The Smithsonian Magazine put together a short video about the Elk in Estes Park during Elk Fest this year. I would say they did a little better job with their video than my video I just posted a few days ago of the Elk fighting. Then again, I should hope so!

Here are a few tips of where to find the Elk in Estes Park.

Enjoy the video!

Seeing elk in Estes Park is a pretty common occurrence, but it is rare when you see two pairs of elk each battling it out. Unfortunately, as soon as I started filming, the 2nd pair didn’t fight much. I suppose these guys seemed to be just fooling around a bit and not really fighting for much reason. There weren’t any females around and it seems as though the elk rut is fading fast around town. There is not as much bugling and large herds mingling about as there were a few weeks ago.

I captured this quick video last night at dusk with my iphone. It was right at dusk so I’m sorry if the lighting isn’t very good. Enjoy!

One of the biggest attractions in Estes Park is our elk. All year round, you can find elk roaming our streets, eating our flowers, and stopping traffic. Elk are easiest and the most fun to observe during their mating season which is also called “the rut.” During this time, bull elk gather large herds together and things can get real interesting if another bull elk tries to get too close.

Even though you have a pretty good chance of finding a herd of elk anywhere in Estes Park at any given time throughout the year, here are the best places to view the elk during their rut:

The Golf Courses

Estes Park has two golf courses. The 9 hole course can be found near the Information Center by the intersection of Hwy 34 and Hwy 36 right downtown. The best spots for viewing elk on the 18 hole course are found by heading south on Fish Creek Road from Hwy 36 on the east side of Lake Estes.

The North End

This area of Estes Park is known for wide open spaces, huge views of the continental divide, large homes with acreage (here is one example…and its for sale, too). From downtown, head north on Hwy 34 past the Stanley Hotel and Take a right on MacGregor Ave towards Glen Haven. Follow Devil’s Gulch Road to H Bar G Road to the Right and then follow Dry Gulch Road back to town on Dry gulch which connects back with Hwy 34.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Check out Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, or Horseshoe Park for wide open meadows that usually have elk dotting the landscape. You’ll need to pay the park entrance fee of $20 per car load. The best way to figure out where the elk are inside the national park is to ask the ranger at the front entry gate. From Estes Park, head west on either Fall River Road or on Moraine Ave until you get to the National Park.

Elk Fest is a very popular event in Estes Park every fall. Scheduled tours, programs, and even a bugling contest highlight the weekend. Here is a link to more details about Elk Fest.

So, I was hanging out around the house Saturday afternoon when this friendly elk decided to wander through our Yard. I thought I would share a few pictures.

This really isn’t that rare of an occurrence to homeowner’s in Estes Park. Our yard is often frequented by Mule Deer, Elk, and sometimes Bobcat. My wife even saw a Bear wander through our yard a few days ago but that was rare.

Enjoy the Pictures!

On my way back to the office today, I saw this huge Bull Elk on the side of the road. Yes, this is a drive by shooting with my blackberry so I apologize that the quality of the photo is not that great.

If you know Estes Park, you know that this isn’t that rare of an occurrence. I just thought this would provide perfect opportunity to tell you about Elk Fest this weekend. Check out all that Elk fest in Estes Park has to offer this weekend. Better yet, come to Estes Park this weekend to see them in action first hand!

Best Spots for Elk Viewing In Estes Park

1. Believe it or not, the golf courses usually are the best places around to find the elk milling about. Estes Park has two golf courses. The 9 hole course can be found near the Information Center by the intersection of Hwy 34 and Hwy 36 right downtown. The best spots for viewing elk on the 18 hole course are found by heading south on Fish Creek Road from Hwy 36 on the east side of Lake Estes.
2. The north end of Estes Park is known for wide open spaces, huge views of the continental divide, large homes with acreage (here is one example…and its for sale, too) and is also popular with the elk. From downtown, head north on Hwy 34 past the Stanley Hotel and Take a right on MacGregor Ave towards Glen Haven. Follow Devil’s Gulch Road to H Bar G Road to the Right and then follow Dry Gulch Road back to town on Dry gulch which connects back with Hwy 34.
3. Last, but not least is the National Park. Check out Moraine Park or Horseshoe Park for wide open meadows that usually have elk dotting the landscape. There is a fee for entering the national park. Be sure to ask the rangers at the entry gates where to find the elk. They are great resources for information.