Grand Teton Wildlife Safari & Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride

Track moose and elk through Grand Teton, then ride a sleigh into the largest elk winter refuge in the world.

A private wildlife tour from Jackson combines a naturalist-led safari through Grand Teton National Park with a horse-drawn sleigh ride into the National Elk Refuge, where you search for elk, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, coyotes and wolves across two distinct landscapes. The guide provides optics, field guides and narration; a picnic lunch with hot soup or chili is served in the field. The full experience runs 6 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife safari and elk refuge sleigh ride

• Explore Grand Teton National Park with guide
• Enjoy picnic lunch in the field
• Take horse-drawn sleigh ride in Elk Refuge

The Experience

The day starts with a naturalist guide who knows where to find the animals and what they're doing. You'll search Grand Teton National Park for moose, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, wolves, mule deer and bald eagles—the guide narrates what you're seeing and hands you binoculars and a spotting scope so you can watch from a distance. Thousands of elk spend the winter months in southern Jackson Hole, and the refuge protects them during the season when food is scarce elsewhere. The guide manages the route based on recent sightings and animal behavior, not a fixed itinerary.

Midway through the morning, you'll stop for a picnic lunch served in the field: sandwiches, hot soup or chili, fruit and dessert. The meal happens where you are, not back at a lodge, so the day stays in the landscape. After lunch, you move to the sleigh—a horse-drawn rig that lets you ride directly into the elk herds in the National Elk Refuge. The guide handles the horses and explains how the refuge came to be and why it still matters. You'll encounter elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, bison, wolves, and waterfowl like trumpeter swans and geese. The sleigh ride is the second major wildlife viewing, and it's the moment the animals are closest and most visible.

This is a private tour, which means the guide and the route are yours alone. Pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport from Jackson. The tour runs 6 hours total, which is long enough to cover both parks without rushing but short enough to fit into a single day if you have other plans. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; service animals are allowed.

What’s included

• Naturalist guide leading both the Grand Teton safari and the sleigh ride.
• binoculars and spotting scope for wildlife viewing.
• field guides.
• picnic lunch served in the field with sandwiches, hot soup or chili, fruit and dessert.
• admission to the National Elk Refuge sleigh ride.
• bottled water and snacks.
• hotel pickup from Jackson.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Great Western Expeditions

Is this one for you?Six hours is enough to cover both the park safari and the sleigh ride without feeling rushed, but it's a full morning or afternoon commitment—plan the rest of your day around it. If you want to see the largest concentration of elk in North America and don't want to arrange your own transport or wildlife spotting, the private guide and included optics mean you're watching animals, not organizing logistics.

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Top questions

What animals am I likely to see on this tour?

Elk are the main draw, especially in the National Elk Refuge where thousands winter together. You'll also search for moose, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, coyotes, wolves, mule deer, foxes, badgers and bison, plus waterfowl like trumpeter swans and geese. The guide knows where recent sightings have been and adjusts the route accordingly, but wildlife viewing is never guaranteed.

Is the sleigh ride the whole tour, or is there more?

The sleigh ride is the second half of the day. The first half is a naturalist-led safari through Grand Teton National Park, where you search for wildlife with binoculars and a spotting scope. A picnic lunch with hot soup or chili happens between the two, served in the field.

Do I need to bring binoculars, or are they provided?

Binoculars and a spotting scope are included, along with field guides. You don't need to bring your own optics, though you're welcome to if you prefer.

How cold is it, and what should I wear?

The tour runs during winter months when elk are in the refuge, so temperatures are cold. Dress in warm layers, a heavy coat, hat, gloves and insulated boots. The sleigh ride is exposed to the elements, so wind and cold are part of the experience.

Does the tour include the entrance fee to Grand Teton National Park?

The tour does not include the NPS entrance fee to Grand Teton National Park. You'll need to arrange that separately or have an annual pass. The National Elk Refuge sleigh ride admission is included.

How long is the whole tour, and when does it start?

The tour runs 6 hours total. Pickup from Jackson is included, so your guide will collect you from your hotel or a meeting point in town at the agreed time.