Grand Teton Wildlife Safari with Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride & Dinner

Search for moose, elk and wolves on a sleigh ride through thousands of wintering elk

A six-hour wildlife tour of Grand Teton National Park led by a naturalist guide, combining wildlife viewing from the park's scenic overlooks with a shared horse-drawn sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge and dinner at Turpin Meadow Ranch. The sleigh ride puts you at eye level with a wintering elk herd numbering in the thousands, and the guide focuses the day on searching for moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, coyote, bison and occasionally wolves. Pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Grand Teton National Park4h
2. National Elk Refuge2h · entry included

Wildlife viewing and sleigh ride

• Explore Grand Teton National Park
• Search for moose, elk, and bison
• Enjoy dinner at Winter Igloo Camp
• Take horse-drawn sleigh ride at Elk Refuge

The experience

The day starts with wildlife viewing across Grand Teton National Park itself, where a naturalist guide leads you through prime wintering habitat to search for the animals that gather here seasonally. You'll have a spotting scope and binoculars available, and the guide will point out the Grand Teton mountain range, the Snake River and other scenic landmarks as you move through the park. The focus stays on the animals: moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, coyote and wolves are frequent sightings in winter, and the guide's knowledge of where and when to look makes the difference between a long drive and actual wildlife encounters.

The second part of the day is the sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge, where you'll travel by horse-drawn sleigh through a herd that numbers in the thousands. This is not a viewing platform or a distant vantage point: the sleigh puts you at close range with the animals in their wintering grounds, and the ride doubles as an educational tour of the refuge itself. After the sleigh ride, dinner is served at Turpin Meadow Ranch's Winter Igloo Camp, with a choice of steak, chicken or fish, side dishes and gourmet s'mores for dessert.

The whole experience runs about six hours and includes the sleigh ride fee, bottled water, a map of Grand Teton National Park, and hotel pickup. The tour suits all fitness levels and is led in English by a live guide.

What’s included

• The tour includes the elk refuge sleigh ride.
• bottled water.
• use of a spotting scope and binoculars.
• dinner with your choice of steak, chicken or fish plus sides and gourmet s'mores.
• a map of Grand Teton National Park.
• and hotel pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and TuesdayDeparts at 11:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 31 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Great Western Expeditions

Is this one for you?The shared sleigh ride and group wildlife viewing mean you're part of a guided experience rather than exploring on your own, which works well if you want a naturalist's knowledge of where the animals winter and how to spot them, but suits a smaller group size better than a private vehicle would.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What animals am I most likely to see on this Grand Teton wildlife tour?

Moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, coyote and bison are frequent sightings in winter, and wolves are occasionally spotted. The naturalist guide's knowledge of the park and the refuge helps position you for the best viewing opportunities.

How does the sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge work?

You travel by horse-drawn sleigh through the refuge's wintering elk herd, which numbers in the thousands. The ride is shared with other guests and includes an educational component from the guide about the refuge and the animals.

What's included in the dinner at Turpin Meadow Ranch?

Dinner at the Winter Igloo Camp includes your choice of steak, chicken or fish with side dishes and gourmet s'mores for dessert.

Is hotel pickup included in this tour?

Yes, pickup is included in the tour price.

How long does the whole experience take?

The tour runs about six hours and includes wildlife viewing in Grand Teton National Park, the sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge, and dinner at Turpin Meadow Ranch.