American elk, or wapiti, are the most common large mammals in Yellowstone—yet seeing one is always a thrill. These powerful animals can top 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). Elk stand five feet high (1.5 meters) at the shoulder and their antlers tower an additional three to four feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters).

Winter visitors can spot some 15,000 to 22,000 wapiti gathered in large groups. They browse the park's northern, lower-elevation areas where warmer temperatures and much lighter snowfall enable them to survive the harsh season by foraging the sagebrush grasslands.