The best time to see Elk Rut, Rocky Mountain in 2026 is September to mid-October 2026.
Timing status: Natural timing window.
Rutting season · September to mid-October 2026
Annual · autumn bugling
Autumn brings the bugle: bull elk trumpet, spar and herd their harems as the aspens turn gold.
Each fall, bull elk gather harems and challenge rivals with bugling calls that echo across mountain meadows. In Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone, dawn and dusk in the golden-aspen season bring the drama within easy view from the roadside.
the sound of the autumn rut: The bugle
Where it is visible: Rocky Mountain NP & Yellowstone, USA
Best at dawn and dusk in open meadows; keep a safe distance from rutting bulls.
Elk Rut, Rocky Mountain 2026: September to mid-October 2026.
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