National Elk Refuge

The National Elk Refuge is about 24,700 acres of intermountain valley habitat. Famous as the home for up to 6,000 or 7,000 elk in the winter months, the National Elk Refuge provides open space for a number of species.

In the spring (April and May), thousands of elk migrate back to higher elevations, leaving the refuge seemingly empty. Families of bighorn sheep sprinkle Miller Butte, Trumpeter Swans play in the Flat Creek March, and the Pinnacle Peak Wolves are likely out of sight. 

The proximity of the Refuge to town and good management practices make it easy to enjoy the Refuge regularly. You can walk, jog, bike, and drive through on Refuge Road, with access at the end of East Broadway Street in the Town of Jackson, though you must stay on the road at all times. 

Departing from the National Elk Refuge r, the National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides are an excellent way to enjoy the land during the winter. Riders are taken out on horse-drawn sleighs to see the elk herd up close.