Commercial Use Authorizations

 

Commercial Use Authorization Overview

A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit obtained through the National Park Service that allows an individual, company, or group to provide commercial activities within Crater Lake National Park. CUAs will be issued for commercial activities that are determined appropriate, minimally impactful to the park, and consistent with the mission of the National Park Service.

Currently, CUAs are issued for the following activities:

• Bicycle Rental Delivery
• Bicycle Tours
• Camping - Front or Backcountry
• Environmental Education - Birding Classes, Nature Study
• Photography Instruction
• Guided Frontcountry Hiking or Walking
• Guided Fishing
• Guided Skiing/Snowshoeing Tours
• Snowmobile/Snowcat Tours
• Backcountry and Avalanche Safety Instruction
• Guided Motorcycle Tours
• Guided Motorized Tours (Road-based Tours with vehicle capacity of 15 passengers or less)
• Road-Based Commercial Tours (Road-based tours with vehicle capacity of 16 passengers or more)

Road-Based Tours

As of 2026, Crater Lake National Park requires CUAs for Road-Based Tours. Road-Based tours are defined as:

One or more persons traveling within a single 16+ passenger capacity vehicle on an improved roadway on an itinerary sold for leisure/recreational/educational purposes. RBCT CUA holders provide no other services except those that are incidental to road-based travel in an area unit of the National Park System (on-board interpretation and incidental stops at visitor centers, restaurants, wayside exhibits, etc.).

If a company is planning any other activities beyond those listed above, including hikes with their guests, nature study activities, photography workshops, exc, then the company a different CUA that covers that activity. Companies that will be using vehicles that have a capacity of 15 passengers or less should apply for a Guided Motorized Tour CUA. Road-based Commercial Tour operators at Crater Lake will continue to pay the Commercial Vehicle entry fee.

CUA Application Process

Crater Lake National Park CUA applications can be submitted through the CUA Application and Reporting System. Crater Lake National Park issues annual CUAs that are valid through one calendar year and expire on December 31.

For more information about the new NPS CUA Application program, please visit the National Park Service CUA application site.

CUA Fees

Annual Application Fees: CUA applicants will be charged a non-refundable fee of $350 for thier first CUA, and $250 for each additional CUA for Crater Lake. Fees are due when applications are submitted to the park.

Management Fee: at the end of the calendar year, parks are required collect reasonable fees in order to recover costs associated with running the CUA program. Market Price Management Fees are calculated based on the following:

Gross Revenue Generated In-Park	Annual Market Price Fee
<$250,000	3% of gross receipts (less Application Fee)
$250,000 to $500,000	4% of gross receipts (less Application Fee)
>$500,000	5% of gross receipts (less Application Fee)

Park Entrance Fees: CUA holders are required to entrance fees when entering the park. These fees are determined by the size of vehicle and/or by number of guests entering the park. For more detailed information on how the park calculates these fees, please contact our Commercial Services Office.

Annual Reports and Management Fee Payments: At the end of each permitted year, CUA holders will recieve a notification from the CUA portal with instructions on how to submit their Annual Reports and pay any management fees due. Please Note: Annual Reports and Management Fees must be reconciled before a CUA can be issued for the next permit year.


Questions?

Contact the Commercial Services Office at 541-594-3002 or e-mail us.

Special Use Permits

Fore more information about permits for special events such as wedding ceremonies, scattering of ashes, commercial and non-commercial filming or photography, and more, please visit the Crater Lake Permits and Reservations page.

Academic Fee Wavers

Schools and other academic instituitions can apply for a waiver of park entrance fees, provided that their visit is for educational or scientific purposes. Learn more about academic fee waivers here.