For more information on Cataloochee, including directions, photos, tips, things to see, hiking trails, and more. Hmmthis is a self portrait! The last elk in North Carolina was believed to have been killed in the late 1700s. Tube World is located on U.S. 19 (4721 Soco Road) directly across from the ski area entrance sign atFie Top Road in Maggie Valley. Be aware that both the road into Cataloochee Valley, and the Blue Ridge Parkway are often closed during the winter due to hazardous road conditions. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Cataloochee Valley is located in the southeast corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you have already explored Oconaluftee and seek more of the same features, this is a great spot to visit. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Encroaching too close may lead a bull to perceive you or your vehicle as a threat causing them to charge. Bulls, cows and calves will all be feeding heavily to gain weight for the coming winter. The antlered bulls (males) bugle and fight for domination and the right to breed with the cows. For more information on the Blue Ridge Parkway, see our Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Guide. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There is a three-mile paved section leading up and over Cove Creek Gap, and then winding down the other side of the mountain. Thanks so much for joining us. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. For more safety tips,watch this video. For more hikes, see our Smokies Hiking Guide. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Some of the elk have a radio collar around their neck so biologists can monitor the elk. Hundreds of years ago, extensive herds of the great Eastern Elk roamed the Southern Appalachian mountains, which the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains are part of. The yellow tag on his ear indicated that the animal we saw was one of the original releases, while orange tags are used to mark Elk that have been born in the park in the years since. Elk Antlers are at their largest size, just prior to Rut Season, in August, September and October of each year. Cataloochee Valley Elk watching During [] Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Note that all Great Smoky Mountains National Park camping sites must be reserved in advance. More about the Cataloochee elk. The calves are typically moving with the Cataloochee Valley herd by late June, when they can often be seen grazing in open fields. During the rut, male elk make bugling calls to challenge other bulls and attract cows. Their behavior can be unpredictable, so park visitors are advised to stay on the road and close to their vehicles at this time of year. The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road. Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces elk, is illegal in the park. Spring is a good time to visit as the visitor number is still low. Rut is mating season for the Elk, and officially beings in mid-September and runs through mid to late October. Cataloochee Valley Tours: Private - Luxury - Eco-Tours - Cataloochee Female elk with small calves can charge visitors to defend their calves. Female Elk, called cows, are smaller, and do not grow antlers. Ready to embark on an unforgettable girls trip with your besties? car camping), horse camps, and group campgrounds. Dominant bulls use the fields to gather and breed with harems of up to 20 cows. Cataloochee Valley | Places to Visit | Great Smoky Mountains National Park These cookies are set via embedded youtube-videos. Roads can also become icy and treacherous, and theyre often closed when theres snow on the mountains. You'll see signs right after you pass under I-40. This cookie is set by Youtube. Cataloochee Elk Breeding Season | Great Smoky Mountains Guide This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile. The Cataloochee Valley areas trails also offer designated backcountry campsitesavailable by permit only. Elk once roamed the southern Appalachian Mountains and elsewhere in the eastern United States. Exit I-40 at North Carolina exit 20. This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. . For directions and more information about the elk of Cataloochee Valley, stop by the Haywood County Visitor Center at 1110 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley for your free guide. Elk rut in September and October. All elk are radio collared and are monitored. Cataloochee Valley is also home to nine historic buildings, including a school, church, barn and several homes. These roads are incorrect and a mapping error that takes you up a dead end private road and single lane fire roads. Dive in to find your next great wildlife adventure! While Elk seem very friendly, and docile, they are large animals that can be very dangerous. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. The cookie is set by addthis.com to determine the usage of Addthis.com service. Do not turn off of Fie Top Road onto any other road other than Ski Lodge Road. We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about theLeave No Traceprinciples ofresponsible environmental stewardship. Take U.S. 441 to U.S. 23 exiting in the city of Waynesville (exit 102 B). Do not get in between a mother and a calf. They were eliminated from the region by over-hunting and loss of habitat. This cookie is set by Addthis to make sure you see the updated count if you share a page and return to it before our share count cache is updated. You'll often hear and see the hard clash of antler to antler as Bulls hit their antlers together and try to push each other around, to determine who's dominant. Bull elk actively defend their territory by charging and sparring with competitors using their antlers to intimidate and spar with other males. