For the last 12 years, My husband and I have spent a long weekend in mid-October in Estes Park, and we always see plenty of elk all around and have often heard bugling, especially if you go at dusk. We are sometimes rewarded with great fall foliage, although there's little chance of seeing much later in the month. Moose are elusive; I've only seen them on two occasions in 20+ years on the west side, but that's really where you have to go to have any chance. One reason I like the east side of the park better is the lesser damage to the trees from beetle kill, although the east side is unfortunately catching up to the west. Hiking is great on the east side - many trails off Bear Lake Road for all abilities. There are more lodging, dining and shopping choices in Estes than in Grand Lake, if that makes a difference. We love the Woodlands on Fall River Road - great location and accommodations.

Thanks for your response Tekwriter! I really need "an elk fix!" Haven't heard bugling elk in too many years now. It's good for the soul! Are you aware if they are as prevalent on the West side at that same time of year? I do remember the beetle damage to the West side....Very sad.
Regarding lodging, we like to do a private, quiet cabin, and prepare many meals there. We do like some dinners out, however, so a wide variety of dining is not imperative, and neither of us are shoppers.

Thanks for the suggestions!

There are moose on the east side now, have been for at least 5 years I think? I can remember hearing someone talk about seeing a moose and 2 babies the last time I was there in summer which I think was '06. I dismissed it as nonsense but then a more reputable person mentioned seeing them around Cub Lake. I've seen pics of them at Bierstadt Lake as well.

Oddly enough I've seen moose every time I've visited in spring/summer or fall. Best bet is at Colorado State Forest State Park but that's a bit of a drive from Grand Lake or Estes Park.

Best hikes are on the east side. Most of the hikes to lakes on the west side are longer and not as scenic. I haven't been on the west side in fall so not sure how the elk rut compares to the east - you can not possibly miss seeing large herds on the east side.

I'd stay on the Estes Park side and hope you can go up and over Trail Ridge Road a couple times to try to find a moose. Nothing wrong with driving TRR more than once, it's a great drive no matter how many times you do it.

Thanks "WhereWeAre!" Appreciate your feedback...east side moose is news to me! I am nearly 99% confident TRR will be closed. We are going out LATE October, and they generally close mid october, or after the first real snow. I don't expect they'll reopen for a balmy day! It is a great drive...I'll check out the park you mentioned! We're not married to going to RMNP, but will be in Denver for a convention, and figured this was a great destination to piggyback on our trip.

We saw a moose in 2010 while on a hike on the east side. It was a fairly long hike and it was near the end of wherever we were going - so not a lot of other humans around. But it was definitely a moose...on the east side...

I've seen that October 23rd is the average closure date for TRR. You might be in luck, But as you know, you will have to really watch weather forecasts and current conditions if you make the drive over - it would suck to get to the west side and have to take the long way back to Estes Park if a storm comes up and closes down TRR.

http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stateforest/Pages/StateForestStateParkHome.aspx

I would assume you can find some elk in that area as well, but don't know how it compares to the east side of RMNP. I've driven through the area of that state park after backpacking but didn't actually stop. Walden bills itself as the moose viewing capital of Colorado. And the state park borders on RMNP a little bit - you might look into some hikes over there.

I'm going to RMNP in a month, if I make it over to the state park I'll let you know what I think about the hiking.

Great info! 10/23? I am arriving out there 10/24! Go figure...I called the moose visitor center at the State park..very helpful. Would love to hear your opinion of the hiking. My only concern is that is prime hunting season! So it's a little unnerving to think we'd be hiking in a forest hearing rifles going off! I think I might stick with RMNP, and battle with the idea of east vs west, and maybe drive up to the state park for a day if we get that urge! Hope you have a great trip out to RMNP! I envy you going now...I heard elk are already bugling, as they are just out of sorts with the unusually warm, dry, winterless weather they had out there this year. I guess that just proves that no matter how I try to plan this, nature will do what it wants, and I'm only along for the privileged ride....
Thanks "Illnative" for you input above too! I really was under the impression no moose on the east side, but then I'm sure nobody told them that! LOL!

We've seen Elk in Beaver Meadow Park entrance every time we've been there in the Fall including last Fall 2011.

Last summer we saw several Moose (1 baby and Mama) standing in the midle of Spraque Lake.

Who knows tho what this Fall will be ilike with the Estes Park area fire and the weather.

Wow! Moose in Sprague Lake?

Did the fires get near Estes Park? I didn't know that! It is a total crap shoot, isn't it? If fires were nearby, and with the weather being so weird, I really don't know how to call it.....Thanks so much for all the feedback! Keep it coming!

I saw a moose in the middle of Sprague Lake too! I have lots of pictures! It was during my August 2010 trip to Estes Park.

My husband and I make a yearly sojourn to Estes Park. We've been the last 5 years with most of our trips in October, December, and that one in August.

I absolutely LOVE Estes Park in the fall!

The Estes fire was less than 30 acres and quickly contained, so unlikely that it will have much effect on wildlife. Sadly over 20 homes were destroyed.

Now we are into monsoon season and a lot of rain has fallen in the last couple of weeks. Check this out from July 7! (I was not involved in the video, link sent to me by a friend).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4641GMg3LM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

But who knows what the next few months will bring?

Moose are definitely on the east side of RMNP in the Big Thompson and surrounding drainages. We've seen them on the Fern Lake trail before you get to The Pool, and between Cub Lake and Moraine Park. Nowhere near as common as elk, of course, and a sighting is still considered lucky.

We also see them around Cameron Pass in the Poudre Canyon, including a mom with her weeks-old calf last year. The is the Colorado State Forest area mentioned by WhereWeAre. It is at least a 2 1/2 hour drive from Estes however.

We also saw a bear with cub on the Bear Lake Road a couple of months ago, also uncommon for RMNP, but that's the beauty, one never knows what will show up!

About a month ago, my daughter missed a wedding ceremony at The YMCA Camp of the Rockies in Estes because of a moose on the road near their entry. Many cars had blocked the road taking pictures!

Exciting stuff!!!

I love to hear of all the moose sightings on the east side... that's news to me, especially about Sprague Lake where we go almost every time because of the prime photograhic opportunities from the far side. I can't wait to try our luck this year!

Here's a great website I often use for hiking in the park because of the great detail and maps:

http://www.thespiritoftherockies.net/spirit/HikingRMNP.html