We decided to go to the elk refuge. We went to the visitor center, bought our tickets, and waited on the next bus to the sleigh ride on the elk refuge. They had a lot of neat animals and facts in the visitor center. It took about 20 minutes for the bus to pick us up and we went on a short ride to where you get on the horse-pulled sleigh ride out into the elk refuge. The sleighs were full of warm blankets, but you still need to dress very warmly because it is cold out in the open field, where there isn’t anything to block the wind.

The guide driving the sleigh was full of neat information about the horse pulling the sleigh and also about the elk. They were not feeding the elk yet because there wasn’t enough snow to make that necessary. They use the money from people visiting and also sell the elk sheds each year to keep the operation going. She said they can feed as many as about 15,000 elk, but there were only about 3,500 on the refuge at the time we visited. She said the elk stay together in groups by age, the younger ones in a group and the older ones in a group. The elk were not frightened by us and we drove right up to them. We got some wonderful pictures. After the ride, we got back on the bus and were taken back to the visitor center. The elk ride lasted around an hour.

The visitor center for the refuge is now in the National Wildlife Museum. A superb collection of antlers, skins, etc., of the regional wildlife is provided for everyone to touch and lift—a great place for kids. You would be surprised how heavy those antlers are. A wildlife video is also shown. Be sure to allow 30 minutes to explore this waiting area before your sleigh/wagon ride. A shuttle bus takes you across the highway to load for the sleigh ride.

The ride is in a sleigh if there is enough snow. Our ride was a wagon ride. During the 45-minute tour, the wagon circles around, allowing you to get close enough to the elk to get decent pictures. Our driver seemed to always get the sun behind the elk, so it was hard to get good shots. We also saw a couple of bald eagles and some magpies.

We had taken this ride before in blowing snow and below-zero temperatures. This time, the weather was much warmer, but you should wear warm clothing. The first time we wore our ski pants over our clothes to cut the wind. If the temperature is below freezing, be sure to wear a hat and gloves. It can get downright cold out there when the wind blows!

Sleigh rides are daily 10am to 4pm mid-December through March. It costs $12, and ages 6 to 12 get in for $8. A combination museum/sleigh ride ticket is available, saving you $3 if you plan to do both activities. There is more information at National Elk Refuge.

The Museum of Wildlife Art is okay (I'm not very artsy), but the café looks out over the elk - perfect with a hot chocolate!

This wildlife refuge spreads across 23,000 plus acres and is home to nearly 10,000 elk during the winter months. The elk begin to arrive in November and usually stay until April, when they migrate back into higher country for cooler temperatures and the opportunity to feed upon the rich, new spring grasses and vegetation. Once the snow begins to fall in the mountains, the elk head down to the refuge where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service supplement their diets with alfalfa pellets.

During the spring, summer and fall, you probably won't see any elk, but you may want to take the opportunity to sit peacefully and observe different species of birds and waterfowl that frequent the area.

To learn more information about this national refuge, visit this web site: click here.

FYI...This web site is also great for information about dining, lodging & activities in and around Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. www.jacksonholewy.net