Commercial Use Authorizations

Scenic Drive Rehabilitation Project

Notice: Scenic Drive Rehabilitation Project scheduled April-December 2024. The majority of the park will be open and accessible during this project. Visitors will still have access to the Fruita area, including the campground, Gifford House, visitor center, and trails along State Route 24. The North and South districts of the park will not be impacted. 

 

Updates for the 2025 CUA Season

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 will initiate its online system in all parks for the 2025 CUA season. For the 2025 CUA season, the standard CUA application fee for all CUAs except road-based commercial tour CUAs will be $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park. Capitol Reef does not require road-based commercial tours to have a CUA for 2025. Road-based commercial tours must pay the commercial entrance fee (based on seating capacity of vehicle).

Capitol Reef National Park will begin accepting applications for the 2025 CUA season (calendar year 2025) in the fall of 2024. The deadline to apply for the 2025 CUA season is April 15, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after that date. Paper and email applications will not be accepted for the 2025 CUA season.

See the table below for updated CUA service categories:

Original	New	Details
Environmental and Wilderness Education	Environmental Education	Includes historical/cultural education.
Guided Bicycle and E-bike Tours	Bicycle Tours	Must stay on roads.
Guiding bison hunters across designated areas to access legal hunting areas (Henry Mountain Resource Area)	Other	Hunting is not allowed in the park.
Guided Canyoneering and Climbing	Climbing/Mountaineering (day trip)	Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center or online.
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight	Hiking Backcountry (day trip)	All unmaintained, named hiking routes throughout park (including Sulphur Creek).
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight	Hiking Front Country (day trip)	All maintained trails off Scenic Drive and State Route 24, as shown on Fruita Map & Guide.
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight	Camping Backcountry	Backpacking. Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center.
Guided Horseback Rides	Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip)	Only horses, burros, or mules.
Guided Motor Vehicle Tours	Guided Interpretive Tours	For “Jeep Tours” and other vehicle tours on all roads in the park. Group size 1-25 participants. Vehicles must have 26 of fewer seats. Step-on guide services included here.
Horse Pack Trips	Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip)	Only horses, burros, or mules.
Photographic Workshops	Photography Instruction	Includes short hikes to overlooks and points of interest.
Retail Sales of Convenience Items	Retail Sales
Shuttle Services	Transport (non-tour)	For point-to-point hiker shuttles.
NEW!!	Camping- Front Country	Fruita Campground, Cedar Mesa Campground, & Cathedral Valley Campground CUA use. Limits apply.

 

To Apply for a 2025 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. Deadline for 2025 season (calendar year 2025) is April 15, 2025.
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 2024 Capitol Reef CUA, submit your 2024 Annual Report by email to [e-mail]. It is due no later than January 31, 2025. CUAs for 2025 will not be issued until the park has received the 2024 Annual Report.

Links to required documents:

• Annual Report from previous year

• Visitor Acknowledgement of Risk, if used. Forms cannot be a waiver of liability, insurance disclaimer or indemnification agreement.

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]

 

 

I. Policy

Commercial Use Authorizations are limited authorizations to provide specific visitor services within the boundaries of national parks.

Commercial Use Authorizations are documents used by superintendents of national park areas to ensure that business activities in parks are conducted in a manner that complies with regulations, protects resources, enhances visitors' experiences, and helps ensure safety. Commercial Use Authorizations are issued on an annual basis at Capitol Reef National Park.

A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain, in the form of taxable income, through the provision of the service.

II. Authority

Commercial Use Authorizations fall under the authority of 16 U.S.C. 5966 (P.L. 105-391, Section 418) which authorizes (but does not require) the NPS, upon request, to issue Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) to persons (referring to individuals, corporations, and other entities) to provide commercial services to park area visitors in limited circumstances.

In addition 36 CFR Section 5.3 states:

Engaging in or soliciting any business in park areas, except in accordance with the provisions of a permit, contract, or other written agreement with the United States, except as specifically authorized under special regulations applicable to a park area, is prohibited.

Commercial Use Authorizations are not concessions issued under the Concessions Policy Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 969, 16 USC 20). This is an important distinction because it generally limits the services for which CUA's can be used.

Commercial Use Authorizations - General Criteria:

Criteria which must be met for activities to be considered a commercial use operation are:

• Activities authorized must be appropriate to the mission of the park, particularly with regard to resource protection and preservation, and visitor protection and interpretation, in accordance with 36 CFR 1.6 (a).
• Commercial Use Authorizations must not be used to authorize activities that will have a negative impact on park resources.
• Authorized activities and services provided must be consistent with the purpose for which park areas are established.
• Services authorized must originate and terminate outside of the park. All aspects of the business (such as marketing, advertising, exchange of money, etc.) must take place outside of the park (defined as out-of-park services).
• Permittees must not construct any temporary or permanent structures in the park, and will not be assigned any facilities or portions thereof, located in the park, except those allowed to the general public.
• Services provided must not conflict with the preferential rights provided under any concession contract(s).

