The Elk Comeback: Where to See Elk Near Sinnemahoning, PA
Stand at the edge of a field in the First Fork valley at dawn in late September and you may hear it before you see it: the high, wild bugle of a bull elk. A century and a half ago, that sound was gone from Pennsylvania. Today Sinnemahoning sits in the middle of the largest wild elk herd in the Northeast, and the herd rebuilt itself from a last handful of elk in these same hills.
How Pennsylvania lost its elk
Elk once lived across Pennsylvania. As settlers cleared the land and hunted without limits, the herds shrank until, by the 1850s, the last of them were holding on in the north-central counties, mainly Cameron, Elk, and McKean. The last native elk were reported in the 1860s and 1870s. One famous account says a Seneca hunter named Jim Jacobs took one of the last in 1867 at Flag Swamp, which some accounts place near the headwaters of the Bennett Branch. By 1867, the Game Commission says, the species had been wiped out.
The elk comeback in Cameron County
In 1913, the Pennsylvania Game Commission brought in 50 elk from Yellowstone National Park. Two years later, a second shipment from Yellowstone included 24 elk released right here in Cameron County, and 24 more in neighboring Potter County. By 1926, a total of 177 elk had been released across the state.
The early years were rough. By 1936, only 14 elk were left in all of Pennsylvania, and every one of them was in Elk and Cameron counties, the same area where the last native elk had been killed. From that small group, the herd slowly grew back. Surveys counted 65 elk in 1971, 114 by 1980, and more than 700 by 2001.
Today the herd is thriving. The Game Commission's 2026 aerial survey estimated about 1,563 elk. Their range covers roughly 3,000 square miles, mostly in Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield, and Centre counties.
Where to see elk near Sinnemahoning, PA
Sinnemahoning State Park. You don't have to go far. The park is home to a growing elk herd. Look for elk near the 40 Maples Day Use Area, the Wildlife Viewing Area and its viewing blind (the fields there are planted with clover and trefoil, which elk love), the breast of the dam, and around the Park Office and Wildlife Center. In summer, watch for spotted calves along the Lowlands Trail.
Hicks Run Elk Viewing Area. On Route 555 west of Driftwood, this stop has a covered, wheelchair-accessible viewing blind overlooking elk forage plots. Elk are commonly there early and late in the day, all year.
The Elk Scenic Drive. This 127-mile loop runs through five counties and five state parks, with signed stops for safe viewing. Close to home, Route 555 follows the Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek from Driftwood to Weedville, right through the heart of the elk range, with park-and-view sites along the way. Other popular stops include Winslow Hill, Dents Run, Wykoff, Hoover Farm, and Beaver Dam.
Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. Known as the Elk Capital of Pennsylvania, Benezette is about 45 minutes from Sinnemahoning. The visitor center sits on about 245 acres of managed fields and has a 4-D theater, viewing trails, and covered wagon tours. It's run by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance in partnership with DCNR. Pick up an Elk Scenic Drive map here, and tune to 1620 AM near Benezette for elk viewing updates.
When to see elk: the fall rut and more
- September–October: The rut, or mating season, is the most popular time to visit. Bulls bugle, gather cows, and defend their herds. Fall weekends draw big crowds right up to early November.
- Spring and summer: Elk graze in open meadows, and calves are born in June.
- Winter: Look for strips of bark peeled from trees, a sign elk are nearby, and for herds at the viewing areas early and late in the day.
In any season, your best chance is the hour or two after dawn and before dusk, when elk move between open fields and the woods.
Be Elk Smart: viewing etiquette
- Give elk space. Stay at least 100 yards away. Elk are wild and unpredictable, especially bulls during the rut and cows with calves.
- Never feed elk. It's illegal in Pennsylvania and teaches elk to approach people and cars.
- Pull completely off the road. Get all four tires onto the shoulder, and never stop in the road or block traffic.
- Respect private property. Don't park in private drives or walk onto private land. Use the public viewing areas.
Elk FAQ
Are there elk near Sinnemahoning?
Yes. Sinnemahoning is in the heart of Pennsylvania's elk range, and elk are often seen at Sinnemahoning State Park and the Hicks Run viewing area.
When is the best time to hear elk bugle in Pennsylvania?
During the rut, which usually runs from September through October.
How many elk are in Pennsylvania?
The Game Commission's 2026 survey estimated about 1,563.
Where did Pennsylvania's elk come from?
They descend from elk the Game Commission released between 1913 and 1926, most of them shipped from Yellowstone National Park.
Stay in elk country at Resting Eagle Cabin
Resting Eagle Cabin is a mountain-view lodge for up to 24 guests on 21 acres of Bennett family land in Sinnemahoning. Deer and elk visit the field above the cabin, so keep your coffee and your camera ready at sunrise. Spend the day on the Elk Scenic Drive, then come home to the fire pit and listen for a bugle in the dark. Your highly engaged hosts are happy to help you plan. Fall weekends fill up first.
Book Resting Eagle Cabin and make elk season a tradition.
Sources
PA Game Commission, Elk: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/discover-pa-wildlife/elk
PA Game Commission, History of Elk in PA: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/discover-pa-wildlife/elk/history-of-elk-in-pa
PA Game Commission, Elk Population Survey report (2026): https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/pgc/documents/about-us/mediareportssurveys/annualwildlifemanagementreports/documents/25001-25.pdf
PA Game Commission, Elk Viewing in Pennsylvania (Elk Smart): https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-viewing/elk-viewing-in-pennsylvania
J. Banfield (PGC), Estimating PA's Elk Population, 2024: https://assets.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/acecpa/pdfs-and-documents/Event_Presentations/Infrastructure_Conference/2024/Estimating_PAs_Elk_Population_Jeremy_Banfield.pdf
Courier Express, Last native elk sparks a new beginning: https://www.thecourierexpress.com/opinion/columns/last-native-elk-sparks-a-new-beginning/article_13029029-f3b1-5a4b-a990-c2282506e2be.html
DCNR, Sinnemahoning SP Recreational Guide: https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&docID=3244697&docName=SINN_GuideText&nativeExt=docx&revision=2
Visit PA Great Outdoors, Elk Viewing and Hicks Run: https://visitpago.com/elk-viewing-in-the-pa-great-outdoors/ and https://visitpago.com/listings/hicks-run-viewing-area/
PA Master Naturalist, Explore Cameron County: https://pamasternaturalist.org/volunteer-resources/master-naturalist-toolbox/places-to-explore-home-page/explore-cameron-county-pa/
Keystone Elk Country Alliance, Elk Scenic Drive and Visitor Center: https://experienceelkcountry.com/plan/elk-scenic-drive/ and https://experienceelkcountry.com/elk-country-visitor-center/
PA Wilds, Explore the Elk Scenic Drive: https://pawilds.com/explore-elk-scenic-drive/
Elk Country Visitor Center, Elk Viewing Tips: https://elkcountryvisitorcenter.com/learn-overview/elk-viewing-tips/
DCNR, Sinnemahoning SP Wildlife Watching: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/sinnemahoning-state-park/wildlife-watching