Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park fall viewing guide: Best places to see elk, aspen

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·6 min read

Rocky Mountain National Park is a popular choice to see and hear elk bugling during the fall mating season. But you can have your elk and taffy, too, in Estes Park.

If you don't want to hassle with Rocky Mountain National Park's timed-entry permit reservation system, which restricts times when you can enter the park, or pay the entrance fee, the gateway town to the park has you covered.

Most days during the rut, or mating season, which lasts into October, both bull (or male) and cow (or female) elk can be found wondering the town's neighborhoods, golf courses, parks and streets.

And, yes, bull elk bugle whether they're on a busy U.S. Highway 34 in Estes Park or in a Rocky Mountain National Park meadow.

A bull elk bugles on the Lake Estes Golf Course in Estes Park on Sept. 13. Elk are prevalent in the area during the fall mating season.
A bull elk bugles on the Lake Estes Golf Course in Estes Park on Sept. 13. Elk are prevalent in the area during the fall mating season.

There is a good chance you'll find elk in Estes on most days in September and October. If you can't, a telltale sign is a line of cars, sometimes parked right in the middle of the road, with cameras and cellphones being held out vehicle windows.

That being said, there are some places that yield elk more than others.

But before you learn the hot spots, just like in the park, you have to promise not to break a few rules to protect yourself and the elk, which are wild animals that can weigh up to 700 pounds and run 40 mph:

  • If you're taking a selfie, you're too close.

  • Rules of thumb to know you're too close also include: if you can't cover the entire elk with your thumb (about 25 yards); if the elk alters its behavior, such as stopping grazing, looking at you and moving away from you.

  • Bull elk can be extremely aggressive during the mating season, so it's wise to give them a wide berth. Use a telescope lens and binoculars to photograph and see them up close while keeping a safe distance.

  • Yes, it's exciting to see elk, but take the time to park on the side of the road out of a traffic lane.

  • It's OK to safely stop in the middle of the road only if a herd of elk crosses in front of you or near your vehicle and there is a possibility of striking one.

  • Do not trespass. Watch safely from roads and other public access points.

Here are areas in Estes Park to look for elk

  • Lakes Estes Golf Course, 690 Big Thompson Ave.

  • Estes Park 18-hole golf course, 1480 Golf Course Road

  • Stanley Hotel (private), 333 E. Wonderview Ave. Stay on the shoulders of the public roads.

  • Along U.S. Highway 34 between Estes Park and entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park

Your guide to elk bugling, aspen viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park this fall

Before we move on to some tips, here are some things to keep in mind when you're planning a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park:

  • For the fourth straight year, the park will implement a timed-entry permit reservation system, which runs through Oct. 22. This system restricts when you can enter the park without a reservation.

  • The park went cashless at its entrance stations and for permits starting June 1, 2023. Most credit/debit cards and digital forms of payment will be accepted. To purchase online, visit www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2907. You can pay cash for a prepaid pass from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store at Beaver Meadows and Fall River visitor centers on the east side of the park or the store at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on the west side of the park.

  • A major renovation of the Fall River entrance station will greatly restrict travel lanes into the park. The park recommends using the main Beaver Meadows entrance station during construction.

  • The park's largest and most popular campground, Moraine Park, will be closed from late May 2023 through June 1, 2024, for a major renovation.

Best places, times to see elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

Visitors line a meadow to observe and photograph elk grazing in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park Friday.
Visitors line a meadow to observe and photograph elk grazing in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park Friday.

  • Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and Upper Beaver Meadows are the three prime spots on the east side of the park to experience the elk rut or breeding season. A timed-entry permit reservation is necessary during certain times of the day.

  • The elk are most active in the early to mid-morning and late afternoon into the evening.

  • Meadows in the areas of Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow are closed 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. through Oct. 31 to reduce disturbance of elk during the stressful mating season.

For more information on elk viewing, including viewing rules and etiquette, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/nature/elk.htm.

Rocky Mountain National Park's top aspen drives

Peak aspen viewing in the park this year will start around Sept. 20 and get better over the following week. Here are some drives to check out:

  • Trail Ridge Road: This 48-mile very popular paved road runs through the heart of the park from Estes Park on the east side to Grand Lake on the west. Aspen are found in pockets along the road. Do not stop on the road — there are pull-offs to accommodate viewing.

  • Old Fall River Road: If you wish to ditch some of the Trail Ridge crowd, this is the route for you. The narrow, windy, one-way gravel road climbs 11 miles from the park floor near Horseshoe Park to the Alpine Visitor Center. It offers panoramic views of golden aspen on the opposite mountainside as well as aspen along the road. There are plenty of pull-offs to help you safely take in the views. Chasm Falls in the lower section of the drive is a must-stop. The road is scheduled to close to vehicle traffic for the season on Oct. 3.

  • Bear Lake Road: This 10.5-mile paved road from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center starts at 7,840 feet and climbs up to Bear Lake at 9,475 feet and offers prime aspen viewing. Trouble is you need a timed-entry permit to drive the road from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Peak to Peak Highway: This drive on Colorado Highway 7 from Estes Park to Central City/Black Hawk is not located in the park but takes you along the eastern edge of it and offers excellent aspen viewing.

For more on aspen information, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/aspen.htm.

Top aspen hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Wild Basin: This is arguably the best aspen-viewing area for hikes in the park. The 3-mile one-way, family-friendly hike to Ouzel Falls is a must-do.

  • Sprague Lake: Another family-friendly hike, this nearly 1-mile loop around the lake is laden with aspen and might offer up a moose or two.

  • Alberta Falls: This hike is located along popular Bear Lake Road, which requires a timed-entry pass. It is a family-friendly, 1.2-mile round-trip hike that includes excellent aspen viewing as well as spectacular Alberta Falls.

  • Twin Sisters: This strenuous, 7-mile round-trip trail offers abundant aspen stands with a view from the top of the 11,428-foot summit worth every step.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Your guide to elk bugling in Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park