Things to do nearNational Elk Refuge

Established in 1912, the National Elk Refuge was created specifically to protect the Jackson elk herd after settlement and harsh winters drove the animals toward starvation. The refuge sits at roughly 6,200 feet in elevation within the broader Jackson Hole valley, flanked by the Teton Range to the west and the Gros Ventre Mountains to the east. Each autumn, elk migrate down from surrounding high country, including Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, funneling into the refuge's protected lowlands for winter. The result is one of the largest elk winter concentrations in North America. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages the land, balancing supplemental feeding programs in severe winters with efforts to maintain natural forage through wetland restoration and native grass management.

Beyond elk, the refuge supports a notable diversity of wildlife. Bison roam the southern sections, trumpeter swans rest on open water near Flat Creek, and bald eagles and other raptors hunt overhead. Summer and fall bring a quieter character to the land, with wildflowers across the meadows and the possibility of spotting pronghorn and sandhill cranes.

The refuge is open year-round and free to enter by foot or vehicle, though the sleigh ride program, operated in partnership with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, carries a fee. For anyone spending time in the Jackson area, the National Elk Refuge offers a rare and grounding encounter with wildlife at a scale that few protected areas in the lower 48 can match.