Though the weather was not ideal but the experience was great. It was made all the more better with our funny and entertaining guide. Definitely bring a blanket to cover your legs. I had snow pants on and a base layer under them and I was still cold with the heavy wind gust. The blanket helped a lot. You can purchase a blanket for $20 in the gift shop. The gift shop actually charges a responsible price for blankets. We saw a lot of Elk and a coyote during our visit which was in February. I highly recommend but don't bring small children especially when it is super cold. We had a sleigh with at least 5 chicken and 1 screamed and cried the entire time. read more

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It was my second time but my mother's first time getting to go on the Sleigh Rides on New Year's Day 2026. She absolutely had a blast and enjoyed all of the information that was provided by the drivers. If you go to Jackson in the Winter, this is a must do. read more

Just got off a sleigh ride. My family of four drove up to the visitor center and decided on a last minute elk ride. Just walked up and bought tickets then they shuttle you to sleigh location (approx 5 min). The sleigh is large with cushioned benches. Our guide Ashley was awesome. Informative and mindful of giving everyone time for photo ops. Our horses smith and Wesson were beautiful and super sweet when approached and petted. We saw many elk, a couple coyotes and a bald eagle. Had lots of fun. Highly recommend. read more

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This did not disappoint. When I thought of sleigh ride I thought of horses pulling us really fast and potentially racing with other people but what really happened was just as good. We stopped by after skiing and so glad we did! You get bussed to the sleighs a couple miles away and hop on a sleigh pulled by horses by a guide. We had an amazing guide, Lin, who was very knowledgeable about the elk. Such a fun experience and it was very sunny so we got great videos and photos. read more

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Wonderful people, facility and sleigh tours through the elk refuge. Fun thing to do for anyone in the Jackson Hole area.

This was an great experience but be warned BRING A BLANKET! The ride itseabout lasted a little over an hour and with wind in your face. It was informative about the elf refuge and surrounding areas as well as the elk itself and their migration patterns. read more

12/16/2020 - Sleigh ride out to the Elk Refuge with our guide Bridger. Wonderful experience with a passionate guide, great horses, and lots of elks to look at/photograph. I knocked a star down since there wasn't enough snow so the ride was bumpy through the "potato patches" and after elk hunting season, there weren't many elks available yet. Nonetheless, this experience is a must do in Jackson but would be better later in the winter though you'll deal with more crowds. I had no snow/less elks but it was not crowded at all. You can't have it all! Some fun facts you'll learn on this 1hr sleigh ride: - Elks lose their antlers once a year and start to slowly grow back as early as 9-10 days later. - Elks have 4 chamber stomachs. - Here at the refuge, they feed the elks alfalfa pellets through their supplemental feeding to help them gain protein since they're eating non nutritious dead grass. - As with the positivity of the feeding program, there are some negativity was well. Since feeding is in close quarters there are the probability of diseases that can spread including chronic wasting disease and brucellosis. read more

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[1055] 12/2019 This is a MUST. You hear sleigh ride and think huh but believe me it is not something you want to miss. We purchased our tickets in the visitors center. The ride was about 1-2 hours. They give you lap blankets which was great. They did not overcrowd our wagon so that was great. We went thru the refuge and we were within feet of Elk. Very cool!!! One elk ran and it was cool to see the herd mentality up close. All the elk looked around to see what was going on as no one wants to be the last one running. Lol We really enjoyed this ride and I encourage you to do the same if you're in the area read more

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***This review is for National Elk Refuge - not the sleigh rides.*** Beautiful viewing area where we were able to see our first elk while visiting Wyoming on our way to Grand Teton National Park. Great spot to listen to the birds, take photos, or go for a walk! read more

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Ok...I know the main focus of Jackson Hole, WY is to ski the amazing and challenging mountains in the surrounding area of Jackson, but one excursion which is absolutely breath taking is visiting the National Elk Refuge on a sleigh ride! I took this excursion completely on a whim, after returning my skiis, not expecting much from "Elk viewing," but man I mas surprised. Viewing these majestic Elk so up close and on a sleigh being pulled my 2 hard working horses, was something out-of-a Hallmark movie. :) The staff and crew were just as amazing! Their knowledge of the Elk Refuge, history of how Elk were placed on a refuge and managing their existance was outstanding. A MUST DO! ....And don't forget to tip you sleigh captain. read more

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If you know me, you know my love for animals, wildlife just about every living creature with fur or feathers. Visiting the Elk Refuge via sleigh ride was a definite To Do once I spotted the experience. My hotel booked the ticket for me and I had zero trouble heading to the Visitors Center and shuttling over. I would however recommend sitting up close to the guide, near the front of the sleigh. I took a seat in the rear which made it tough to hear anything he was saying or even really engage. I did learn a little bit but a seat a bit closer would definitely have proven to be more beneficial. We spotted a bald eagle, some ravens, and several coyotes in addition the the many elk. I'd recommend this for all ages and the well behaved children on our sleigh ride seemed to really enjoy the visit as well. read more

