National Elk Refuge — Attraction in Jackson

A must-see when visiting Jackson. You can enter the Preserve and drive along the edge for free. There you will see bighorn sheep along the side of the road, as well as the elk from a distance.

For an up-close-and-personal view of the elk, take the sleigh ride (on wheels when the snow cover is low) through the Preserve. Pick-up is at the Jackson Hole and Yellowstone Visitor’s Center. A shuttle bus takes you on a short ride to the Preserve entrance, where you are met by staff who hand you blankets and load you onto a sleigh/wagon drawn by beautiful draft horses (ours were Percherons, and they were gorgeous and huge!).

The ride takes you out into the Preserve with a knowledgeable guide who explains all about the elks’ life stages, migration patterns, behavior, etc. It lasts about an hour, and you get very close to the herds. Cost is $15 for adults. Call for reservations.

Insider tips: Go in the mid to late afternoon when the elk are active, and you will see lots of males “sparring” for fun. Earlier in the day, they tend to hunker down. Also, be sure to dress warm (hat, gloves, scarves and layers) because it gets really cold out in the wind on...

We had the chance to drive past the stunning landscape of the National Elk Refuge, a vital wildlife conservation area located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

This refuge plays a crucial role in preserving the natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly the large elk population. The refuge is home to around 7,500 elk during the winter months. These elk migrate from the surrounding highlands to the refuge to find food and shelter. Covering approximately 24,700 acres (10,000 hectares), the refuge provides ample space for wildlife to roam and thrive.

Although we didn't have the opportunity to see the elk during our visit, the view of this magnificent conservation area was incredibly beautiful.

The valley, with its expansive green mountains forming the perfect angle against the blue sky, created a breathtaking panorama that we couldn't take our eyes off. The true beauty of nature was right in front of us, a sight we will...

You are spending $25 a person for about an hour worth of activity. With that said I think it is worth it. This was probably a once in a life time trip so we did a lot of the things we wanted. This was one of them. The guide encouraged all of us to ask questions and we learned so much about the town and elks. It was amazing how they wouldn’t run off or really seem to be bothered by us.

A reminder it is really cold there. When we went on the ride I believe it was still below zero. They have blankets on the sleigh but even with those it was very cold so come prepared and bundled up! Also remember that the poor guides are out in that weather all day. I know our guide had just finished a ride and had another as soon as we finished. There was a sign mentioning a tip and we did give one. This is just something to think about since we did not know about this ahead of time. Great experience and...