National Elk Refuge

Really enjoyed our visit to the National Elk Refuge even though snow was extremely scarce. Our guide and sleigh driver (Treven) was excellent. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and safety conscious. He was able to spot specific types of elk and provide details to educate and inform.

Beautiful views! We didn’t get to see much wildlife due to the limited amount of snowfall this year so far but the tour guides kept us entertained with information on the elk and the refuge. Would love to go back when the elk have moved down into the pasture. Side note: there is an awesome road past the hospital (National Elk Refuge Road) that you can drive back on and we got to see big horned sheep back there (last pic).

Entry was from East Broadway Rd about a mile from Jackson downtown area. The elks seem to have gone (up the hills) for the spring summer when I arrived (May 12th), but there's still goats (rams?) and some animals scurrying about. What was enjoyable for me was the view as I drive up the road. I can view the Tetons Range from here, it was awesome and there were not many cars around.

This time of year November the Bighorn sheep are starting to come down. Fun to watch and photograph them. Later as it gets colder the elk will show up for free food and you can see them from the road

Great place to see so many elks and bighorns. Nice sleigh rides with friendly guides. Enjoyable experience

Back road has Pronghorn Sheep in winter. Take the sleigh ride to see the wintering elk population. On the north end before Gros Ventre Junction is a Beaver Pond and Lodge.

On a January day we saw hundreds of elk, 5 or 6 bighorn sheep, a few Trumpeter swans and ducks (too far to discern duck species), and one coyote. 🐺 🦌 🐏 Please be respectful of the people walking or jogging the trail, drive slow, and obey signage.

Too many great things to say for one review! Read through the beautifully informative display facility as you wait to take your horse drawn wagon ride into the heart of the elk refuge. Loved this facility, and if I had kids, I could spend an hour inside alone. The ride itself is one of the top experiences of my life, from the expansive view of the Wyoming mountains and valley, enjoy peace with natural as your guide tells you about the incredible creatures before your eyes. Note that elk are only present there in the winter months, not the summer!! Make sure to ask as many questions as you can, the staff working have a tremendous vault of knowledge and truly love what they do. So happy to be able to support this facility. Shoutout to our guide Reuben, you're killing it.