Spotlight on Elk View Park

Notice: I will be off the couch hiking during part of September and October 2026. Posts may be less regular during this time

Michigan elk herd (photo from Gaylord Tourism)

from Gaylord Tourism

Elk View Park has been a favorite stop for visitors to Gaylord, Michigan since the 1980s. The park was created after Project Nature, a wildlife sanctuary, closed about 40 years ago. The City of Gaylord now cares for this herd, which also includes several Fallow and Sitka deer.

This is not part of Michigan's wild elk herd. However, you have a good chance of actually seeing an elk here. About 45 elk call this enclosure home. Each spring, new calves are born, so the herd size changes slightly from year to year.

Visiting in September and October can be exciting because it’s the elk rut, or mating season. Bull elk compete for the attention of the cows by bugling and sparring with one another. During the warmer months, your best chance to see elk near the viewing platform is in the morning or evening. As temperatures rise, they often head for the shade near the original viewing area, which is still a great place to stop and watch them. In the fall season, they roam more often and can be seen just about any time of day.

See Elk View Park


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