Must-do activity when in Jackson Hole. My girls and I loved this experience. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. 5 stars! read more

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Great tour at the National Elk Refuge, riding a sleigh pushed by two oversized and powerful horses. If you're lucky like we were, you can get pretty close to the Elk herd and see them grazing, socializing, fighting (females standing and fighting with their anterior legs, males crossing their antlers) or simply resting in the snow. We also saw two bald eagles resting on two posts and a lone coyote approaching from the distance. Dress appropriately with plenty of layers and toe/hand warmers, it can get very cold! read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - The sleigh horses' behinds :) dress appropriately, it can get very cold! - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

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Had an incredible time on the sleigh ride! Due to not as much snow we rode in wagons instead of sleighs which was a little bumpy at times but freaking awesome because you felt like you were in Oregon Trail! Our horses Rough and Trouble were great as was our guide Lynn! He knows his stuff, and honestly made the tour so much better with his wealth of knowledge and just fun personality. We saw a massive herd of elk just grazing and prancing around the open field. We also saw in the distance bald eagles and coyotes eating an elk carcass from earlier in the day. So much fun id absolutely recommend this for anyone who hasn't been! read more

At this time there is no snow! It is a VERY bumpy wagon ride about 500' to see 3 elk and we got lucky and saw 1 coyote. They sat there and talked about 30 min about elk in the cold with babies screaming crying in ea wagon. It was a complete waste if $. When I tried to speak to office upon my return as to why there is no age limit (it should be 5) the gal made me out to be a baby hater which I am not, I felt sorry for the baby and the parents. The manager with silver hair wouldn't even turn around and look at me. The lack of customer service was appalling and disrespectful! In the end she credited me 2 of my 4 tix. Still wasn't worth it! read more

We came to the elk refuge for the sleigh ride without a reservation and the ladies in the ticket booth got us in when another party hadn't shown up and within 5 minutes we were on the shuttle to get to the sleigh ride. The whole process to get on the ride was quick and easy. The only downfall is the area you load into the ride was very muddy (probably due to the recent snow melting). We also didn't have a "sleigh" ride it was more of a pulled wagon due to the snow melting and it was super bumpy, but overall our guide was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed seeing all of the Elk. My 6 year old daughter loved it. We would definitely do this tour again! read more

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A lovely place to spend an hour, very educational and entertaining. We booked the sleigh ride at the visitor's center and 30min later we boarded a shuttle from the visitors center to the elk reserve entrance down the road. Due to lack of snow on the ground we got horse carts instead of sleighs to ride around in. Our tour guide was very nice and gave us all sorts of information about the elks, moose. He basically talked nonstop for an hour and answered all our questions. The cart ride was a bit bumpy and rough at times since there are no roads on the refuge. We learned about migration patterns, history and scientific facts about the land and then more about behaviors and lifestyles of the elks. Very interesting information. The weather is pretty cold, we were given large blankets that are slightly smelly, do dress appropriately. I had 3 layers on and was still cold. read more

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The Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride was a great experience. We had Jordan as our driver and he was knowledgeable, friendly and made the trip a wonderful experience. Great for families of all sizes! Total time was about an hour and half for the full trip. Call before you go so you can get a reservation - show up 15 minutes beforehand to buy your tickets and board for the refugee. Awesome experience! Dress warm :) read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - Elk Refuge 2021 - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

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Fun time! Jordan was a great guide...knowledgeable and friendly. Saw so many elk. Very efficient. Being a blanket! read more

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We had a great tour with Tyler, Thunder and lightning! The most elk I've ever seen in one place. Seriously impressed with Tyler's knowledge of the refuge and answering so many questions. Everyone here is very friendly. Definitely bring a good jacket, blanket and leave these guys a good tip! read more

A MUST SEE IN JACKSON! A great one hour sleigh ride for around $25 per adult. They are no longer providing blankets due to Covid-19 but you can bring your own. We thought the sleighs would be going a higher speed, but it was pretty mellow and calm. Go either in the morning or afternoon when they are feeding. read more

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This was such an enjoyable experience! Everything was very efficient and organized. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we were able to get some fantastic photos. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

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Amazing tour!! I absolutely loved this tour. We were taken in the middle of the elk herd. The guide (I feel horrible I can't remember his name) was the most knowledgeable tour guide I've ever had. He knew the history and told us so much information about the elk. I highly recommend this tour to everyone who visits the Tetons. I would give this 10 stars if I could. read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - The ride out to the herd. - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

