Commercial Use Authorizations

 

New for 2026:

All commercial road-based tours (tour bus, etc.) require a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to visit the park.

What Is a CUA?

A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that: 

• Are determined to be an appropriate use of Capitol Reef National Park;
• Will have minimal impact on Capitol Reef's resources and values; and 
• Are consistent with Capitol Reef’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations. 

A CUA may be required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:

• take place at least in part in Capitol Reef, 
• use park resources, and 
• result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit. 

See the CUA Service Categories section below for the types of business activities that will be considered for permits at Capitol Reef National Park.

 

Updates for the 2026 CUA Season

• All commercial road-based tours (tour bus, etc.) require a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to visit the park. Learn more on the NPS CUA page.
• Capitol Reef National Park is currently accepting CUA applications year-round. Paper and email applications are no longer accepted.

New in 2025:

As part of a larger effort to streamline and modernize the National Park Service (NPS) commercial use authorization (CUA) program, the NPS has developed on online system designed to process CUA applications and collect required CUA reports. NPS hosted a public comment period from July 26, 2023, through September 20, 2023, to solicit comments about the online system. Thank you to all who provided comments. NPS began using the online CUA system in 52 parks for the 2024 CUA season. That initial launch was very successful and provided NPS with the information needed to identify and implement system changes leading to an even better user experience. NPS initiated its online system in all parks for the 2025 CUA season.

The standard CUA application fee for all CUAs is $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park.

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CUA Service Categories

The categories have recently been updated. Contact us if you are not sure which category fits your business before applying. We look forward to working with you.

CUA Service Category	Details
Bicycle Tours	Must stay on roads.
Camping - Backcountry	Backpacking. Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center.
Camping- Frontcountry	Fruita Campground, Cedar Mesa Campground, & Cathedral Valley Campground CUA use. Limits apply.
Climbing/Mountaineering (day trip)	Includes canyoneering and climbing. Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center or online.
Environmental Education	Includes historical/cultural education.
Guided Interpretive Tours	For “Jeep Tours” and other vehicle tours on all roads in the park. Group size 1-15 participants. Vehicles must have 15 or fewer seats. Step-on guide services included here.
Hiking - Backcountry (day trip)	All unmaintained, named hiking routes throughout park (including Sulphur Creek).
Hiking/Walking Frontcountry (day trip)	All maintained trails off Scenic Drive and State Route 24, as shown on Fruita Map & Guide.
Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip)	Only horses, burros, or mules.
Motorcycle/Scooter Tour	Paved roads and maintained dirt roads within Capitol Reef National Park
Other	Guiding bison hunters across designated areas to access legal hunting areas (Henry Mountain Resource Area). Hunting is not allowed in the park.
Photography Instruction	Photography workshops. Includes short hikes to overlooks and points of interest.
Retail Sales
Road-based Commercial Tours	Tour buses and vehicles with capacity 16 or more.
Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip)	Only horses, burros, or mules allowed.
Transport (non-tour)	Shuttle services for point-to-point travelers (hikers, bikers, etc.)

 

To Apply for a CUA

1. Visit the new NPS CUA website and search by location for Capitol Reef National Park.
2. Create login.gov account if you don't already have one.
3. Apply for desired CUA activities.
4. Pay fees ($350 for first activity at Capitol Reef, and $250 for all subsequent activities).
5. If CUA is approved, you will be notified through the online system. Additional communication will also come from [e-mail].
6. If you had a Capitol Reef CUA during a given year, submit your Annual Report by email to [e-mail]. It is due no later than January 31 of the following year. CUAs for the next year will not be issued until the park has received the previous year's Annual Report.

What are the Reporting Requirements?

CUA holders must submit an annual report via the online CUA system each year for the operations that occurred during the preceding year. This report provides the park with visitation statistics, reportable injury data, and a record of annual gross receipts. 

Failure to submit the required reports or misrepresentation of statistics or earnings may result in the inability to submit subsequent CUA applications via the online CUA system or the suspension of active CUAs.

Links to required documents:

• Annual Report from previous year

Additional Information:

Watch a video on how to use the new CUA online system.

Certain high-risk activities, including but not limited to canyoneering, climbing, and horseback rides, require a higher insurance minimum: $1,000,000 per occurrence. Other activities require a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence.

Payment and documents are submitted through the online system.

Questions?

Email us through [e-mail].
Call 435-425-4130 during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday.

 

Entrance Fees

CUA Fees During Visit

• Road-based Commercial Tours (vehicle capacity 16 or more) are charged the tour bus entrance fee of $100.
• Guided CUA activities are charged the per person entrance fee of $10.00 per client, excluding the trip leader or guide.
  • If a client has a resident America the Beautiful pass (annual, senior, access, etc.) it covers 4 people in the group. (Non-resident annual passes only cover the pass owner.)
    • For example: If a guided tour has 10 clients and one guide, the fee is $100. If one person has a senior pass and another has a resident annual pass, the passes cover eight of the people and the fee would be $20.

 

Restriction on Idling:

Commercial vehicles (buses, vans, school buses, etc.) are only allowed to idle while actively (passengers are physically getting on or off) loading and unloading passengers. All operators must turn off vehicle engines when parked or when not actively loading or unloading. This restriction does not apply to vehicles stopped on roadways in obedience to traffic control devices or orders, or as needed in response to legitimate traffic safety concerns.

Determination:

Commercial tour bus operators have a tendency to idle their engines while parked. The primary reason is that tour operators like to keep their buses cool with air conditioning while their clients are away from the bus. Idling occurs in the visitor center parking lot and in other parking areas where large numbers of visitors congregate. Idling engines produce noise pollution and exhaust that impacts clean air. This limitation will minimize the impacts to natural resources and visitors. (Superintendent’s Compendium).