Jackson Hole: Wildlife Safari, Sleigh Ride & Lunch

Summary

Wildlife moments in Jackson Hole with sleighs and open fields

You’ll feel winter’s hush as you scan snowy fields for moose and bison on this Jackson Hole wildlife safari—with a local guide pointing out hidden movement and sharing stories. Includes an optional horse-drawn sleigh ride through herds of wild elk, plus lunch at a spot locals actually use. Expect laughter over hot drinks and moments when everything goes quiet except for hoofbeats or wings overhead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wildlife safari and sleigh ride

• Explore wildlife stops with guide
• Enjoy lunch at local eatery
• Optional horse drawn sleigh ride
• Spot more wildlife in afternoon

Top questions

What animals can I see on the Jackson Hole wildlife safari?

You may spot mule deer, elk, moose, bison, big horn sheep, coyotes, foxes, bald eagles, golden eagles, swans, and sometimes wolves.

Is hotel pickup included in this tour?

Yes, hotel or lodging pickup and drop off are included with your booking.

How long does the wildlife safari last?

The tour lasts a full day with both morning and afternoon wildlife viewing sessions plus lunch.

Are sleigh rides always available?

Sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge are included when available; availability depends on conditions.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

Yes, lunch at a local eatery is included as part of your day trip.

What is the minimum age for this safari?

The minimum age is 8 years old for group safaris; private tours have no minimum age.

How many people are on each tour vehicle?

The small group tour includes up to 8 guests per vehicle maximum.

Are binoculars provided on this safari?

Yes, UHD binoculars and spotting scopes are provided for better wildlife viewing.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop off right from your lodging in Jackson Hole, all transportation in a small group vehicle with your professional naturalist guide leading the way. You’ll get bottled water and snacks throughout the day plus UHD binoculars and spotting scopes to help you catch every detail—even if your hands are cold! Lunch at a local eatery is covered too—and when conditions allow it’s topped off with an optional horse-drawn sleigh ride straight into North America’s largest wild elk herd before heading back out for more wildlife spotting in Grand Teton country.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the quiet—well, not silence exactly, but that muffled winter sound where even your boots crunching on snow feels loud. Our guide, Casey, waved us over to the edge of the field just as a group of mule deer picked their way across the frost. The air smelled like pine and something colder—hard to explain unless you’ve been out there before sunrise. I fumbled with the binoculars (I always do), and Casey just grinned and pointed out a distant shape. “That’s a bull moose,” he said, like it was no big deal. But for me? Kind of was.

We spent most of the morning scanning for movement—bison huddled together near Grand Teton, a fox darting along a fence line. The keyword here is wildlife safari Jackson Hole, but honestly it felt more like being let in on some local secret than anything official. At one point we stopped for coffee from a thermos (never tastes as good at home) and swapped stories about weird animal encounters. Someone asked about wolves; Casey told us they’re around if you’re patient enough or lucky enough. I kept hoping for antlers to appear just past the brush.

Lunch was at this small place locals actually use—nothing fancy, but warm food after hours outside hits different. Later, we bundled up again for the sleigh ride into the National Elk Refuge. The horses’ breath steamed in the air and you could hear their hooves thudding softly under all that sky. Being surrounded by hundreds of elk is surreal; they move together but somehow ignore you completely. A kid next to me tried counting them out loud before giving up around fifty-something. I still think about that view—elk everywhere, mountains behind them fading into gray.

I didn’t expect to care so much about spotting eagles or learning which tracks belonged to what animal (the difference between coyote and wolf prints is smaller than you’d think). By late afternoon my toes were cold and my phone full of blurry photos, but I wasn’t ready to leave yet. There’s something about Jackson Hole in winter that gets under your skin—or maybe it’s just all that fresh air.