Frequently Asked Questions

Summer tours can be scheduled from May 1st through November 8th.

Winter tours can be scheduled from November 8th through April 30th.

Pickup is available from hotels, Airbnb/VRBO properties, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), West Yellowstone Airport (WYS), Teton Village, or another pre-arranged location.

To confirm pickup in Jackson, WY, or Bozeman, Big Sky, Gardiner, Paradise Valley, or West Yellowstone, MT, call 307.201.9575.

The weather can change quickly across all of our tour regions, so it's best to plan for a wide range of conditions.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Yellowstone/Grand Teton): Summer days are often in the 70s°F and sometimes the 80s°F, but mornings and evenings can be chilly. At higher elevations, temperatures may drop below freezing—even in summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, and winter-like weather is possible any time of year.

Glacier National Park & Flathead region: Conditions are highly variable. Spring can stay cool and wet into June, and higher-elevation trails may remain snow-covered into late June. Even in peak summer, warm days and cool nights are typical.

Utah (Mighty Five / Colorado Plateau): Utah's parks are high desert, with big day-to-night temperature swings. Summer highs often exceed 100°F. Mid-to-late summer monsoon storms can bring lightning, heavy rain, and flash-flood risk—especially in canyon terrain.

Winter conditions can be severe across our tour regions, with fast weather changes and limited access in some areas.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Winter is often full-on, with daytime temperatures commonly around 0–20°F and sub-zero nights, especially at higher elevations. Most Yellowstone roads are closed to regular automobiles in winter, with spring road reopening beginning in mid-April.

Glacier & Flathead Region: High-elevation access is limited in winter. The alpine sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road typically close around the third Monday of October (sometimes earlier), and the full road usually does not open until late June at the earliest. Weather-related closures can happen at any time.

Utah (Mighty Five): Winter varies by park and elevation. In Arches/Canyonlands, winter highs are often 30–50°F with lows around 0–20°F, and even light snow/ice can make roads and trails hazardous. Zion is often milder by day but still drops below freezing at night; Bryce's higher elevation brings frequent snow/ice conditions.

Please come prepared for changing weather, long scenic drives, and time outdoors.

• A sense of adventure (and awe)
• A day pack large enough to carry your essentials
• Reusable water bottle(s) to help reduce single-use plastic in the parks
• Layered clothing (including a warm layer and a rain shell)
• Comfortable walking shoes or light hikers
• Sun protection: sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen
• Personal snacks (especially if you have specific preferences)
• Prescription medications and any personal medical essentials
• Phone/camera, charger, and a backup battery pack

If traveling with a young child, please also bring any comfort items your family may need during a full day on the road.

A quick note on timing: Please pack your patience, too. Delays can happen due to road construction, traffic, wildlife crossings or migrations, weather, and occasional medical or other unforeseen incidents in and around the parks.

Yes—on select tours. Some of our tours are all ages, while others are adults only due to mature content and/or technical complexity. Please review the specific tour page or contact us so we can help you choose the best fit for your family.

Age & eligibility: Youth ages 16+ are considered adults for tour participation/pricing. Our standard wildlife interpretation is generally best suited for guests around 4th-grade level and up (about age 10+), though younger children are welcome on designated all-ages tours.

Family content advisory: Nature is real and unscripted. Depending on season and location, guests may observe animal mating behavior; injured, dead, or dying wildlife; and predator-prey interactions. We recommend that parents/guardians prepare children in advance for what they may see in the field.

Child seats & gear: We can provide child safety seats upon request. Please share your child's age, weight, and height. Families are welcome to bring a collapsible stroller when helpful.

Meals, snacks, and comfort: Please tell us about any dietary requirements in advance. For younger guests, we often recommend smaller meal portions to reduce food waste. We build in extra comfort stops so children can move, play, and reset during the day.

How much do tours cost? Please check our website for the most current pricing. Each tour is customized based on your group size, interests, pace, and trip requirements, so final pricing may vary.

What's included? Tour pricing includes sales tax and breakfast and/or lunch (as listed in your itinerary).

What's not included? Tour pricing does not include guide gratuity. A 15% gratuity is customary and always appreciated.

Additional charges at checkout: A combined ~7% pass-through, cost-recovery charge is applied at checkout to cover required third-party and operating costs (these are not pure profit charges): National Park Service Management Fee (3%), Local Resort & Operating Fee (1%), and Booking + Payment Processing Fees (3%).

We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and Venmo. We do not accept Bitcoin or cryptocurrency. We use a secure third-party provider to process credit card payments.

Because multi-day trips require advance staffing, lodging, permits, and partner bookings, cancellation terms differ by tour type.

Day Tours (single-day):

• 14+ days before tour start: full refund, less non-recoverable payment processing fees.
• 7–13 days before tour start: 50% refund.
• 0–6 days before tour start, same-day cancellation, or no-show: non-refundable.

Multi-Day Tours (2+ days): A 50% deposit is required to confirm your reservation.

• 61+ days before tour start: refund of amounts paid, less non-recoverable expenses already incurred (e.g., lodging, permits, partner activity deposits, payment processing fees).
• 31–60 days before tour start: 50% of the total trip cost is non-refundable.
• 0–30 days before tour start, same-day cancellation, or no-show: non-refundable.

Important notes: Any third-party costs already paid on your behalf (lodging, activities, permits, admissions, etc.) are non-refundable once incurred. Requests to change dates or itinerary are subject to availability and any applicable rebooking costs. If Obsidian Expeditions must cancel due to safety, road/park closures, or other operational conditions, guests may choose a reschedule/credit or refund of recoverable funds. We strongly recommend travel insurance for all multi-day bookings.