It’s the Elk Rut in Estes Park!
Everything you want to know about the elk rut in Estes Park
What to expect when you come to Estes Park during the elk rut:
First of all, what is an elk rut? Good question! An elk rut is another name for elk mating season.
What’s so interesting about an elk rut? Mating season brings large groups of elk together. There’s something pretty spectacular about seeing hundreds of elk in one place with a gorgeous mountain backdrop! Picture the changing fall leaves, stunning mountain peaks, and the haunting sounds of an elk bugle.
Bull elk are trying to establish their harems of female elk, so you will get to see impressive displays of competition for attention. Bull fights and courting displays of circling and nudging cows are commonly seen during the elk rut.
What is an elk bugle? It’s a totally unique, high-pitched wail that a male elk makes to attract females and challenge other males in the area. The sound is most often heard at dawn and dusk, but can be heard all day.
According to research, elk bugle longer and form larger herds in RMNP than other areas like Yellowstone where there are more natural predators like wolves and grizzly bears.
When to come:
You’ll definitely want to know when to come to experience the elk rut in Estes Park!
This coming weekend, Sept 27-28th, 2025 is Elk Fest in Estes Park. It’s a very popular and fun time to come for a visit. There are great activities in town including:
- Native American story telling all about elk
- food trucks
- live music
- a beer garden
- elk themed kids games and education
But remember, the elk don’t know anything about the Elk Fest on the calendar, so don’t feel you’ve missed out if you want to come another time! The elk rut is at its peak from mid-September through mid-October. You can still typically catch the elk rut activity through November – so find lodging and book a room.
Where to see elk:
Elk can be seen everywhere in Estes Park! With between 2,000 – 3,000 elk in the Estes Valley during the summer and fall seasons there is an extremely strong chance you’ll get to see them while you’re visiting. Fall visitors to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are often blown away by seeing these magnificent creatures up close and so plentiful!
Elk love to congregate on the 18-hole golf course right in town. It’s a real treat for golfers to work around this unusual obstacle!
Lake Estes is another area where elk are regularly found. There is a 3.75 mile paved and gravel trail around Lake Estes with great views and benches for resting and wildlife watching. You’ll also pass the golf course on this trail.
Bond Park, right in downtown Estes Park is another great spot to see elk! It is also where most of the Elk Fest activities take place.
In Rocky Mountain National Park, some popular spots for viewing elk are the meadows of Moraine Park off Bear Lake Road, and Horseshoe Park off Trail Ridge Road.
How to stay safe:
Keep your distance! It’s been jokingly said that it is best to have a long-distance relationship with wildlife. In all seriousness, 25-50 yards (or two school bus lengths) is a safe distance to keep between you and an elk. Binoculars are a great way to see the elk without getting too close!
Elk are wild animals, and during the elk rut their hormones are pumping! Male elk can be especially aggressive and unpredictable during the mating season.
Key safety tips:
- Stay in your vehicle to view the elk whenever possible
- If an elk gets close to you, slowly and calmly back away to give it space
- Keep a close eye on your kids and pets
- Never attempt to feed elk