If elk are “large North American deer,” and watching is “close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something.” Then elk watching “is the close, continuous observation to see large North American deer.” Sure, that works for me.
Elk watching can be a great and easy excursion into western North Carolina (NC). In this straightforward guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to get started with planning this outing, including:
1. Some quick elk trivia
2. Where to elk watch in NC
3. Some things to know
Some Quick Elk Trivia
– Elk didn’t exist in NC for almost 200 years. Eastern Elk were once indigenous to North Carolina but were wiped out by European settlers by 1800. The National Park reintroduced Manitoban Elk to NC in the early aughts.
– Male elks are called bulls, and female elks are called cows.
– Elk are large-sized members of the deer family:
Males: 8 feet long, 5 feet tall at the shoulders, can weigh around 700 pounds
Females: 6.5 in long, 4.5 feet tall at the shoulders, can weigh around 500 pounds
– The NC Wildlife Resource Commission currently believes 150 to 200 elk are in the western part of the state.
Where to Elk Watch in NC
Elk can be seen within the Great Smoky Mountains in the Tarheel State. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is one significant location to gaze upon these impressive mammals.
Located at 1194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee, NC 28719, the elk herds graze the large fields beside the visitor center labeled (Oconaluftee Visitor Center Field) on the below map. Click here for driving directions to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
There are two approaches to viewing the elk once you’re at the visitor center, also labeled on the map. The park-on-road approach or the trail approach:
1. Park your vehicle on Newfound Gap Road (US 441) along the grass fields on the visitor center side. Here you’ll get an excellent panoramic view of all the elk activity. Bring your vernaculars and cameras to magnify the herds in case they’re on the other side of the fields near the woods. The red-striped area on the map represents where tourists park along Newfound Gap Road.
2. Park your vehicle in the visitor center parking lot and take the Oconaluftee River Trail. Start at the visitor center and travel riverside toward the field. Taking the trail can get you a close-up look at the animals. The light green area on the map show some elk gathering spots near the woods.
Some Things to Know
1. Going to The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is free. There are no admission charges or parking fees to see the elk.
2. Elk aren’t afraid of us. Signage at the visitor center says do not approach them and keep a reasonable distance between them and you.
3. The field beside the visitor center is closed when elk. are present.
4. The Oconaluftee River Trail is 1.5 miles long and takes you to a Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance sign that’s a great spot to take a picture in front of.
5. There are bathrooms at the visitor center.
6. Unfortunately, elk don’t spend all day in the visitor center fields. There’s no guarantee you’ll see some when you go to Cherokee. Sources say the best times to see them are early morning or late afternoon.
Visit any of the below sites for more information about elk viewing in NC:
https://www.greatsmokies.com/oconaluftee/
https://www.romanticasheville.com/oconaluftee.htm
https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/poi/oconaluftee-visitor-center/
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Sources:
“Elk” and “Watching” definitions. https://www.Dictionary.com
Elk trivia. https://www.ncwildlife.org/