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement". It's moderately strenuous with plenty of uphill sections. Turn left at the top of Fie Top Road onto Ski Lodge Road and continue 1 mile to the ski area. Even with their smaller size, the Manitoban Elk are the largest animals that live in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cataloochee Valley is nestled among some of the most rugged mountains in the southeastern United States. You can also go on a Cataloochee Valley Elk Tour. We are zoologist Cristina Garcia and conservation biologist Hal Brindley, a husband and wife team who travel the world in search of great wildlife watching destinations. Links. It's located near the end of the road past Palmer Chapel and Beech Cove School. Cataloochee Ski Area is located four miles off U.S. 19 above beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina and is easily accessed from Interstate-40. Cataloochee is located on the east side of the park. Go slow and be careful! Over the past decade, the herd has grown and spread into other parts of the park. Calves will be growing quick, and learning how to be adults. Encroaching too close may lead a bull to perceive you or your vehicle as a threat causing them to charge. Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park today, its easy to see why they chose the location. Take U.S. 441 South to U.S. 19 North (Maggie Valley). Travel on Cove Creek Road* into Cataloochee Valley. Unfortunately, the Eastern Elk are extinct. Elk Watching 101 Fun Things to Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park One of the biggest draws to Haywood County - our antlered locals! Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. We're the proud home of the Cataloochee Valley, a remote section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. READ MORE: The 10 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes for NC Day Trips. Hordes of cars full of people, often stop at the fields next to the Visitor center, causing what we often refer to as an "Elk Jam". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. For a quick hike, walk the Rough Fork Trail along the cascading stream, crossing log foot bridges as you walk to the Woody House. Read her posts at Travel For Wildlife and see more of her work at Truly Wild, & Our Wild Yard. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Observers should get no closer than 50 yards and use binoculars or telephoto lens for closer views. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. We always enjoy talking with them, they're great folks, who love the Elk. Youll find copious flora (see: 1300 native vascular plant species) and fauna there, including Black Bears, White-tailed Deer, and the worlds greatest diversity of Salamander species (31, including 24 lungless varieties). . The females and calves winter in smaller groups. The fields dont offer much food, so the Elk herd tends to stick to the woods for weeks in end. Barring terrible weather, the animals usually come out into the open fields of the Cataloochee Valley at these times to graze, then return to the wooded areas to rest during the middle of the day. So jealous you got to see them in full rut, and out in the open. If you visit the park in spring, look for the wildflowers of the Smoky Mountains. The Elk though, are big, and while during the day they are often in the cool and shady woods, in the mornings and evenings, they'll come out into the open fields to graze, where they are easily seen and enjoyed. The Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, have become on of its top attractions. For more than 200 years, elk were missing from the landscape in the Tar Heel State. Cataloochee Maggie Valley NC | List | AllTrails They use their antlers to intimidate and fight with other males. Viewing the ElkMost elk are located in the Cataloochee Valley area in the southeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can also go on a Cataloochee Valley Elk Tour. Many of the elk have radio collars and ear tags. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park. Just chillin alone. Elk, also called Wapiti, are in the deer family, Cervidae, and are the largest species and native to North America. The best time to watch elk is in the eveningduring the last hour or so of daylight or the early morning right at sunrise. The animals are not frightened by humans and can be observed grazing in the low-lying fields almost any afternoon throughout the year. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our policies and to our use of cookies. The results of that study should be available soon. A death of an Elk, results in various field tests to be sure the animals cause of death, didn't risk the rest of the herd. The Elk SeasonsWinter: Elk wear a two-layer coat during the colder months. The last elk in North Carolina was believed to have been killed in the late 1700s. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. This picturesque valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parkis home to many historic buildings and the majestic elk. Cataloochee Ski Area Driving Directions. This has been the case for Maggie Valley NC, where you can often both bull and cows wondering around town, near homes and businesses. This is a geolocation cookie to understand where the users sharing the information are located. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Find directions to Cataloochee, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. The gestation period for Elk is about 240 to 262 days. The males are so impressive! Copyright 2023 Blue Ridge Mountain Life, LLC, all rights reserved. One of, 2023 Year of the Trail Photo Contest with Haywood County Celebrate North Carolinas Year of the Trail with Haywood County by submitting your best, 10 Reasons to Plan Your Bachelorette Party in the NC Smokies. Viewing the elk should be from a distance of 150 feet. