Government Shutdown and National Parks: What It Means for Your Yellowstone & Grand Teton Adventure
The October 2025 federal government shutdown has sparked questions for travelers heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. News of closed visitor centers, reduced staffing, and limited services is raising understandable concerns: Will my trip still happen?
The short answer is simple: Wildscape Adventure is still fully operational.
How the Government Shutdown Affects National Parks
During a federal shutdown, the National Park Service (NPS) operates under contingency plans. Historically, this means:
Visitor centers, restrooms, and museums may be closed in Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Ranger-led programs and interpretive services are suspended.
Maintenance and trash removal are reduced.
Park entrances or access points may be limited if staffing drops too low.
Even with reduced staffing, the landscapes themselves, geysers, valleys, rivers, peaks, and trails, often remain accessible. The challenge is fewer services and less support, not the loss of the natural beauty that makes these parks extraordinary.
What This Means for Wildscape Adventure
Our photography tours are built around the core experiences that remain available: wildlife, landscapes, and the night sky. That means your adventure is protected, even if federal staffing is reduced.
Here’s how Wildscape Adventure is adapting:
Tours remain fully operational in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Alternate routes and contingency itineraries are ready in case specific gates or facilities are closed.
Daily monitoring of NPS updates allows us to adapt quickly.
Nearby alternatives, including National Forest lands, state parks, and other wild areas, provide backup photography opportunities if needed.
Flexible guest-first policies ensure rescheduling or refunds if closures significantly impact your tour.
Why You Can Book With Confidence
Whether it’s watching grizzlies roam Lamar Valley, photographing elk at dawn in Hayden Valley, capturing the rugged peaks of the Tetons, or stargazing under pristine skies, the wonders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton don’t shut down when Congress does.
By booking with Wildscape Adventure, you’re not only securing a photography experience, you’re choosing a team that knows how to adapt, pivot, and deliver unforgettable adventures regardless of outside circumstances.
Politics may be uncertain, but nature is steady. Bison still move across the plains, moose still wade in the Snake River, wolves still roam the valleys, and the Milky Way still rises above the Tetons.
At Wildscape Adventure, we remain fully operational in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Your adventure will go on.
Ready to explore with confidence? Book your Wildscape Adventure today.
