Visitors to the National Elk Refuge and adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest are reminded that they are in bear country. Adhering to the rules and regulations associated with recreating in bear country are required. Read more about local bear safety.
The Refuge protects critically important habitat for numerous iconic species, including elk, bison, wolves, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, bighorn sheep, and cutthroat trout. The landscape of the Refuge is primarily glacial outwash plain and rolling hills with a narrow, winding creek. The Refuge is surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Teton and Gros Ventre Mountain Ranges.
Visit Us
Welcome
We invite you to discover Jackson's national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge , the National Elk Refuge.
The 24,700+ acres of grasslands, wetlands, and forests conserved on the Refuge support a diverse assembly of plants and animals. The Refuge is a premier location for wildlife watching and photography, as well as hunting, fishing, and educational opportunities. Through conservation efforts, the Refuge serves to benefit the people of today and future generations.
Plan Your Trip
- Plan your trip through our website or visit us at the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center in Jackson, WY.
- Check us out on Instagram!
- Looking for a narrated tour of the National Elk Refuge during your visit? Please follow the below links to listen to our available tours. Tours are currently available on Spotify. More streaming platforms will be added in the future.
Where are the Elk?
Elk are typically visible on the Refuge from mid-December through early April. In late spring, elk begin migrating off the Refuge toward their summer ranges. Most elk will follow the receding snow line up to higher elevations in Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger Teton National Forest. From October through December, deepening snow push the elk down from high elevation summer ranges to seek food and shelter at lower elevations in Jackson Hole.
Location and Contact Information
Are you visiting the National Elk Refuge in the winter? Follow this link for more information on booking a winter sleigh ride!
About Us
The Refuge was established by various Acts of Congress, executive orders, and other documents to provide, preserve, restore, and manage lands for wintering elk, birds, and other big game animals. The main Act of Congress on August 10, 1912 set aside lands “for the establishment of a winter game (elk) reserve in the State of Wyoming, lying south of the Yellowstone Park . . .”
Lands now designed as the National Elk Refuge are the Indigenous homelands for a number of different tribes, including, Bannock, Eastern Shoshone, Northern Shoshone, Assiniboine, Athabascans, Comanche, Crow, Aaniiih, Kiowa, Kootenai, Nimiipuu, Salish, Teton Sioux, and Umatilla.
What We Do
Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.
Our Organization
Projects and Research
Refuge staff lead and collaborate on many different research and monitoring projects that pertain to wildlife conservation.
If you are a researcher looking to access the Refuge for your studies, please fill out a Research & Monitoring special use permit form.
To ensure long-term sustainability for Jackson bison and elk herds on the National Elk Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has drafted an update to the previously adopted 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan (BEMP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and the 2019 Step-down Plan, which expires in December 2024.
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