In addition to the chance to see elk, several of these viewing areas also offer commanding views over the Elk County countryside. The best time to see the elk is either right after sunrise or right before sunset, but I was able to see a few elk during the middle of the day on a recent visit. Here, there are several parking lots that overlook areas where elk can often be found. In addition to seeing elk, the viewing areas around Benezette also offer fantastic scenery. From the visitors center, there are several viewing areas that can be accessed by turning right out of the center and following Winslow Hill Road. However, there are many other great spots where you can also try to see the elk near Benezette, Pennsylvania. That, unfortunately, was my experience during the two visits I’ve made to the center. Therefore, it’s entirely possible that you might not see any elk at the Elk Country Visitor Center. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a zoo and you’re dealing with wild animals. If you love PA waterfalls, you won't want to miss this waterfall book from Jim Cheney, author of Uncovering PA, featuring more than 180 great waterfalls.
"Waterfalls of Pennsylvania" by Jim Cheney Should all your elk viewing leave you a little famished, the elk jerky in the gift shop is definitely an ironic choice. The visitor center also offers a 4D theater and carriage rides for those interested, for a small fee. The taxidermied elk inside the visitor center ensures you’ll see at least one elk during your visit. The museum is definitely geared toward hands-on activities for kids, but it still provided me with great information about the history of elk in Pennsylvania. Inside the Elk Country Visitor Center, there is small museum filled with information on the elk herd, as well as several taxidermied animals. The grounds of the visitor center also have several trails that meander through the surrounding area that provide great vantage points for viewing the elk as they graze in pastures. An elk viewing area near the visitor center. It is not at all uncommon to see elk meandering around the grounds of the visitor center, thanks in part to the food plots and favorable habitat. Sitting on a hill above the small town of Benezette, the Elk Country Visitor Center sits in the heart of elk country. Sure, you can pick up brochures here for many of the attractions in the area, but this visitor center is actually a tourist attraction by itself. The Elk Country Visitor Center isn’t your normal visitor center. Wanting to learn about the herd and hopefully see some elk for myself, I took a trip to the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. While these elk are part of a different sub-species than those that used to roam the state, they have been so successful in their reintroduction that they are now a tourist attraction in the Pennsylvania Wilds. However, proper management of the species has resulted in an estimated population of about 1,000 in 2018 according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Over the coming years, the elk population would decline to a low of less than 50. The Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette.īetween 19, in an effort to rebuild the elk population in Pennsylvania, 177 elk were released in 10 different Pennsylvania counties. By the 1870s, there were no elk left in Pennsylvania.
As more and more settlers pushed west, the number of elk diminished. However, before European settlers came to the Americas, elk herds roamed across much of the east coast. Truth be told, I was even surprised that there were elk this far east. When I first started uncovering the many great things to see and do in Pennsylvania, I was surprised to learn that the state was home to the largest elk herd east of the Rockies. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you. Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links.
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