Best Time to See Mountain Lions in the US
January, March and April is the best time to see mountain lions in the United States. This is a national picture built from 9,918 verified iNaturalist observations across 26 states, showing when and where mountain lions are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
9,918 verified observations of mountain lions in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When mountain lions are recorded in the US
Peak month
January
1,068 records (10.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,068 | 10.8% |
| February | 888 | 9% |
| Marchpeak | 942 | 9.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 897 | 9% |
| May | 830 | 8.4% |
| June | 752 | 7.6% |
| July | 645 | 6.5% |
| August | 676 | 6.8% |
| September | 692 | 7% |
| October | 838 | 8.4% |
| November | 817 | 8.2% |
| December | 873 | 8.8% |
Mountain Lions you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Mountain Lion | 9,918 |
Across the country, mountain lions sightings peak in January, when 1,068 of the 9,918 annual observations are logged, about 10.8% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through January, March and April.
The best states to see mountain lions by recorded sightings are California (5,664), Nebraska (895), Arizona (703), Oregon (513) and Washington (480). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The mountain lions you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Mountain Lion, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see mountain lions
- mountain lions in California5,664 sightings, peak January
- mountain lions in Nebraska895 sightings, peak December
- mountain lions in Arizona703 sightings, peak December
- mountain lions in Oregon513 sightings, peak February
- mountain lions in Washington480 sightings, peak April
- mountain lions in Colorado413 sightings, peak March
- mountain lions in New Mexico232 sightings, peak January
- mountain lions in Florida217 sightings, peak January
- mountain lions in Utah199 sightings, peak May
- mountain lions in Montana162 sightings, peak January
- mountain lions in Nevada120 sightings, peak May
- mountain lions in Texas100 sightings, peak November
- mountain lions in Idaho91 sightings, peak November
- mountain lions in Wyoming72 sightings, peak January
- mountain lions in South Dakota37 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded mountain lions species nationwide
- Mountain Lion9,918 records
Plan your mountain lion trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main mountain lion viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best mountain lion viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a mountain lion tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see mountain lions in the US?+
January is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through January, March and April, based on 9,918 verified observations across 26 states.
Which states are best for seeing mountain lions?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Nebraska and Arizona. California leads with 5,664 verified observations.
How many mountain lions sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 9,918 verified mountain lions observations are logged on iNaturalist across 26 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of mountain lions live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Mountain Lion, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.