Experience Appalachia’s greatest conservation story
After a century and a half, they’ve made a triumphant return . . .
The haunting bugle of the eastern elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis) used to echo through the Appalachian Mountains. Though several subspecies of elk were common all across North America, a combination of habitat loss and hunting caused these majestic, regal creatures to disappear in the East. The last eastern elk in Virginia was killed in 1855 and the subspecies was declared extinct shortly after 1877, when the last known member of the once vast herd was shot in Pennsylvania.
Elk would not make a successful return to our area until 1997 when 1,500 Rocky Mountain elk were restored in Eastern Kentucky. In 2012, Virginia began their elk restoration program. Today, they are thriving. The Virginian herd has 250+ elk and there are well over 13,000 in Kentucky. After countless hours of hard work, multiple agencies, nonprofits, and individuals have contributed to the success of elk restoration in Virginia. Today’s elk herds are making their homes on rehabilitated coal mine sites and forests around the Breaks.
100% Success Rate
Take an incredible journey to the Virginia Elk Restoration zone. Visitors will be transported by bus to the original release site approximately 30 minutes from the park where they will view the herd that is the result of Virginia’s restoration effort. An outdoor picnic style dinner is provided to all tours.
Elk Tours will be held on select dates during March, April, May, August, September, and October. Meet at the parking lot across from the Visitor’s Center at least fifteen minutes before your tour begins. Tickets are $35 each. A portion of each ticket will be returned to the non-profit organizations that conduct habitat work in the restoration zone.
Seating on the bus is limited, and reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking the link at the top of the page or by calling (276) 865-4413 ext. 3201 or (276) 865-4413 ext. 3213.
