many trails available in Glacier.
Grand Teton, a Top Area for Wildlife Watching and Spotting Elk in the U.S.
Wapiti are very common in Grand Teton National Park, in Northwestern Wyoming. The park has title mountain peaks that are surrounded by open forest and meadow, which serve as prime elk habitat. Also an excellent area for hiking outdoor trails, wildlife watching in the Tetons is a top recreation, and likely there is no better spot in the country to see or hear truly wild Rocky Mountain elk firsthand.
Elk are majestic deer that inhabit the rugged, mountainous terrain of the American west. Because of their beauty, they are highly coveted by wildlife watchers at North America's National Parks. Visiting any of the above parks and spending some time outdoors on trails will likely help visitors to spot elk in the wild.
Thomas Wyatt - Tom Wyatt grew up in Virginia. He has been interested in the outdoors (fishing, birding, camping, and other such activities) since he was ...
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