Our Best Drive-thru tips with map!

1-This is where it all starts-two objectives here- donate $1 to help keep the animals fed and the roads passable and check out the watch tower or pull over to look into the valley to the left-elk like to hang out here especially when it is hot.

2-Always go to the right at this intersection and head towards Whitetail Deer Shelter area.

3- Go down to the very end to turn around-sometimes elk lurk even further back on the service road.

4-Make sure to look up into the woods to your right at this point, the bull elk love to hang out in this area year round.

5-Turn into the boat ramp parking lot and be sure to go to the back. the hill and creek areas are fave spots for the bulls.

6-As you come around this bend, admire the beautiful landscape of the lake to your left but be sure to look back up the hill to your right. Often the herd and bulls like to hang out up there.

(All along the picnic areas and open meadow you are likely to see various bulls and the herd at any time of year.)

7-You have now entered Bison country!!! Make sure to look far off to your right into the valley, they like to hide way back there. They also like to roam along to the top of the ridges so look up the hills under the tree canopies to spot them.

8-The bison love to hang out at the very top so beware when you crest the hill and round the curve to look for giant animals in the road...they also love to do that-block the road!

9-This is the area with their beloved dirt/dust which is favored during the warmer days as a way to keep cool!

10-Be sure to pull over at this top parking/feeding lot area and if nothing else get a great snapshot of some wonderfully colorful trees (in autumn) and a expansive view northeast in the winter!

11-Welcome back to elk land! All along this top ridge the bulls and herd can be found as they munch their way around the park. It is also a favorite hunting ground in the spring and early summer for raccoons-beware the trash cans-they can be coon filled! Really..we mean that..the raccoons LOVE to crawl inside for trash to drag out but they will also stay inside to eat it and pop out when you least expect it!!!

12-Ralph Foley Shelter. A- it is an incredible view when there are no leaves north over the lake and further into STL county. B-there are two vaults toilets. C- The bulls and heard love to come and stand inside this shelter or hang out in the grassy areas right around it.

13-ALWAYS take the Elk Hollow loop!!!!!

14-The area around the Ranger's house is a fave place for the bulls and herd year-round-lots of grassy areas, but also shade and shelter too!

15-As you go past the wall and turn make sure to look in your rearview mirror or stop and look behind as the herd and bulls like this spot by the Ranger's house too!

16-As you head down to the lake on Elk Hollow Road be sure to look to the right down into the valley for the herd and especially on the grassy slope or by the building at the hair-pin turn, they love it there.

17-Always go into the parking lot-the bulls have been know to sit right at the edge of the forest and blend in unless you get close enough to distinguish them!

18-Be sure to look out to your right over the lake and grassy nook, that is a fave resting spot for the herd. Also you can look up the hill to your left and see Ralph Foley shelter and any elk that might be there.

19-Turn into the parking lot. Same principle as before-the bulls and herd love to blend in right beyond the tree line-is always better to check!

20-This parking area above the Visitor Center (GREAT bathrooms btw-very clean and open as long as you can get to them-the elk like this area too!) you can often watch things happening in the meadow area and around the Visitor Center from this lot and have a really good view and not worry that they might get to close!

21-Although you may be tempted to gun it up this hill, be sure to take the time to check out the meadow above the shelters- the elk love it here, but so do the wild turkeys!

22-Go back to the beginning!!!! If you take the Elk Hollow Road again and then stay straight instead of going down the Elk Hollow Road hill to the lake you will end up right by the front gate and can start all over or go back and see any of the animals you might want to revisit. this is my go-to trick for when I want to swing back and see if certain bulls are still fighting.

This is just how we do our drives through Lone Elk County Park. You can also get our and walk around and/or hike on the trails but always remember to keep a safe distance (100 feet) at least from the elk, especially during mating season (fall).