Winter Wildlife Viewing 

Welcome to the National Elk Refuge, a 

popular destination for viewing elk, bighorn 

sheep, and other wildlife during the winter 

season.

Winter presents an excellent opportunity 

to view wildlife on the Refuge, but it is also 

a stressful time of year for wildlife. Their 

survival is dependent upon conserving 

energy. Wildlife may not display visible 

signs of stress that indicate they are being 

affected by human interactions, but 

repeated disturbances from the presence 

of humans can significantly impact their 

overall health and survival. 

To decrease stress to wildlife, please keep 

a minimum distance of 25 yards from most 

wildlife and 100 yards from wintering elk. 

Wildlife should not be surrounded or cut 

off from their direction of travel.

For the protection of wildlife, habitat, and 

other visitors, please observe all regulations 

and wildlife viewing guidance.

Visitor and Wildlife Safety

North Highway 26/89

North Highway 26/89 runs along the 

western boundary of the National Elk 

Refuge.

■ Several pullouts are located along the 

highway, providing safe opportunities 

to observe elk. 

■ Stopping a vehicle or parking on the 

shoulder of the highway is discouraged 

because of safety considerations on the 

busy road. 

■ To reduce disturbance to migrating and 

wintering elk and other wildlife, the 

North Highway 89 pathway that runs 

parallel to the highway from Flat Creek 

to the Gros Ventre River is closed from 

November 1 through April 30.

■ Crossing the pathway and approaching 

the Refuge fence to take photographs or 

view wildlife violates the closure and its 

purpose. The presence of humans at or 

near the fence often causes nearby elk 

to bolt and leave the area. Continual 

disturbance throughout the winter can 

have a cumulative effect on the elk, 

adding to their weakened condition 

brought about by the rigors of the 

long season.

Refuge Road 

Elk, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife are 

frequently seen close to the Refuge Road. 

To accommodate the number of visitors on 

this road and to protect wintering animals, 

the following regulations are in place. 

■ The speed limit on the Refuge Road is 

30 mph. Travel speeds should be adjusted 

to accommodate for winter driving 

conditions that may include ice, fog, 

drifting snow, and limited visibility. 

■ Vehicles should use an established pullout 

when viewing wildlife in order to keep 

the Refuge Road open to moving traffic. 

This road is also used by large vehicles 

including delivery trucks, service 

vehicles, snow plows, and Refuge 

equipment which cannot easily 

maneuver around other vehicles 

stopped in the road.

■ Drivers must not stop in the road when 

other vehicles are present. When traffic 

is approaching in either direction, 

vehicles must continue moving or use an 

established pullout to keep the road clear.

■ Road shoulders drop off dramatically. 

Please use caution as ditches and uneven 

surfaces may be hidden by snow. 

■ Off-road travel by vehicle or on foot 

is prohibited.

■ Spotting scopes and tripods should not 

be set up in the road. 

■ Visitors traveling on the Refuge Road 

should watch for and respect all posted 

road closures and restricted routes. 

Some roads or driveways may be open 

for administrative traffic only or for 

permitted hunters accessing hunt areas 

during designated periods.

Bighorn Sheep 

Bighorn sheep are frequently seen on 

or near the Refuge Road.

Bighorn sheep are identified as a Species 

of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) 

by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. 

SGCN are species whose conservation 

status warrants increased management 

attention. Local populations of bighorn 

sheep, along with other herds across the 

Rocky Mountain west, have experienced 

significant declines in population due to 

pneumonia outbreaks.

The bighorn sheep near the Refuge Road 

often boldly approach vehicles to lick and 

ingest the salts and minerals found on the 

vehicle’s surface. This can have a harmful 

effect on sheep health, and it increases the 

potential for spreading diseases such as 

pneumonia.

While viewing bighorn sheep, visitors 

may notice some animals with GPS collars. 

These collared animals help wildlife 

managers identify migration corridors 

between winter and summer ranges, 

increasing knowledge about the potential 

scope of future pneumonia outbreaks.

Photography 

We invite you to view and photograph 

the wildlife on the National Elk Refuge

and enjoy the experience. Note, though, 

that photographing and sharing images 

of inappropriate human interactions with 

wildlife is discouraged as it can further 

promote or encourage these detrimental 

practices. 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Winter Wildlife Viewing Guide

This blue goose, designed National Elk Refuge by J.N. “Ding” Darling, is 

the symbol of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System.
East Broadway

Center

King

Willow

N Jean

Moran

Gros Ventre

Moose

Town of Jackson Town

Square

Teton

Jackson Hole & 

Greater Yellowstone National Elk Visitor Center

Refuge

National Elk Refuge

Valley Floor

Elevation 6,237

Gill

26

89

26

89

Miller Butte

Refuge Road

Flat Creek

Flat Creek

Miller

Cabin

Jackson Hole 

 & Greater Yellowstone 

 Visitor Center

Refuge Road

N

Parking locations are approximate.

Maps are not to scale.

Parking area

26

89

26

Miller Butte

Flat Creek

Flat Creek

Refuge Road

N

Parking locations are approximate.

Maps are not to scale.

National Elk Refuge

Refuge boundary

Route to Refuge

North Highway 

89 pathway

Visitor center

Historic site

Parking area

Jackson Hole & 

Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center 

532 N. Cache Street 

Jackson, WY 83001 

National Elk Refuge 

Administrative Office 

675 E. Broadway Avenue 

Jackson, WY 83001 

307 / 733 9212 

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_ 

refuge 

For State transfer relay service 

TTY / Voice: 711 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

http://www.fws.gov 

For Refuge Information 

1 800 / 344 WILD 

November 2017

Accessibility Information

Equal opportunity to participate in and 

benefit from programs and activities of the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available 

to all individuals regardless of physical or 

mental ability. Dial 711 for a free connection 

to the State transfer relay service for 

TTY and voice calls to and from people 

with hearing and speech disabilities. 

For more information or to address 

accessibility needs, please contact the 

Refuge staff at 307 / 733 9212, or the 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office 

of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, 

NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.