Information
Landmark: National Elk RefugeCity: Jackson Hole
Country: USA Wyoming
Continent: North America
National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole, USA Wyoming, North America
Overview
Just north of Jackson, Wyoming, the National Elk Refuge rises as one of the West’s most unforgettable wildlife havens-where herds graze against snowy peaks and the air smells faintly of pine, in conjunction with founded in 1912, it safeguards almost 25,000 acres of rolling grasslands, shimmering wetlands, and broad sagebrush flats-vital winter refuge for the elk herds that drift down from the surrounding hills.Nestled between the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges, the refuge helps keep the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in balance, where elk graze quietly beneath the snow-dusted peaks, and spread across the wide valley floor, the refuge transforms with each season-from meadows glowing gold in autumn to plains blanketed with crisp, white snow in winter.Far off, the jagged Teton peaks lift sharply against the sky, a rugged wall glowing like stone in early light, also the area teems with life-elk graze beside bison and pronghorn, while trumpeter swans glide past bald eagles and a mix of smaller mammals and birds rustling in the brush, relatively In spring, wildflowers splash soft colors across the meadows, and flocks of waterfowl circle low over the shining wetlands, therefore from late November through April, thousands of elk stream down from the frosted highlands, gathering in the refuge to feed and rest beneath the pale winter sky.Sometimes the herd swells past 7,000 elk, their breath steaming in the frosty air, forming one of North America’s biggest winter gatherings, on top of that from the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, visitors can often witness the herds drifting across the valley, while inside they’ll find exhibits that explore migration, wildlife management, and the refuge’s hundred-year conservation legacy.One of winter’s best moments in Jackson is climbing into a horse-drawn sleigh and gliding through the snowy refuge, the runners whispering over packed snow, what’s more working with the U. S, then fish and Wildlife Service, these guided rides take visitors close enough to the elk herds to hear the soft crunch of hooves in the grass.Curiously, Hooves crunch softly against the frosty trail, and the thin mountain air stings your lungs-an experience you’ll never forget, not only that expert guides share stories about elk habits, the surrounding landscape, and the quiet work it takes to keep this fragile ecosystem alive.The National Elk Refuge offers a protected haven for wildlife and, at the same time, shows what true teamwork in conservation looks like-bison grazing quietly against a backdrop of snow-covered hills, and it links straight to Grand Teton National Park and nearby protected lands, creating a vital migratory path that keeps countless species alive as they move through open meadows and shadowed pine forests.We manage the area through careful feeding schedules, restoring damaged stretches of habitat, and tracking how wolves and bears interact-watching their prints fade into wet soil after a night’s hunt, in conjunction with the refuge captures the region’s delicate balance of human care and untamed continuity-a rare stretch of land where cranes still trace the sky along routes older than memory.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-11-13
