Historically, they migrated to the present location of the refuge and further south into southwestern Wyoming during the fall, wintering on grassy plains that were both sheltered from weather and that maintained less snowfall or snow depth than surrounding lands.

By the end of the 19th century, the town of Jackson had developed on important winter range, blocking off some of the migration routes used by the elk.

[4] The refuge also provides horse drawn sleigh rides to the public during the winter months so that visitors have the opportunity to see portions of the herd up close.

The refuge is nearly 25,000 acres (10,000 ha)[6] of meadows and marshes along the valley floor, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along the mountain foothills.

The most abundant birds include red-winged blackbirds, magpies, crows and ravens, along with trumpeter swans, which can be found along Flat Creek, which flows out of the refuge south into the town of Jackson.

The refuge has a lower elevation and much milder climate than the rest of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is why so many animals are drawn to winter on it.