Much like humans, the wildlife of Grand Teton National Park adapt their behavior with the changing seasons. Autumn is a season of gathering, resting, and preparing for the colder months ahead for most species. The elk herd, however, has a unique priority each fall: the annual rut. As the leaves turn each year, the valleys fill with the hauntingly beautiful sound of bugling bulls, signaling the start of this exciting ritual.
During this season, bull elk assert their dominance in hopes of passing on their strongest traits to the next generation. Their objective is to gather a group of cow elk who may be interested in mating, a task that requires not only announcing their presence with powerful bugles, but also defending their claim through intense sparring matches. The result is a striking display of raw strength, strategy, and the wild essence of these magnificent animals.
Grand Teton’s diverse landscape offers the perfect stage for elk to interact during the rut, and for attentive visitors to witness the spectacle. Below, you’ll find the top three spots in the park to hear elk bugling during October. Bulls can be highly aggressive this time of year, so always keep a safe distance of at least 25 yards while observing quietly. For the best chance to experience this natural performance, plan your visit during the early morning or evening hours, when elk are most active.
1. Taggart Lake Trailhead: This trailhead is about five minutes from the main park entrance in Moose. Drive through the entrance and continue on until you see the Bradley-Taggart trailhead parking lot on your left. You can commonly hear elk bugle right from the parking lot!
2. White Grass Meadow: Accessed from the south entrance of the Moose-Wilson road, turn west onto the Death Canyon Road. You do not have to drive the full distance to the Death Canyon Trailhead. Before the road takes a left hand turn, park at one of the pull outs and walk into the meadow on the north side of the road. This road requires a car with four-wheel drive.
3. Granite Canyon Trailhead: This is the closest trailhead to the south entrance of the park on the Moose-Wilson road. Elk can be active in the meadows on both the west and east sides of the road from this trailhead.