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. During the rut, male elk make bugling calls to challenge other bulls and attract cows. Turn left onto US 276 North (Jonathan Creek Road) Go about six miles and turn left onto Cove Creek Road, the last left turn before coming to I-40 intersection. While the animals are not frightened by humans, they are wild and potentially dangerous, particularly during mating season when the males are aggressively guarding their harems. In addition to bugling, Bull Elk spar for territory and females. Plus, if you are lucky the elk may appear and pay you a visit! Exit I-40 at North Carolina exit 20. The BRMTG was created by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, the award-winning team behind the world-renowned responsible travel website Green Global Travel. This cookie is set by Youtube. Feeding leads to Elk associating people with food, causing them to become dangerous. Snow Report . Occasionally, when walking the 1.5 mile (each way) Oconaluftee River Trail, elk can be spotted in the water and on the trail, especially in fall. The Eastern Elk were the original Elk found here the Southern Appalachian Mountains (which contain the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains). I had been to Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Cosby, driven the 39-mile Foothills Parkway that few seem to know about, Fontana Dam, Roaring Fork, and Greenbrier. Take the Interstate highway I-40. Amazon has updated the ALB and CLB so that customers can continue to use the CORS request with stickness. 16 years 5 months 9 days 5 hours 3 minutes. Use the directions below for the quickest routes. Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces elk, is illegal in the park. Five buildings are along the road in the valley. When traveling through Maggie Valley, and especially on your way up the Parkway, you'll want to drive slow and carefully as the Elk are often along the roadside or even crossing the road. Follow road another 3.5 miles until you see several old buildings and a meadow on each side of the road. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". A trip to Cataloochee in the fall during rut season is an interesting and exciting experience. As Elk grow, the collars age and fall off. This cookie is set by Addthis. They are usually born in early June. Continue over Soco Gap into the town of Maggie Valley. Follow US 276 north 0.2 miles and take a right on Cove Creek Road. Straddling easternTennessee and western North Carolina in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this UNESCO World Heritage Siteis a haven for nature lovers. Look no further than Haywood County, North Carolina. Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. One of the biggest issues with the popularity of Elk, is safety, both for the Elk and for the people. Best Places to see Elk Elk in Cataloochee Valley Elk in Cherokee NC Elk in Maggie Valley NC Elk on the Blue Ridge Parkway Elk Safety Why do some of the Elk have collars? Directions to Cataloochee, NC Get step-by-step walking or driving directions to Cataloochee, NC. An orange tag means the elk was born in the park. If you dont have time to drive to Cataloochee (about 1.5 hrs from Bryson City), youre just as likely to see elk grazing in the fields next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, or in the lowland fields along US 441 in the National Park, or in the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center just north of park visitor center. Box 509Bryson City, NC 28713, Order a free Visitor Guide featuring Bryson City and the North Carolina Smokies. Learn more / driving directions 1 2 3 Elk Watching at Cataloochee Elk once roamed the southern Appalachian mountains and elsewhere in the eastern United States. Hike 8/10-mile on the Pretty Hollow Gap to Little Cataloochee Trail (to the right). If you've never heard a Bull Elk bugle in the mountains, it's something you won't soon forget. Winter in the Cataloochee Valley is quiet and cold. This remains the most prominent area for elk viewing and you are more likely to witness elk here. Cataloochee Campground - elevation 2,600 feet (792m) - located in historic Cataloochee Valley, is surrounded by mountain ranges and pristine streams characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. CampingA primitive campground with 27 sites, is open mid-March through October for tents or RVs up to 31 ft. Reservations are required for all campsites. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. 1800 feet of elevation in almost 5 miles, from Cataloochee Valley floor to Balsam Mountain Road. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. NOTICE TO OUR GUESTSplease do not use your GPS or IPhone Map app to bring you to the ski area and DO NOT use any mapping that includes the words Scenic View Dr. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the remote Cataloochee Valley was home to around 1,200 people, with most of them living on working farms (a lot of which were apple orchards). Click logo to find out more. