National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge is a Wildlife Refuge located in Jackson Hole in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It was created in 1912 to protect habitat and provide sanctuary for one of the largest elk herds. With a total of 24,700 acres (10,000 ha), the refuge borders the town of Jackson, Wyoming, on the southwest, Bridger-Teton National Forest on the east and Grand Teton National Park on the north. It is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Designation | National Wildlife Refuge |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Wyoming |
| Size | 24,851 acres (computed from the boundary polygon) |
| FWS region | Region 6 |
| Center point | 43.5575, -110.6801 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 10 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Most refuges do not allow overnight camping. The campgrounds listed are outside the refuge.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedFall Creek Rx
43 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0 miMiller Cabin ↗Jackson, WY
- 0 mi
- 0.1 miGeorge Washington Memorial Park ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.1 miJackson Hole American Legion Post No. 43 ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.2 miSt. John's Episcopal Church and Rectory ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.2 miVan Vleck House and Barn ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.2 miWort Hotel ↗Jackson, WY
- 0.3 miWeston, Henry and Estella, House ↗Jackson, WY
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is National Elk Refuge?
24,851 acres, measured from the published boundary polygon. The agency’s own figure can differ where the boundary includes water or inholdings.
Source: How acreage is computed
Who manages National Elk Refuge?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
What state is National Elk Refuge in?
Wyoming.
Source: How states are assigned
Can I camp at National Elk Refuge?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Atherton Creek Campground, 0 miles out. 10 in all are within ten miles. Most refuges do not allow camping inside the refuge, so the campgrounds listed are outside it.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to National Elk Refuge?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.557, -110.680. Grand Teton National Park is 14 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Is there a fire near National Elk Refuge right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Fall Creek Rx at 43 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at National Elk Refuge?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 21 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near National Elk Refuge?
Grand Teton National Park (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near National Elk Refuge?
32 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Miller Cabin and Miller, Grace and Robert, Ranch (Boundary Increase).
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundary layer.
- States: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons; a state is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area.
- Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
- Description: National Elk Refuge on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.