Commercial Use Authorizations - Other Considerations:

Criteria which must be met for activities to be considered a commercial use operation are:

• The number of incidental business permits may not be limited, and there must be no intent to limit the number. Anyone who meets the basic criteria may be granted a permit.
• Specific activities may be restricted to limited areas of a park.
• Permittees must comply with all applicable state and local laws in the conduct of their business.
• The National Park Service does not regulate rates for services provided by permittees.

In addition, the CUA in which you are interested contains special conditions with which CUA holders must comply. Copies of these conditions are listed in the application.

Permitted Activities

At Capitol Reef National Park, the following business activities will be considered for permits:

1. Bicycle Tours
2. Camping Backcountry (backpacking)
3. Camping Frontcountry (Fruita, Cathedral Valley, and Cedar Mesa campgrounds)
4. Climbing/Mountaineering (day trip) (Canyoneering and Climbing)
5. Environmental Education (includes historical and cultural education)
6. Hiking Backcountry (unmaintained routes)
7. Hiking Frontcountry (All maintained trails off Scenic Drive and State Route 24, as shown on Fruita Map & Guide)
8. Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock Rides or Services (day) (horses, mules, burros only)
9. Other (guiding bison hunters to legal access areas)
10. Photography Instruction
11. Retail Sales
12. Road-based Commercial Tours (Jeep Tours, vehicles with fewer than 26 seats)
13. Transport (shuttle services)

Commercial Use Authorization - Fees- 2024 only

• Application Fee - $100 (payable with application) (2024 ONLY)

• Processing and Administrative Fee - $100 (payable when permit is signed by permittee and returned to Capitol Reef National Park for authorizing signature) (2024 ONLY)

• Monitoring Fees: $50 per hour of monitoring may be assessed as the park deems necessary (payable upon completion of monitored activities and upon notification of the National Park Service, Capitol Reef National Park)

Applying for a Permit- 2024 only

In order to apply for a permit, you should send the following materials to the Special Park Uses Coordinator (email is preferred):

1. A completed Commercial Use Authorization Application dated and signed by a company official. The application must indicate the type of activity you wish to provide (guided hiking, horse rides, etc.). If issued, the Commercial Use Authorization will be valid only for the activities listed on the application.
2. A detailed narrative description of the services you propose to offer. The description should include locations of the park you plan to use; numbers of persons on trips; frequency of trips; equipment to be used; whether these are day-use only or overnight trips; and if there are overnight trips, where you would plan to camp.
3. A list of vehicle(s) to be used. Please include description (make, model, color) of vehicle.
4. At least one guide must have an American Red Cross or American Heart Association First Aid card or its equivalent and a current CPR card in his/her possession while in the park. A written list of guides with copies of their cards, showing expiration dates, must be sent in with your application.
5. An application fee of $100. (Please make check out to "National Park Service" or pay on pay.gov) (2024 ONLY)
6. If you require an "Acknowledgment of Risk" form to be signed by your clients, please include a copy of the form that you have your clients, guests, and campers sign before participating in the guided activity. Forms cannot be a waiver of liability, insurance disclaimer or indemnification agreement. Example of acceptable VAR form.
7. The Annual Use Report (Post Use Report) for business conducted in the park during the previous year (If not already submitted).
8. A current Certificate of Insurance documenting adequate comprehensive general liability insurance covering both bodily injury and property damage (see Attachment A, Additional General Conditions, (Item 16 B) for the dollar amount of coverage). Each policy must name the United States of America as additional insured on the Certificates of Insurance. There is no need to resubmit if current certificate is already on file at the park.
9. A current Certificate of Insurance for Automobile Insurance if you provide transportation to guests inside the park.

Automobile coverage minimum requirements (required for all owned, non- owned, and hired vehicles used by the permitted): car, van, or bus:

• Passengers	Coverage Requirements
  15 or fewer	$1,500,000
  16 or more	$5,000,000

Emailed applications are preferred. Send all application materials listed above to: [e-mail].

To apply by mail, send all application materials listed above to:

Special Park Uses Coordinator
Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70 Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775

Once received, your application will be reviewed by our staff. If acceptable, a permit will be drafted and returned to you for signature. The signed limited-time permit then must be returned to the park with a payment of $100 permit fee to process the permit. (2024 ONLY)

Commercial Use Permit payment may be made at pay.gov.

Do not submit payment until receiving authorization from the Park.

If you have questions regarding Commercial Use Authorizations, you may receive additional information by contacting Ann Ehler.
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

We look forward to working with you.

 

Commercial Tours & Fees

Commercial Tours that are road-based are subject to the Commercial Tour Fee. Road-based tours may or may not need a CUA.

Guided CUA activities are charged the per person fee of $10.00 per client, excluding the trip leader or guide. If a client has an America the Beautiful pass (annual, senior, access, etc.) it covers 4 people in the group.

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 an annual pass, the passes cover eight of the people and the fee would be $20.

Any guided activities within the park require a CUA.

 

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).