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park consist of 800 square miles of Southern Appalachian mountains along the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Route settings Get Directions Route sponsored by Choice Hotels Advertisement Help While few of the original structures remain, this is considered to be North Carolinas "Cades Cove.". The most popular Great Smoky Mountains attractions include dynamic mountain landscapes(16 of which are over 6,000 feet tall), rushing North Carolina waterfalls, pastoral mountain streams, and the largest intact forest ecosystem in the southeastern United States. Also, Tube World is located at the base of the mountain in the town of Maggie Valley and not at the ski area. For your protection, please remain on the roadway and near your vehicle during the rut. 2. Do not approach elk within 50yards. But with a little lesson on the elk and how to best enjoy their beauty, youll be all set for an incredible adventure. Be sure to check out this amazing video, captured by some friends of ours that live in Cherokee! These include two churches, a schoolhouse, and several residential homes that have been lovingly preserved. The initial 52 elk were released and have grown to a herd of over 150 (and counting!). Cataloochee Valley Map - Map of Cataloochee Main access is through Cove Creek Road, which is by most dirt/gravel , to get to the valley from I40 , exit at NC exit #20 and go 0.2 miles on route 276, turn right onto Cove Creek Rd and follow signs some 11 miles into the Cataloochee Valley, to get there from Cherokee, take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Hwy 19, follow 19 throu Maggie Valley, turn . Hearing a bull elks bugling during the fall rutting season is a memorable experience that comes with a caution. This cookie is set by Google and is used to distinguish users. Also, DO NOT USE DIRECTIONS THAT INCLUDE ROAD NAMESHEMPHILL ROAD OR YELLOW PATCH ROAD. Never touch or approach a calf, even if it appears to be alone. Mid-late afternoons are the best times. Walk-ins are not accepted. While Elk can be found anywhere in the eastern portions of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (and even in some areas close to, but outside the Park), the most common, best and safest viewing locations are: Cataloochee Valley is where the majority of the Elk still reside, which makes sense, since this was where they were introduced. One of the first areas the Elk came to was Cherokee NC, where today, they can often be found near the Oconoluftee Visitor center or wandering in or around the Oconoluftee River. Fall: The elks fall breeding season is known as the rut (mid September through the end of October). At the far end of Maggie Valley turn right into the Ghost Town in the Sky parking lot onto Fie Top Road. Rut season begins in mid-September, and runs through mid-October, although the Bulls usually begin bugling and grouping females in early September. Yellow ear tags mean it is one of the original elk introduced from the mid west and white tags mean it is one of the original elk introduced from Canada! Elk may move from the high country to valleys to feed. Further up from Maggie, between the Maggie Valley exit and the Cherokee exit on The Blue Ridge Parkway, has become another popular area for the Elk, and for people to view them. Be courteous of others. When you again reach pavement, turn left and enjoy your easy descent into the valley. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. And see how people used to live while you're at it! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Chances are, the mother is nearby, and will defend her calf. This is an easy two-mile round-trip that starts at the very end of the road in Cataloochee. As the Elk multiple and spread out from Cataloochee Valley, they inevitably encounter people's homes, and even local mountain towns. Calves remain with their mothers for almost a year, leaving about the time that the next season's offspring are produced. After 0.2 miles, turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow signs 11 miles into Cataloochee valley. You'll definitely want to drive all the way through in order to see them. Unfortunately, the large Eastern Elk quickly became one of the most common, and sought after game animals in the area. About 45 miles from downtown, allow 1.5 hours to travel. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow the signs 11 miles into the Cataloochee Valley. Because its narrow, youll want to proceed slowly, as youll likely need to stop or back up to let oncoming traffic pass. The mating call of bulls is called a bugle and can be heard during the breeding season. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Take I-40 West from Asheville to Exit 20 onto 276. SafetyWhen elk are present, federal regulations require that you remain at least 150 feet away and at a distance that does not disturb them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The only form of accommodation available is the Cataloochee campground. Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces elk, is illegal in the park. Cataloochee Valley is only a small part of the park. Cataloochee Valley In Winter,elk are less visible and it is likely that the road to Cataloochee is closed due to snow anyway. (View on Google Maps). Due to overhunting and loss of habitat, as people began moving and living in the mountains, Elk were all but eliminated in the 1700 and 1800s. When elk are present,federal regulationsrequire that you DO NOT approach an elk within 150 feetor any distance that disturbs the animals. Hike gorgeous mountaintops and visit 5-star waterfalls! Spot Herds of Elk In The Wild In Cataloochee Valley North Carolina There is currently an effort underway to obtain a more accurate count of the Elk in and around the park. Today, a visit to the Cataloochee Valley to see the ever-growing herd of wild (but closely monitored) elk is nothing short of magical. The Rut: FallThe mating season for the elk is called the rut, which occurs from mid-September through the end of October. Or does anyone suggest a better route from Maggie Valley to Cataloochee Valley?