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The Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge protects the largest nesting population of greater sandhill cranes in the world. As many as 1,400 to 2,000 individual cranes are counted in the valley during migration and staging times.
The refuge is also a good area to view the rare trumpeter swans.
This near-pristine montane wetland is being threatened by the same type of suburban/rural development that has so heavily impacted nearby Jackson Hole.
The refuge also provides nesting habitat for Canada geese, diving and dabbling ducks, and a variety of songbirds and raptors.
The refuge is comprised of 19,400 acres of high mountain marsh nestled within the Grays Lake Basin, which gradually ascends near the Caribou Peak.
Visitors care not permitted to walk "through" the refuge. There is access for waterfowl hunting and within designated areas. Birdwatching from county and state roads is popular. Travel can often be difficult due to muddy conditions and seasonal closures.
The refuge closes during summer months to protect breeding and nesting birds.
Outdoor Activities |
