LOGAN, W.Va. — Now that the majestic elk has been returned to the mountains of West Virginia (the last known native elk in the state was killed in 1875), tours of the management area for the herds are becoming more popular than ever.
Officials at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have announced dates for their 2026 elk management tours, which give visitors the chance to explore scenic areas of Logan County and learn about the state’s elk restoration program.
The first tour will take place Saturday, Sept. 4, with tours continuing on weekends through Oct. 25, according to Brett McMillion, director of the division.
“The elk tours have become one of our most popular wildlife experiences, and for good reason,” McMillion said. “They give people a front-row seat to see the results of our conservation work and to witness firsthand the beauty and resilience of West Virginia’s growing elk herd.”
These four-hour guided tours start and end at Chief Logan Lodge. Tours are offered in the morning, starting at 5:30 a.m., and in the evening, starting at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 each, and a boxed breakfast or lunch can be added for $15.
Participants should arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Each tour is led by knowledgeable park staff, includes a short hike to a viewing area in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area, and offers opportunities to learn about the history, behavior, and conservation of elk in West Virginia.
While elk sightings are not guaranteed, visitors can often observe these animals in their natural habitat.
Overnight accommodations are available at Chief Logan Lodge, and a special Elk Tour Package is available for guests who purchase a tour ticket, boxed meal, and room. The package can be reserved online at WVStateParks.com using code ELK25 at checkout.
For tour availability, booking details, and more information, visit WVDNR.gov/elk.
Elk Visitor Center Construction Continues
State officials have also announced that construction continues on a new visitor center and viewing tower at the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area and that the facility is expected to open later this fall.
The new facility will feature an observation tower with elevated and accessible viewing areas and exhibits that highlight the history of the state's elk restoration project. It also has conference space, offices, and amenities for visitors, researchers, and staff.
About the West Virginia Elk Restoration Project
West Virginia launched its Elk Restoration Project in 2016 with the release of 24 elk acquired from the Land Between the Lakes. Since 2018, the state has introduced 95 elk —53 from Kentucky and 42 from Arizona—to the management area in Logan County.
About the might elk (Cervus canadensis)
Elk (Cervus canadensis), also known as wapiti, are one of the largest members of the deer family and are native to North America and parts of Asia. They are distinguished by their impressive size, with bulls (males) standing up to five feet at the shoulder and sporting large, branching antlers that are shed and regrown annually.
Elk are highly adaptable and inhabit a range of environments, including forests, meadows, and mountainous regions. They are herbivores, feeding primarily on grasses, shrubs, and tree bark, with their diet shifting seasonally depending on food availability. Social in nature, elk typically form herds, which provide protection against predators such as wolves, bears, and mountain lions.
Elk behavior is strongly influenced by the seasons. In autumn, the breeding season, or rut, occurs, during which bulls engage in dramatic displays of dominance such as bugling—a distinctive vocalization that carries over long distances—and sparring with other males to win access to harems of females.
During winter, elk often migrate to lower elevations in search of food and may gather in large herds for greater safety and efficiency in foraging. In spring and summer, calves are born, and females tend to form nursery groups while males spend time feeding and regaining strength for the next rut. Throughout the year, elk exhibit complex social structures, keen survival instincts, and a remarkable ability to adapt to varied and changing landscapes.
The last known wild elk in West Virginia was reportedly killed in 1875 in the rugged interior of the state in Webster County, marking the end of a species that had once been abundant throughout the Appalachian region.
Early settlers and market hunters heavily exploited elk for their meat, hides, and antlers, while widespread deforestation and habitat loss further hastened their decline. By the mid-19th century, shrinking forests and unchecked hunting pressure had reduced populations to scattered remnants, and the final individual was taken somewhere in the rugged mountains of the state, symbolizing the broader disappearance of elk across much of the eastern United States.
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