An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you've safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
This CUA is being offered as a temporary trial in 2026. Applications are open January 21- February 4, 2026.
Permitted Activities
Guided dog sled passenger expeditions and guided sled supported ski trips, day trip and overnight, are authorized by this permit. Only one overnight trip per CUA holder may operate at a time.
Authorized Areas
Trips must begin and end in BC Units 61 (Stampede) and 62 (Southeast Stampede) or Units 16 (Windy Creek) and 70 (Bull River). Overnight trips may also begin from Park Headquarters, Mountain Vista, and Kantishna/Wonder Lake. Other areas are subject to Service approval.
Current basic first-aid, CPR, and Leave No Trace 101 certifications are required for all guides.
At least one guide on each trip must have a current medical responder certification equivalent to or higher than Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.
Safety and Resource Protection
Each guide must carry a satellite phone and an emergency locator transmitter on all trips, with sufficient extra batteries.
Guides must be proficient in the use of the communication device and be able to make emergency calls.
At camping spots, dogs should not be individually tied to trees. Dogs must be staked out on temporary picket lines that are fixed to solid anchors (trees or ice screws). All webbing, cables and pickets must be removed at the end of each trip.
Straw/hay must be certified weed free.
Practice Leave No Trace principles. Remove all equipment at the end of each trip, including straw/hay. Straw/hay may be burned.
All human and dog food must be securely stored at all times to prevent attracting wildlife, including but not limited to birds (especially ravens, gray jays, and magpies) and small mammals (ermine, voles). Unattended food is prohibited.
Additional Regulations and Considerations
Shelters
The CUA holder must provide their own shelter for overnight trips and shelters must be broken down after each trip. The CUA holder may request in writing that shelters used in support of overnight trips remain in place, subject to location-specific approval by the NPS.
The CUA holder may use the Sanctuary, Igloo, and Wonder Lake campgrounds
Camping immediately adjacent to National Park Service wilderness boundary backcountry cabins is prohibited.
Shelter in support of dog sled passenger day trips require advanced NPS approval.
The CUA holder may have warming campfires from October 1 through April 14 in portions of the Frontcountry Developed Area where the park road is closed to motor vehicle use. 36CFR 13.976(b).
The CUA holder may gather dead wood on the ground for use as fuel for campfires within Denali National Park and Preserve unless prohibited by on-site signs or specific permit restrictions. 36CFR 2.1(a)(4).
The CUA holder shall provide a list of the types of vaccinations and wormings and dates given to their dogs prior to application approval.
No live vaccinations may be administered to dogs, unless the live virus cannot be conveyed to other animals, such as modified live virus 5-way vaccines.
The CUA holder is responsible for dog feces clean up at launching points and camps. At camps, dog feces must be shoveled daily from the take-out areas. Specifics about the disposal of feces will be provided at the start of each season.
Itineraries
The schedule of overnight trips must be submitted to the Denali CUA program prior to the first trip of the season.
Unauthorized Activities
Travel must not extend above the 6,000’ level on any glacier.
Day trips beginning or ending at Park Headquarters, Mountain Vista and Kantishna/Wonder Lake are prohibited
The use of Service cabins or shelters is prohibited.
Download or print these stipulations. CUA holders and their employees are responsible for knowing and following all rules.
907 683-9532
A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.
