Can You See Elk in Tennessee? (And 2 Places to Find Them)

Sadly, elk have been hunted to near extinction in Tennessee. Since the 1800s, there have been very few elk in the state. Luckily, Tennessee has been working on a few reintroduction programs, introducing a few herds into the state. Luckily, you can now see elk in Tennessee

Currently, there are two locations where you can see elk in Tennessee. These are located inside state parks, where the elk are protected.

Always be cautious when viewing elk. While elk aren’t aggressive, they can be territorial and are much bigger than humans. It doesn’t take much for an elk to injure you, and you don’t want to push your luck. It’s important to remember that wildlife is WILD.

Let’s take a look at these two locations:

1. North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area

This wildlife area is located near LaFollette, Tennessee. It is one area where the state has been reintroducing elk. The area has many habitats, including hardwood forests, wetlands, and rocky areas. Therefore, it is able to support a pretty large elk population.

Of course, elk are not present at all places in the area. The best place to see them is Hartfield Knob Creek Viewing Tower, which can provide quite the view. These views won’t be up close, but that’s probably for the best, anyway. The tower offers a panoramic view of the valleys and hills surrounding it, and elk commonly graze in these areas.

The area also has a live camera, which may occasionally catch elk. You can also use this camera to determine when elk are out and about, which can make viewing them in real life a bit easier.

There are also many scenic trails in the area. Often, these trails don’t provide much opportunity to view elk, though. Elk usually hear and smell you before you see them. Therefore, walking around isn’t usually the best way to see them. Still, the trails can be fun to hike before or after you head to the viewing tower.

Morning and evening are the best times to see elk. Be mindful of opening hours, though. You don’t want to get there TOO early, but you don’t want to plan on staying after dark, either.

You may want to plan on bringing some binoculars to spot elk at a distance. Getting close to elk isn’t a good idea, and you likely won’t have much of a chance to get close to elk in this area, either.

2. Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The only other place to see elk in the area is at the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elk have been re-established in this area and are regularly spotted by the roadside.

This valley is nestled between the mountains of this national park. There are several meadows, old-growth forests, and spruce woodlands. These habitats are enough to support the smaller herd of elk in the park. However, the smaller size of the valley does limit the growth of the herd.

Spotting elk in this valley isn’t very predictable. Because the herd is rather small, you’re less likely to see them than in other locations. However, they are known for grazing along the roadways. While driving through the valley, keep your eyes open for signs of the elk. They tend to graze in the early morning or during the evening hours. During the hotter part of the summer, they tend to spend more time hiding in the shade of the trees, where they’re harder to spot.

For the best chance of seeing elk, you may want to stay near the park and drive the scenic valley a few times. The park also offers several other activities, including many hiking trails and overlooks. Consider spending the day in the park or nearby Gatlinburg, driving through the valley in the morning and evening.

We also recommend planning your trip for the weekdays or during the “off” season, as the park can get very crowded. While elk in this valley aren’t terribly fearful of people, they may stay away from larger crowds.

Drive slowly while looking for elk, especially since the roads inside the park tend to be a bit treacherous, anyway. The scenic beauty is something to enjoy, even if you don’t see any elk along the way.

Of course, make sure to be cautious around elk and always follow park regulations. In the winter months, many roads around the park may be closed due to bad weather. Once it snows, much of the park is shut down for the season. Keep this in mind when planning your visit.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Debeo Morium / CC BY-SA 3.0 – License / Original