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Visiting some of the best places to see wildlife in the USA may take you and your family on an adventure you won’t soon forget.
Best Places to See Wildlife in the USA This Summer. With it comes a host of plans for trips far and ‘yon as we think about vacation. If you’re like us, and love to see animals in all phases of the year, you may be considering heading out to the best places to see wildlife in the USA.
Best Places to See Wildlife in the USA
The United States has no shortage of incredible places to witness wildlife in their natural habitat. From wolves in Yellowstone National Park to elk in Rocky Mountain National Park and moose at Baxter State Park in Maine, you can pick what you want to experience at each destination.
And that experience is not only tied to wildlife. There’s camping and hiking nearly anywhere you go. Photo opps in the soft evening light of western setting are incomparable. Canoeing at dawn on a remote lake in the northeast to the cadence of a loon’s call is something you have to experience. Witnessing waterfowl’s migration north, back to their nesting grounds in the Midwest…
With so many options, it’s a tough choice. So, we’ve focused on the best places to see wildlife in the USA since, you know, we’re hunters and conservationists.
The Icon: Yellowstone National Park
Everybody knows the name. It’s synonymous with the West and western wildlife. Probably because Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park.
It’s home to a plethora of wildlife such as elk, bison, moose, deer, bears, and wolves. More than 300 species of birds also inhabit Yellowstone in the summer. Over 1,100 species of native plants, 200 of exotic plants, and some 400 species of thermophiles, which produce the bright colors around many of the hot springs, also live in the park.
There’s no shortage of natural world wonders to witness in Yellowstone National Park. Visitors can drive the Grand Loop Road to cover more ground or lace up their boots to experience some of the 900-plus miles of hiking trails. Just be sure to take plenty of water and follow all of the Park’s guidelines concerning wildlife.
The Majestic: Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado has some of the most majestic views of any national park. The elevation ranges from around 7,800 feet to over 14,000. Something to consider when planning what you’ll do in the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park holds a bounty of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, and moose. And of course, elk, of which there are plenty of big bulls roaming close to the roads throughout the summer. Now, that’ll give elk hunters something to think about for the rest of the summer.
During the month of September, Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park is the place to be to see and hear elk. They make their way to lower elevations for mating and can be heard bugling throughout the park and around the town of Estes Park.
The Rugged: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt first ventured into the ruggedness of what is now known as Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota (formerly called the Dakota Territory) in 1883. He hunted there, operated a cattle ranch, and year after year returned to the area that bears his namesake. A strenuous life is what he preached, and in the Dakota Territory, he was definitely able to live it.
TR’s National Park is home to the iconic American bison. Elk, deer, and pronghorn live there too. As do bighorn sheep though they’re not quite as prevalent.
Bino-wielding birders will have a great opportunity to see many of the Park’s nearly 200 different species. Great-horned owls and Merriam’s turkeys live there year-round. Sandhill cranes stopover in the summer making their way back north.
There’s something special about the Midwest. Is it the landscape, the wildlife, the people? The answer, in our opinion, is all three!
To get a true bison experience, make your way to North Dakota’s incredible Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
The Backwoods: Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park has one of the highest concentrations of moose in the U.S. You’ll also find black bears in quantity. Summer is the best time to see both species as they are actively foraging for food in the forests and marshes that make up the park, especially moose.
In fact, an adult moose can eat about 50 pounds of forage per day. Throughout the summer, bull moose are growing their antlers and may eat up to 70 pounds. During this period of antler growth, a bull can add up to a pound of antler per day. So, if you want to check moose off your wildlife viewing list, Baxter State Park may be the place to do so.
You’ll also find a great hiking culture at Baxter. The northernmost part of the Appalachian Trail ends at Mount Katahdin within the park. Camping is available too.
The Home Grounds: Your Backyard
It’s fun to travel to see new places and the creatures that inhabit those areas. But in our opinion, there’s no place like home. Especially during the summer when on warm evenings we may see a new bird show up on its route to somewhere else. Or a fawn trotting along on lanky legs behind its mother. While we love the fall and winter hunting seasons, summer for us is a time of rejuvenation.
Close to home, Travis and his son saw 54 different species of birds during their day at ADAIR WMA (Wildlife Park in Boone County, Kentucky)
Enhance the Experience
Optics help people on so many levels. One of which is getting closer to wildlife and nature. If you’re investing your time and resources into a trip that takes you into some of America’s most wildlife-rich areas, the addition of binoculars or a spotting scope can only magnify the experience (no pun intended, seriously).
Again, there is no shortage of places to go. We didn’t forget Great Smoky Mountain, Acadia, Zion, or Yosemite. We only listed what we think are some of the best places to see wildlife in the USA this summer. Until next time, safe travels!
