# Lone Elk Park: Winter Scenic Wildlife Drive to Spot Elk, Bison & Wild Turkeys > Place to go for families in the St. Louis area (MO / IL). Times are Central Time. - When: Daily 8:00 AM to 30 minutes past official sunset (approx 8:00 AM–5:30 PM in winter) - Where: Lone Elk Park, 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, Valley Park, MO 63088 - Ages: All ages; perfect for families with sleeping babies or toddlers staying warm in car seats - Price: Free admission; voluntary donation boxes supported by St. Louis County Parks - Schedule: Daily 8:00 AM to 30 minutes past official sunset (approx 8:00 AM–5:30 PM in winter) - Organizer: St. Louis County Parks and Recreation - Official page: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places-to-go/lone-elk-park/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/lone-elk-park-winter-scenic-wildlife-drive-to-spot-elk-bison-and-wild--listing-1a4540c0303e13a1ca5c294e ## About Tucked into the rugged wooded hills of Southwest St. Louis County near Valley Park, Lone Elk Park offers a unique drive-through wildlife sanctuary where families can spot majestic North American wildlife from the warmth and comfort of their own heated family vehicle. The park's paved one-way scenic loop winds through deep hollows, across creek bridges, and around peaceful Lake Lincoln. Winter is the ideal season for viewing large wildlife, as the bare tree canopy makes it easy for kids to spot massive American bison grazing on frost-dusted pastures and herds of American elk with impressive winter antlers resting along the hillsides. Wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and waterfowl are also common sights. Because animals roam freely, visitors must remain in their vehicles while in the bison and elk enclosures. Domestic pets are strictly prohibited to protect the wildlife. ## Similar picks in St. Louis - [Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/winter-wonderland-in-tilles-park--listing-e46fb728f0031a5396302068) — Nov 18 – Jan 2 · 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Tilles Park · All ages · From $15 · checked Nov 5. Presented by the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 35 years, Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park is one of the region's most beloved holiday… - [Endangered Wolf Center: Family Educational Winter Wildlife Tours & Wolf Habitats](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/endangered-wolf-center-family-educational-winter-wildlife-tours-and-wo--listing-7aaf98011bd0db258f6ff629) — Wed–Mon 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays); Tours scheduled by advance reservation · Endangered Wolf Center, Eureka · All ages · From $18 · checked Nov 5. Founded in 1971 by renowned zoologist Marlin Perkins and his wife Carol, the Endangered Wolf Center is a 63-acre non-profit wildlife sanctuary in Eureka dedicated to preserving… - [Saint Louis Zoo: Winter Wildlife Walks, Indoor Penguin Coast & Ape Jungle](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/saint-louis-zoo-winter-wildlife-walks-indoor-penguin-coast-and-ape-jun--listing-0abe68fbb460384a13596239) — Daily 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day) · Saint Louis Zoo · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. Ranked among the world's best zoological parks, the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park offers year-round free general admission to explore more than 14,000 animals. Winter is one of… - [World Bird Sanctuary: Live Bald Eagles, Owls & Falcons in Winter Aviaries](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/world-bird-sanctuary-live-bald-eagles-owls-and-falcons-in-winter-aviar--listing-2712d107a9b47091a57dc32c) — Daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) · World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park · All ages · From $5 · checked Nov 5. Encompassing 305 pristine hardwood forest acres adjacent to Lone Elk Park in Valley Park, the World Bird Sanctuary is one of North America's premier raptor rehabilitation and… - [Storytime in Forest Park (Nature Playscape meadow)](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/storytime-in-forest-park-nature-playscape-meadow--listing-be13c08e0434093b34aa61b0) — Mon, Nov 16 · 10:00 AM · Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape meadow, Forest Park · All ages · Free · checked Oct 14. A seasonal outdoor storytime series: St. Louis Public Library partners lead stories and songs in the Nature Playscape meadow, and Forest Park Forever brings snacks, water and… - [Guided Winter Night Hike at Pere Marquette State Park](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/activities/guided-winter-night-hike-at-pere-marquette-state-park--listing-b39edc47fcda7d02365f9eef) — Sat, Dec 5 · 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Pere Marquette State Park Visitor Center, Grafton · checked Oct 27. Pere Marquette State Park, the largest state park in Illinois, leads a guided winter night hike through the woods above the Illinois River on an early-December Saturday. Walkers… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Valley Park, MO](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/towns/valley-park-mo) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/towns/valley-park-mo.md) - [Things to do with kids in St. Louis County, MO](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/counties/st-louis-county-mo) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/counties/st-louis-county-mo.md) - [Things to do with kids in St. Louis — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in St. Louis](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in St. Louis](https://grassyknees.com/st-louis) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/st-louis.md)