Witness Wildlife This Fall at These National Parks

Catch the elk rut, bighorn sheep, migrating birds and elusive bears

bison walking near a road where a car is driving

The fall is a good time to see wildlife grazing, mating or hanging out at national parks. Here, bison graze alongside a road in Yellowstone National Park.

TowPix/eStock Photo

Lauren David,

AARP

Published September 08, 2025

A trip to a national park in the fall offers opportunities to observe wildlife grazing, mating or hanging out. You can expect to see elk, bighorn sheep, beavers, gray whales, migratory birds and more.

The climate influences animal behavior. “Weather can play a big role in what wildlife you see and when, so check the forecast before heading out,” says Beth Hudick, interpretation, education and outreach manager at Arizona’s Saguaro National Park.

Once you arrive, view animals from a safe distance. The rule is to keep at least 25 yards from any large animal and 100 yards from bears, says Sue Consolo-Murphy, former chief of science and resource management at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

According to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends survey, 70 percent of Americans age 50-plus plan to travel, with 56 percent planning to travel only domestically.

Tip: Venture out at dawn or dusk for better wildlife spotting, park experts say.

Visit these six national parks, some recommended by current and former park rangers, to spot wildlife in the fall.

Elk gather during rut season in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

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Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The elk rut, or mating season, typically happens from September through October. “The bull elk are competing with one another for the right to breed with the herd of the females or the harem,” says Kyle Patterson, management specialist and public affairs officer at Rocky Mountain National Park. The female cows decide which bull they’ll mate with, she adds.

The elk rut can be seen in many areas of the park, including Harbison Meadows and throughout the Kawuneeche Valley, Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows and Moraine Park, Patterson says. Mule deer also mate in late fall, when the males try to win over the doe.

“Oftentimes, they’re right along the road,” she says. If you’re lucky, you might observe coyotes, bobcats and moose.

a split image of a slevin’s bunchgrass lizard and gila woodpecker

There are more than 550 animal species in Saguaro National Park. (From left) Slevin’s bunchgrass lizard and Gila woodpecker are among the coyotes, javelinas, lizards, snakes and birds found in the park.

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Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Located in the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park has a biologically diverse landscape, with more than 550 animal species. Coyotes, javelinas and a large variety of lizards, snakes and birds are often spotted in the lower elevations of the park, Hudick says.

Hooded orioles or white-winged doves can be seen before they migrate south to their winter homes, she says. Visit areas in the park with a lot of trees and cover for better bird-watching. “Look down low for roadrunners darting across roads and trails or Gambel’s quail scurrying under desert shrubs,” she adds.

Black bears might be spotted in the Rincon Mountains at higher elevations on the east side of the park, Hudick says. Hike slowly and quietly and pay attention to any movement on the ground or in vegetation for a better chance at seeing wildlife, she adds.

a park ranger talking to a group near a lake

A park ranger talks to tourists about North American and Canadian beavers next to a beaver pond in Grand Teton National Park.

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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Elk, bison, moose, pronghorn and the iconic yet elusive grizzly and black bears, as well as many species of birds and raptors, can be seen at Grand Teton. Spot bison grazing along Mormon Row and Antelope Flats Road.

Beavers are fun to watch, especially as they build their lodging. “In the fall, they’re making their preparations for winter, so they’re much busier — cutting their willow sticks or aspen,” Consolo-Murphy says. A good place to watch beavers is Schwabacher Landing and Oxbow Bend, she says.

a yellow and black bird sitting on a branch

Big Bend National Park is home to more than 450 bird species, such as the Scott’s oriole.

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Big Bend National Park, Texas

A desert and mountainous landscape, this park is home to more than 450 bird species and is a bird lover’s paradise. The fall bird migration typically lasts from August to early December and is longer than the spring migration. Cottonwood Campground, especially along the river and banks, provides opportunities to observe a variety of birds.

In the Chisos Mountains, black bears increase their food intake to prepare for the colder months, during which time you may catch a glimpse.

The proximity to the Pacific Ocean at Olympic National Park means visitors may catch a glimpse of whales or other marine life.

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Olympic National Park, Washington

At almost a million acres, Olympic National Park has a varied ecosystem, with 70-plus miles of coastline and old-growth rainforest. In the fall, gray whales can be spotted in the Pacific.

Want to see salmon swimming upstream to spawn in the fall? Venture to the Salmon Cascades viewing platform, though there are steep grades to access. “The Sol Duc River will have chinook and coho salmon staging in the pool below the cascades,” says Drew Thate, a guide at travel company Off the Beaten Path. Steelhead and cutthroat trout can be spotted in the fall and spawn in the spring. Bears spend time near the river catching fish in the fall, so this is an opportunity to see them.

Bighorn sheep mate in late fall in Yellowstone National Park. Here, bachelor bighorn sheep are packed together.

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Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

Witnessing the elk rut is one of the highlights in Yellowstone from September through October in Mammoth Hot Springs. But elk aren’t the only ones in the spotlight. Bighorn sheep mate in late fall.

The male sheep will ram their big horns and push each other around, Consolo-Murphy says. The clanging of the horns is impressive to see and hear, but keep a safe distance, she adds. Sometimes they can be seen from the road or in Gardiner Canyon.

“The Lamar Valley in Yellowstone is renowned for wolf-watching opportunities,” Consolo-Murphy says. If elk and deer are around, she adds, wolves will be present, seeking prey or taking advantage of a dead animal.

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Lauren David is a contributing writer who writes about food, gardening and health. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Dwell, Southern Living, marthastewart.com and other outlets.

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