Plan Now For The Hardware Ranch Elk Festival

Photo courtesy Hardware Ranch

The annual Hardware Ranch Elk Festival will be held Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. It offers a great opportunity to view wild elk while enjoying sleigh rides and other winter activities.

Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is an important elk refuge operated by the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources. It is located in the mountains southeast of Logan. During winter, elk gather in the meadow at the ranch. Biologists feed them to motivate them to stay in the mountains and now migrate down into the valleys, where they could cause damage to farms and yards.

Hay is carried to the wintering animals on horse-drawn sleighs. The wild elk have become accustomed to the horses and allow them to come quite close. Visitors to the ranch are allowed to ride on the sleighs through the cold season, beginning Dec. 13. Often, several large bulls are among the herd. Photographers can often get close-up shots of the magnificent animals.

The DWR provided the information below.

It's time to celebrate the return of the elk to Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area with the annual Elk Festival. This year's festival will be held at Hardware Ranch WMA on Saturday Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be many fun and free family activities in addition to the regular sleigh rides and visitor center.

Activities will include fish printing, wildlife Christmas ornament crafting, and more. Sleigh rides (open till 4:30 p.m.) will be at the regular price: $5 for adults (ages 9 and above), $3 for kids (ages 4#-8), and free for toddlers and infants (ages 3 and younger). The visitor center and activities/crafts will be free while supplies last. See the Hardware Ranch WMA website for directions and details on the rest of the elk-viewing season.

Location : Hardware Ranch WMA

Contact : Marni Lee, 435-753-6206 and Brad Hunt, 435-753-6168