National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides

Horse-drawn sleighs among the winter herd

⏱ 1.5 hours👤 All ages$$

The refuge exists because of a crisis. As ranches and the town claimed the valley floor in the late 1800s and early 1900s, elk lost their traditional winter range, and hard winters brought mass starvation; public outcry led Congress to create the refuge in 1912, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still manages it. Sleigh tours began in the 1960s and have been run under concession contracts since, which is why the experience feels both interpretive and folksy: the drivers are part naturalist, part teamster, and the questions they field (why are the elk here, should they be fed, what about disease) are real conservation issues that the refuge works through publicly.

To do it well, dress as if you will sit still in an open field in midwinter, because you will: insulated boots, a warm hat, gloves and a layer more than you think. Morning rides tend to be calmer and colder, and bring the best light on clear days; afternoon rides can catch the herd more active. Reservations are optional but recommended around the winter holidays and for groups. Bring binoculars and a camera with some zoom, keep voices low as the sleigh approaches the herd, and ask the driver about anything you see, from antler size to the wolves that sometimes test the edges of the herd.

Practicals and fit: tours depart from the visitor center at 532 North Cache Street in Jackson, a short walk from Town Square, with departures several times an hour through the day in season. You can also drive the first few miles of Refuge Road in winter for a self-guided look (collecting shed antlers is prohibited on the refuge). Pair the ride with the National Museum of Wildlife Art on the butte directly above the refuge, or with a winter drive north to Oxbow Bend. Fit: winter travelers, families, photographers and anyone who wants elk without a long drive.