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Moraine Park valley in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

National park · USA

Rocky Mountain National Park Animal Checklist

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is best known for bugling elk in autumn meadows near Estes Park, bighorn sheep at Sheep Lakes, moose in the Kawuneeche Valley and pikas and marmots on the alpine tundra of Trail Ridge Road. This checklist covers 55 animals. Mid September to mid October is peak season for the elk rut; June to August for the tundra.

A third of the park lies above the treeline, so you can drive from ponderosa forest to arctic-style tundra in under an hour. The east side has the elk and sheep; the quieter west side has the moose.

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The Rocky Mountain checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
55
Where
USA
Best time
Jun to mid Oct
Trail Ridge Road high point
12,183 ft

Headline animals in Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Elk, one of the animals to look for in Rocky Mountain

    Elk (Wapiti)

    Hundreds gather in Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and Upper Beaver Meadows for the rut from mid September to mid October. Bulls bugle loudest at dawn and dusk.

    Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Bighorn Sheep, one of the animals to look for in Rocky Mountain

    Bighorn Sheep

    Colorado's state animal. From May to mid August they come down to the mineral licks at Sheep Lakes in Horseshoe Park, and rangers stop traffic while they cross.

    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Moose, one of the animals to look for in Rocky Mountain

    Moose

    Most common on the west side. Scan the willows along the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley, especially at dawn and dusk.

    Photo: NPS Natural Resources, Public domain

  • American Pika

    A small, round-eared relative of rabbits, calling from rockfalls near Rock Cut and the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road.

  • Yellow-bellied Marmot

    Sunbathes on boulders beside Trail Ridge Road and along the Tundra Communities Trail in summer.

  • White-tailed Ptarmigan

    Mottled brown in summer, white in winter and hard to spot at any time. Walk slowly on tundra trails near Medicine Bow Curve and scan the ground.

  • Black Bear

    The park's only bear, present but seldom seen. They are most active in late summer when berries ripen.

  • Abert's Squirrel

    A tassel-eared squirrel of ponderosa pine forests on the east side, around Beaver Meadows and the Moraine Park campground.

  • Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

    A pink-washed finch that nests on high cliffs and feeds at snowfields along Trail Ridge Road in summer.

All 55 animals to spot in Rocky Mountain National Park

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big mammals 5

Hunters 6

Small mammals 11

Birds of prey 6

Mountain and tundra birds 6

Forest and meadow birds 15

Reptiles and amphibians 4

Fish 2

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park

Wildlife viewing here is split by elevation and season. Trail Ridge Road usually opens in late May and closes by mid to late October, so June to September is the time for pikas, marmots, ptarmigan and rosy-finches on the tundra. Bighorn sheep visit Sheep Lakes from May to mid August, and elk calves arrive in late May and June. September and early October bring the elk rut, the park's main wildlife event, and golden aspens; meadows close to people on foot in the evening and morning to protect the elk. Winter is quiet but elk and mule deer stay in the lower valleys around Estes Park.

  • May-JunSheep Lakes bighorns, elk calves, Trail Ridge opens
  • Jul-AugTundra pikas, marmots, ptarmigan and wildflowers
  • Sep-OctElk rut in the meadows, golden aspens
  • Nov-AprElk and deer in lower valleys, Trail Ridge closed

Tips for spotting wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park

  1. Book timed entry

    From late May to mid October you need a timed entry reservation on Recreation.gov to enter during the day. Arriving before 9am (5am for Bear Lake Road) avoids the need and suits wildlife watching.

  2. Keep 75 feet back

    The park asks you to stay at least 75 feet (23 metres) from elk and other wildlife, about two bus lengths, and more from bulls in the rut.

  3. Respect rut closures

    From 1 September to 31 October, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow are closed on foot from 5pm to 10am. Watch from the roads and pullouts.

  4. Go west for moose

    Drive over Trail Ridge Road to the Kawuneeche Valley near Grand Lake. The Coyote Valley Trail is a short, flat walk along the river with moose in the willows.

  5. Don't call the elk

    Elk calling, spotlights and using headlights to find wildlife are all prohibited in the park.

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Rocky Mountain wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in Rocky Mountain National Park?

In Rocky Mountain National Park you can see elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, black bears, coyotes and red foxes, along with pikas, yellow-bellied marmots and Abert's squirrels. Tundra birds include White-tailed Ptarmigan and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches. Grizzly bears no longer live in Colorado, and the park has no resident wolf pack.

When is the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park?

The elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park runs from about mid September to mid October. Bulls bugle and gather harems in Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows and the Kawuneeche Valley, mostly at dawn and dusk. Some meadows close to people on foot from 5pm to 10am during the rut, so watch from the roads.

Where can you see moose in Rocky Mountain National Park?

The best place to see moose in Rocky Mountain National Park is the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side, near Grand Lake. Moose feed in willows along the Colorado River, mainly at dawn and dusk. They are occasionally seen on the east side at Sprague Lake and Bear Lake. Keep well back, as moose can be aggressive.

Where do bighorn sheep appear at Sheep Lakes?

Bighorn sheep appear in the meadows around Sheep Lakes in Horseshoe Park, near the Fall River entrance, from May to mid August. They come down from the Mummy Range to lick mineral-rich soil and cross the road to reach it. Mornings are best, and rangers often manage traffic to let the herd cross safely.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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