Very cool! Highly recommend if you're visiting Jackson. Bridger was our tour guide and he was fantastic - personable, friendly, and knowledgeable. He shared many fun facts about the refuge and the elk. Beautiful views and you get to see the elk herds up close. Fun experience for the whole family. read more

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All I can say is... WOW!!!!!!!!! This was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Brenden our driver was great! Super knowledgeable and answered any questions our group had. Did not realize there are so many fun facts about Elk and the refuge. Definitely a fun experience and would do it again! read more

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My friends and I went on a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge and had so much fun. You park and buy tickets at the visitor center, which has a store and lots of interesting facts about animal refuges. There's at least one in every state which I didn't know. It's $25 per person and the trip takes about an hour. We got lucky when we went because it was clear and sunny and not snowing. It can be pretty chilly in the winter so bundle up - they do provide blankets but you're definitely exposed to the weather. Our sleigh driver was super knowledgeable and informative about the elk, the refuge, and a bit of Jackson history. He also had some pretty good corny dad jokes! I learned a ton on the tour and was fascinated with the elk info. You get pretty close to the elk and it's really awesome to see them hanging out. We saw a few sparring with their antlers which was cool. I highly, highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Jackson in the winter! read more

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This place is run like the Mickey Mouse Club. Lousy communication, inept shuttle drivers and absolutely no signage indicating where you need to go or that you have to check in if you have a voucher from your hotel. I don't recommend this place to anyone. Period. read more

Great and inexpensive entertainment in Jackson Hole. We were right next to a heard of 1,000 elk within 15 minutes. Very cool experience for all ages. read more

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This is a free refuge at the end of Broadway on the east side of Jackson. It is essentially a drive through series of roads at the foothills of the mountains. The winter season is the only time of year to observe elk. During the summer months, the elk disappear into the mountains. In June, we were able to see some pronghorn, a wide variety of birds, and dots on the hill that were bighorn sheep. You do get a phenomenal view of the Grand Tetons! read more

So the organization of this tour for us today was so bad I would give it a 1 star. We booked and paid in advance but that didn't seem to matter because we were told to get there at 830 for the 10:00 tour and no one was there to help us. They said come back at 9 so we did and we waited in line to get our tickets even though we already paid. Didn't know the line was going to decide which sleigh we got or we would have been first (we got there first but got in the line later because we didn't think we needed to be in line). So then we had to wait another hour in -5 degree weather to get on the bus. The sleigh ride itself was bumpy but it was beautiful and our tour guide was great. It was just way too cold and disappointing service. read more

A wonderful place in Jackson Hole, WY. that is dedicated to protecting the elk herds in winter is the Elk Refuge, which is part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. It was in 1912, after the photography of Stephen Leek inspired public interest in preserving a part of the traditional winter range of the area elk population, that the Reserve idea was born. "Today almost 10,000 elk winter in the refuge, which is located just north of the town of Jackson. The elk begin their migration out of the high meadows in the fall, usually after the first snow storm. They stay in the refuge through the spring, when food becomes more abundant," according to www,jacksonhole.com. The 25,000 acres of open fields, streams, ponds, and marshes make it a perfect spot for elk to winter at. While driving to Yellowstone along the highway, I saw the (empty) Elk Reserve this past summer but the tour guide told us that in the winter, the fenced in reserve is brimming full of thousands of Jackson Hole elk. The winter season is the only time of year you will be able to observe the animals at their temporary home. During the summer months, the elk disappear into the mountains. But the refuge is still a popular place to observe bighorn sheep, deer, bison and moose. 5 YELP STARS for this great Reserve that has helped to reintroduce elk, which had disappeared from over 90 percent of their original range in the United States by the early 1900's. At that time, northwest Wyoming and the Jackson area was one of the last strongholds of elk. This area also boasted a perfect blend of habitats that suit elk: open,grassy meadows, marshes, timbered areas, sagebrush, and rocky outcroppings. Thus was born the National Elk Refuge--located with the dramatic Grand Teton Mountains in the background and Yellowstone National Park nearby. According to the www.fws.gov website, the Jackson Elk Reserve was "one of the first big game refuges established and is managed to provide winter habitat for approximately half of the nearly 14,000 elk in the Jackson elk herd. Refuge grasslands are managed to produce as much natural forage for elk as possible through irrigation, seeding, prescribed burning, and other management activities. These management practices enhance winter elk habitat and reduce the need for supplemental feeding. The number of elk wintering on the Refuge is limited to avoid overuse of the range and to avoid the potential spread of diseases common when herd animals are crowded." Perhaps the only bump in the road here? There is some contretemps about a wintering bison herd in the Elk Reserve. Some environmentalists have complained that the growing bison herd wintering on the Refuge is competing with elk for winter range and supplemental feeding. As of now, the FEDS who manage the Reserve note, in their best government-speak, that "Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are preparing a Bison and Elk Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement which will help to develop the future management plan of these animals on the National Elk Refuge." (www.fws.gov.) read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - Wintering elk. - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

