Elk Bugling Tours

Afternoon Elk Bugling Tours: September - October : Everyday of the week, 2 pm - 8 pm, with a 2-person minimum. This is about seeing elk and learning about elk behavior and their lives.

For this tour, we depart Boulder in the late afternoon and travel through the town of Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend approximately 3 hours in the park seeking the best viewing spots for watching elk.

During the September-October mating season, bull elk seek out multiple partners to create their “harem.” The characteristic rutting call of the bulls can be heard from just before dusk to dawn. The typical bugle of the bull elk is a unique sound that begins deep and resonant, and becomes a high-pitched squeal before ending in a succession of grunts. Standing in Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park or Upper Beaver Meadows you may hear one or more bulls bugling and you'll notice the variations. The sounds overlap and reverberate against the rock outcroppings and hills. It can be an amazing and wonderful experience to stand where the first peoples of America stood and listened to the same echoes of nature fill the autumn night air.

Tour Times: Tours starting September 5th, 3-9 pm or 2-8 pm depending on sunset times.

Tour Dates: September 5th – October 30, everyday of the week.

Cost: $79 per person. 2-person minimum to make tour run.

Included: Roundtrip transportation between Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park; drinks and snacks; park pass (value of $10 per person); educator and education about local history and about elk behavior; library for Rocky Mountain National Park flora and fauna

Not included: Gratuities for educator (recommended gratuity is 10-20%)

What to bring: Sunhat, warm jacket, raincoat, comfortable walking shoes, camera and or video camera. Recommended: 1 liter of water; warm hat and glove liners, binoculars, headlamp, and long pants. If someone does not have warm clothing, we have extra layers in our shuttle.