Matt,
I'm not sure which wilderness are you mentioning but I have been hunting one of them for about five years now.
When I first started I would hike the ridges, stay up high and glass. I never saw much for though. After a couple years invested in various areas in this wilderness I ran across a local about 7 miles in. I talked to him quite a while and learned a lot. He told me "you're not going to find elk up high this time of year, you've got to hunt the timbered draws and creeks with water." The next year I relocated to another drainage and eventually located elk. Guess where I found them, you're right, in the creek bottoms with water. Most of these areas I've found you wont be able to do a whole lot of glassing at much distance, but if they're talking you'll find them. They do move up a ways when they bed but usually they're still in the same basic drainage.
When I scout in the early summer I do find them up high in the open meadows and grassy hillsides up high during the mornings and just before dark. Seems like when the season hits the elk change their areas. This does give you a feel for what is in the area though.
When scouting I have learned to not go in until well after the 4th of July. Sometimes there are some pretty good snow drifts you'll have to negotiate. Depends on the year and snow levels of course.
Fred Barsted has a book out about hiking the trails in some of these wilderness areas. I have found it very useful to locate trails etc which will help you navigate through the area. It is not a book about hunting but he does mention areas where he sees wildlife.
I am not an expert elk hunter so take this for what it's worth. Just my experience in the wilderness area I hunt.
Have fun!
