Photograph Elk at the Elk Country Visitor Center

The aptly named Pennsylvania County (Elk County) is a must for anyone looking to understand why the PA Wilds logo looks the way it does. Setting aside a whole day is a must. It will be enough time for most, but for others, there will never be enough time.

Depending on which direction you are coming from, I recommend taking the route past Lock Haven and through Renovo, following 120 to 555. In the fall, you will be treated to some of the best colors in the state along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Once you get onto 555, be cautious; you have now entered and area unique to PA, where elk freely roam. It is not uncommon to see elk on the side of the road or even in someone’s front yard.

The town of Benezette is the destination for the easiest and best views. There you will find the Elk County Visitor Center- home to the largest elk herd in the northeast. It is a great place to go if it is your first time viewing the elk or if you have children. The visitor’s center is very interactive and worth the trip. They have a wonderful display of wildlife, outdoor, and historical exhibits for the whole family to enjoy.

If you go in the spring and summer, you will have the chance to see a calf. However, my favorite time of the year to go is in the fall during the rut. This will give you the opportunity to hear one of nature’s most amazing sounds, the bugle of a bull elk. You can hear the bugling echo throughout the area and you will never forget the sound once you hear it.