This was taken in the south rim village, which is a high elevation pine forest. As such it gets snow storms a few times each winter, but the snow doesn't last long. I saw two days before that a major storm was approaching and planned to be there when it hit.
I read about an area near the Grand Canyon with free ranging bison. It was called the House Rock Ranch herd and there had been some controversy over it. I was curious if these elk were in the same area.
Well you taught me something about my own state, because I knew nothing about the House Rock bison herd until I searched and found this opinion article (from the newspaper in Flagstaff several years ago). Decision to call bison non-native is arbitrary
But no, it is not the same area as my photo. I was on the south rim (of Grand Canyon), the only side I have seen. House Rock is a valley north of the north rim and apparently bison sometimes wander onto the north rim of the national park itself.
