Locals and tourists alike have begun to flock to the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park and areas surrounding Estes Park in northern Colorado for the annual elk rut.

One such visitor is Stephanie McAndrews, who has traveled to both the town and Park to photograph, experience and admire the elk, deer, moose and other wildlife for nearly 50 years.

“I think the first time I came here was in 1976,” McAndrews said while photographing four bull elk on the southern slopes of Deer Mountain, just off U.S. Highway 36 inside the park. “And, I’ve been coming ever since.”

McAndrews moved to the Blackhawk area in Gilpin County within the last year but has been making the annual migration to RMNP from Arizona since the Carter administration.

“You know, I used to do a lot of backpacking in Colorado,” she said. “I’d hike from Vail to Aspen and do camping in the area. This is just an amazing place to be.”

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado has the largest elk population in North America, with estimates varying from roughly 280,000 to over 300,000 animals, depending on the source and year of the statistic.

The elk population within the park is managed to between 600 and 800 animals and between 1,200 to 2,100 including the surrounding areas, according to the park service.

For McAndrews, photographing the scenes of the wildlife in their natural habitats without any hand of man in the picture is something she enjoys a lot.

“Oh, it’s just jubilation,” she said. “It’s very exciting to see them interact with each other, to watch the bugling and to watch the babies nurse their mom.”

The annual elk rut (start of mating season when bulls bugle loudly to attract mates) usually starts in early September and lasts through most of October, with the elk population on the east side of the park confined to several meadows and hillsides just west of Estes Park.

Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow are all favorites for visitors to enjoy, photograph and listen to the elk bugling.

“I always say be respectful of the wildlife,” McAndrews said. “I think people get too close and we need to make sure that they feel comfortable eating, nursing, interacting without human intervention.”

PHOTOS: Wildlife of Rocky Mountain National Park September 2025

Annual meadow closures are in effect in Rocky Mountain National Park to prevent the disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating season, Park officials said in a Sept. 1 posting on its website.

Meadow closures are also in place for safety of park visitors who are enjoying wildlife viewing during the elk rut season.    

According to the Park, meadow closures will be in place between the hours of 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Areas that are closed include meadow areas in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow. During the specified hours, these meadow areas will be closed to all travel on foot or via horseback off established roads and trails. Meadow closures will remain in effect through Oct. 31.

When viewing elk keep back at least 75 feet (23 m), which is the length of two school buses.