Elk were copious throughout the United States, but numbers have decreased since the mid-1800s because of over-hunting and habitat loss.
In 2001, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Park Service and other partners joined together to restore wild elk to the Smoky Mountains in the Cataloochee Valley near Maggie Valley.

Most elk are found in Cataloochee Valley, which is a perfect viewing area in the southeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
However, the elk have been known to wander out of the park and walk toward the nearby town of Maggie Valley.
The best times to view elk are in the early morning and late evening.

Not only are there elk around Maggie Valley, but occasionally there are black bears.
Bears are found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and occasionally in the areas around Maggie Valley.

During winter, the black bears are inactive for a short amount of time and exhibit some physiological responses to low food storage and temperatures.
However, the results of them not hibernating for a long time is that there are more bear sightings.
This is risky because they can be looking for food in neighborhoods or killed on roads.
Elk were copious throughout the United States, but numbers have decreased since the mid-1800s because of over-hunting and habitat loss. In 2001, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Park Service and other partners joined together to restore wild elk to the Smoky Mountains in the Cataloochee Valley near Maggie Valley.
Most elk are found in Cataloochee Valley, which is a perfect viewing area in the southeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, the elk have been known to wander out of the park and walk toward the nearby town of Maggie Valley. The best times to view elk are in the early morning and late evening.
Not only are there elk around Maggie Valley, but occasionally there are black bears. Bears are found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and occasionally in the areas around Maggie Valley.
During winter, the black bears are inactive for a short amount of time and exhibit some physiological responses to low food storage and temperatures. However, the results of them not hibernating for a long time is that there are more bear sightings. This is risky because they can be looking for food in neighborhoods or killed on roads.
Maggie Valley, North Carolina