
Not only will you be able to familiarize yourself with the area’s attractions and history, but you can see elk! There are three observation trails that wind their way around the visitors center, offering an easy trek through elk’s natural habitat. The Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette is a great place to start your trip. This level of chance is frustrating, but if you explore sites known for their heavy elk traffic, you may get lucky. While many travel to the area specifically to get a glimpse of these beautiful creatures, no matter how robust the population, it comes down to being at the right place at the right time. It’s important to remember that if you plan your trip during September and October (the optimal time to see elk), the area is going to be much more crowded and congested than other times of the year. Because elk are such large animals, they need to eat frequently, meaning they’ll always be out and about looking for food, regardless of the time of year. While the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset are optimal times of the day to see elk, you’ll have a good shot of seeing them other times of the day, too. However, when the weather gets warmer, they’ll seek out food in the meadows. In the spring and summer, elk are frequently spotted in the area as well. Keep your eyes out in heavily-wooded areas, and seek these out opposed to wide open fields. During the cooler months, they will likely find warmth among the trees. When winter is approaching, elk are constantly on the move. That said, it is certainly possible, and even common, to see elk other times of the year. During the fall, you may catch sight of bulls battling it out for the right to mate. It peaks during the period from Labor Day to Halloween. This time of year is known as the Elk Rut - their mating season. The time that you’re most likely to see elk is in the late summer and fall around dusk or dawn. The Best Time to See Elk In Benezette, PA Having increased in size nearly ten times over, the elk population in Benezette, PA and the surrounding areas draw visitors from across the country, hoping to witness these majestic creatures against breath-taking mountain vistas.

Then, in 1913, 117 Rocky Mountain elk were transferred to the northern part of the state by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hoping to re-establish the species. But unregulated hunting and development-induced habitat loss caused by rapid settlement took its toll on the elk herds of Pennsylvania.

In this article, we’ll share all the tips you’ll need to make getting a glimpse of these majestic creatures more likely, along with a few local hotspots for elk viewing.Įlk are native to the state, having roamed the primeval forests long before European settlers discovered America. Home to the town of Benezette (nicknamed the “Elk Capital of Pennsylvania”), nearly 1,000 elk roam the woods of Elk State Forest and its surrounding areas.īut wild animals are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee you’ll see an elk in its natural habitat. Elk County, PA got its name for a reason.
