Have Fun, See Wild Elk

Hardware Ranch Elk Festival happens Oct. 11

Visitors enjoy a wagon train ride through the elk feeding grounds at Utah's Hardware Ranch on a snowy day. Credit: (Division of Wildlife Resources Photo)

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You and your family can participate in several outdoor activities at the Elk Festival at the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area. And if the weather gets colder, you might even see some wild elk!

The festival is free of charge. It will be held Saturday, Oct. 11. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can reach the ranch by traveling 18 miles east of Hyrum on SR–101.

Activities

Taking a free wagon ride, painting pumpkins, turning balloons into antlers, shooting pellets guns at targets and exploring for aquatics bugs are among the many nature-related activities you can participate in.

Whether you'll see some elk is still in question.

"Elk have not come out of the mountains and into the ranch yet," Marni Lee, assistant manager of the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area, said on Oct. 2.

"We've heard them bugling in the evenings near the ranch, so they're close," she said. "Hopefully some of the elk will make their way into the ranch by the time the festival starts."

Lee encourages you to bring some binoculars and to dress for all types of weather. "We will host the event, rain or shine!" she said.

On your way to the ranch, you can enjoy the fantastic fall colors in Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Food is not available at the ranch, but you're welcome to bring a picnic lunch and eat it in the ranch's dining room.

New hours of operation

Another chance to take a horse–drawn sleigh or wagon ride through the middle of hundreds of wild elk starts at the ranch on Dec. 19.

Starting Dec. 19, the ranch's visitor center will be open and sleigh rides will be offered during the following days and times:

    * Friday: noon to 5 p.m.
    * Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    * Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    * Monday: noon to 5 p.m.

If you want to go on a sleigh ride, you must buy your ticket at the visitor center before 4:30 p.m.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the sleigh rides will not be running and the visitor center will not be open. You can still bring your binoculars and view the elk from a distance, though.

For more information, call the Hardware Ranch WMA at (435) 753-6206.

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