18 replies to this topic

[national-parks]

I've looked through some of the older messages and see that the western valley seems to be the best place to find moose. When's the best time of day/year to find moose? Or do moose pretty much stay put year-round?

I've been to RMNP many times (and the western valley once) and unfortunately have yet to see moose. :(

[B-Jay]

All my moose sightings have been on the west side. Two sightings were at the Beaver Ponds area, which is a small picnic area a little past the Colorado River trailhead just off TRR. The most recent sighting was Sept. 20 a little past noon. The moose was in one of the ponds quietly eating. We took pictures, then went to the picnic area and had lunch. When we checked about 30 minutes later, the moose was still there. About 4 years ago in August we saw two moose in the same area.

An even closer encounter was three years ago on the Colorado River trail. When we were finishing our hike from Lulu City, we saw some people congregating around a wooded area near the beginning of the trail. There were two moose in the trees and it looked like one of them had an injured leg. I feared people were trying to get too close to take pictures and that was putting some stress on the animals.

Generally if you see cars pulled over on TRR on the west side of the park, it is for a moose sighting. I think it's just luck that you end up at the right place at the right time.

[chipper]

I have been "moose hunting" for the last 3 years and no luck. I have seen an "alleged moose" - cars pulled over and a dark lump in the marsh seen through binoculars. I also have also seen a "potential moose" - something crossing the the road in my rear view mirror but too far away to tell if it was a moose or elk. A woman at the Kawunachee Valley Visitor Center told us that they were all over by the Baker Mt. trail (I think that was the name of it) while we were out there, but we never saw them. Good Luck.

[reeves]

The west side valley is the place for moose. We have seen them several times. You have to look really carefully to find them. It is amazing how they can disappear when they walk behind some bushes considering how big they are. I would say look for them at the wettest areas. When you get to a spot to pull over do it. Then just get out and scan the area. You never really know when you will see one.

[John]

The closest I got to seeing a moose was on the east side. I was hiking by Mills Lake and a woman shouted excitedly to her husband...look. LOOK! IT'S A MOOSE! LOOK AT THE MOOSE!" At this moment me and hubby looked through the trees which were blocking our view of the other side of the lake and saw the most amazing moose! It had elk antlers, elk skin, and looked in every other way like an elk. But we had it on good authority that it was indeed a moose!

[R from A]

We saw them every day during our Grand Lake stay back in July. They were in the Colorado River valley, visible from Trail Ridge Road. Some came in to the campground at one point. One was hit by a car on Hwy 34 south of Grand Lake. I've also seen them on Long Draw Road, Colorado River Trail, Bowen/Baker Trail, Mummy Pass Trail and at Cub Lake.

[mtnmanjc]

Hey Joe,

Indeed the West side of the park is the best place to catch moose! You can cruse up and down the road on the west side from the park entrance to the colorado river trail trailhead and see what you can see. I've seen them up and down this road and up the colorado river trail itself. I've actually seen a couple of moose coming down from Fern lake (east side), but have only seen them once in the many times I've hiked or snowshoed to the lake. Best time to see Moose, like most animals is morning or just before dark. I'll add a photo here to wet your appettite taken last summer when I stumbled into three bull moose in the Kawaneeche Valley.

[mistylady]

We have seen moose several times - mostly on the East side! We saw two on our last visit a couple of years ago in August - one right past the Fall River entrance and the other as we drove up Fall River Road. Both were females. You just never know where they may be. A park ranger also saw the one on Fall River Road with us. He did say that it was very unusual to see moose on the East side as moose seldom go more than 10 miles from where they were born!

[John]

Hey Joe,

Indeed the West side of the park is the best place to catch moose!  You can cruse up and down the road on the west side from the park entrance to the colorado river trail trailhead and see what you can see.  I've seen them up and down this road and up the colorado river trail itself.  I've actually seen a couple of moose coming down from Fern lake (east side), but have only seen them once in the many times I've hiked or snowshoed to the lake.  Best time to see Moose, like most animals is morning or just before dark.  I'll add a photo here to wet your appettite taken last summer when I stumbled into three bull moose in the Kawaneeche Valley. 

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What a great story! What a great shot!

[chipper]

The closest I got to seeing a moose was on the east side. I was hiking by Mills Lake and a woman shouted excitedly to her husband...look. LOOK!  IT'S A MOOSE!  LOOK AT THE MOOSE!"  At this moment me and hubby looked through the trees which were blocking our view of the other side of the lake and saw the most amazing moose!  It had elk antlers, elk skin, and looked in every other way like an elk.  But we had it on good authority that it was indeed a moose!

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This is why they are so hard to find them. They disguise themselves. Tricky moose!

[Larry]

What a great story! What a great shot!

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Moose are all over the west side of the park. Have seen them at twinberry camp site frequently and at the meadow on the East Inlet trail this summer I had a big bull just playing inthe river. If I can figure out how to post picts I'll provide them. Also attheTimbercreek campground intheriver behind the camp there were big moose eating the willows every evening for nearly a week.


Larry

[Larry]

OK---here are the Moose of the Kawuneeche as seen through my lens this past August

Larry

Moose are all over the west side of the park.  Have seen them at twinberry camp site frequently and  at the meadow on the East Inlet trail this summer I had a big bull just playing inthe river.  If I can figure out how to post picts I'll provide them.  Also attheTimbercreek campground intheriver behind the camp there were big moose eating the willows every evening for nearly a week.
Larry

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[attachment=2670:attachment]

[Allie]

Wow, you have seen alot, Larry. These are terrific. Glad you shared your pics with us.


Allie

[Marvman]

Bet they weren't very happy when you started stackin' them....

Marvman

[Bill 007]

Larry, that's a lifetime of moose!

Bill