As gentle snow falls in the Yakima Valley, brown hills disappear under blankets of white. Vineyards slumber, preparing themselves for next year’s harvest. Leafless orchard trees, outlined with snow, create silhouettes against the white sky, as dark-capped chickadees forage in the bark, or sit on bird feeders hanging high, at a safe distance from Miss Kitty.

This is the perfect time for a visit to the Oak Creek Elk Feeding Station, located on Highway 12, about 20 miles west of the city of Yakima. During the winter months, when grazing ends in higher elevations, as many as 2000 Rocky Mountain elk amble down to the feeding area for their daily sustenance of hay.

“Dinner is served” each day at 1:30pm. And what a sight to see! As if on cue, they assemble, standing like statues, listening for the motors of the hay trucks, and waiting for hay bales to be dropped from the rear of the trucks as they drive slowly across the field. Tiny peeping sounds are heard, and you look skyward for little birds that may be flying by, but the small sounds are emanating from these majestic elk - a great contrast to their imposing stature. The hay bales lie in rows, creating gathering spaces for about 10-15 elk, with one bull and his great pair of antlers presiding over each group. Bulls, cows, and calves gently jostle for positions around the bales.

This winter feeding program began in 1945, and thousands of visitors come each year for the opportunity to view the elk ‘up close’. An interpretive center, open most weekends, offers information about the feeding station, and other residents of this high desert habitat. Nearby, at the junction of Highways 12 and 410, you may also see a small herd of California big horn sheep.

So bundle up, bring your camera, enjoy the elk, and visit a Yakima Valley winery for a ‘winter warm-up’ in this quiet, peaceful season.