What an electrifying experience that will leave me breathless. You can't put a price on this opportunity of a lifetime. If you're looking for something they will take your breath away and leave you appreciating the wildlife that the world has to offer then schedule your self a ride at the national elk refuge sleigh ride. I will remember this for the rest of my life! The tour guide Connor was absolutely full of information and super responsive to all questions our group had while on our tour. From the actual lobby where you can purchase the ticket to the end of the tour you're surrounded by positive energy and people who care about informing you about all the appreciation that wildlife has go offer. You can't compare the hospitality to any tour I've ever been on. Super informative breathtaking views and nature at its best during the peak of winter. Thank you Connor for an experience I'll cherish for the rest of my life! I highly recommend the tour and Connor was exceptional. Five stars, phenomenal service. 10/10 on the Richter scale. read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

So quiet a place, it's scary. This might not be a place for everyone. Visitors are restricted to the road (for good reason) and depending on the time of year you might not see anything other than a few elk (shocker, right?). During our visit we were fortunate enough to see not only elk, but plenty of elk carcasses, all torn apart. One was so fresh it was still wet! We also saw some big horn sheep, but they weren't as exciting as the carcasses. If you visit be sure to travel up the mountain for a great view of the refuge and the Teton's. Oh yeah--it's free and only 30 seconds from downtown Jackson. read more

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This was a one of a kind experience in Jackson. Our tour guide Maddie was extremely knowledgeable, answered all of our questions, and allowed us to have a spectacular morning. Seeing the elk, and the beautiful landscape of the park was worth every penny. I 100% recommend this. read more

We had the blonde headed girl from Idaho as our tour guide and she was amazing. We had such a good time and it was so informative!!!! Well worth the money! read more

My friend & I enjoyed taking a sleigh ride around the Elk Refuge. We got to see the elk up close, which was really fun! Clint was a great driver who had a lot of knowledge about the elk and horses (our pair was Flint and Lightning, very cute). Would definitely recommend. read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - Male elk looking up at us - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

It's not their fault that there wasn't any elk but I would've preferred if they didn't stop so many times for a long conversation when there isn't any elk. They should have protocols in place when there isn't any elk which is the main attraction and maybe not charge you full price, they should also provide blankets as we had to purchase a $60 blanket at their window which is way overpriced. I enjoy the spirit of the workers and they're all very kind and educate you about elk read more

Without question, you must do this when visiting Jackson Hole in the Winter! You begin by visiting the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitors Center. Tickets are purchased at (see yelp link below): http://www.yelp.com/biz/jackson-hole-and-greater-yellowstone-visitors-center-jackson At any time of the the year, The Visitors Center is must stop when you begin your vacation. In the Winter, you purchase your Elk Reserve ticket here and a bus will cart everyone down the street to the sleigh ride. If there is a lot of snow, you will travel on a horse drawn sleigh. If there isn't, a horse drawn wheeled cart it is. Regardless, it is a surreal experience. I've done this several times and it never gets old. What ever you do, bring your hat, scarf, mittens, gloves etc. It is colder with the wind whipping around while on your ride. They do provide a wool blanket but it isn't enough if you are not properly dressed. Another plus is that your guide will stop several times and give you quite a bit of information regarding the history of why the elk travel to this location, how the introduction of wolves have affected it and much much more. The stops are also are a huge plus for amazing photo ops from the sleigh/cart. You will not be leaving your sleigh/cart because this would cause the elk to stampede away (not a good thing). Again, I cannot over emphasize that this is a "must not miss" if in the area. Normally, the tour runs from mid-December through early April. It lasts about one hour. FYI.....Don't forget the camera and extra battery. I am unsure of this address regarding the sleigh ride but really, it doesn't matter. Show up at the Visitors Center on Cache Street (listed in my review above) and you will begin your tour there. read more

To start, I'm not sure if the address correct. You start at the visitors centre which is on Broadway just out of town (towards the airport). The tour costs $18. From the visitors centre they shuttle you to the entrance gates of the elk refuge and put you on a horse drawn sled. This tour is the only way you can get into the refuge. The sled takes you very close to the elk (they don't really seem to notice or care that you're there). The guide is very knowledgeable about the elk and is interesting to listen to. The tour lasts about 1 hour. read more

National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides - Parks Near Me - Jackson, Wyoming

A nice way to spend an hour or so checking out the refuge center and the outer grounds, walkways and elevated platforms. Unfortunately, we were too early to see any elk at the refuge, but did see a lot of birds on a lovely day. read more