CUA Application Process and Required Reporting

2025 Application Period

Winter CUAs: OPEN

Winter CUA applications accepted October 15 - November 30.

Spring/Summer CUAs: CLOSED

Spring/Summer CUA applications accepted December 1 - March 31.
 

 

 

CUA Application Process

Glacier only accepts CUA applications during specific periods of time. Winter CUAs are accepted October 15 - November 30. Spring/Summer CUAs are accepted December 1 - March 31. Applications are not accepted outside of these time frames.

Applications are processed in the order they are recieved. Incomplete applications get moved to the back of the list. Incomplete CUA applications will continue to be processed for no more than 15 business days after the application period closes, after that the application will be denied.

Application fees are non-refundable and due at the time of submission. Park staff do not receive your application until you have paid the application fee. The online CUA system includes a standard CUA application fee. The standard CUA application fee across all national parks will be $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park.

Apply now via the CUA Online Application and Reporting System (COARS).

These documents are either required when submitting your application, before you begin operating, or to report use throughout the CUA season. Click to download.

• Employee List (.xlsx)
• Request for VUM access (.xlsx) (required for spring/summer CUAs)
• Monthly Activity Report (.xlsx) (required in addition to the monthly reporting through the online system)
• Sample Acknowledgement of Risk (.docx)

To view tutorials on how to apply for a CUA using the online CUA system please visit: How to Apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) Permit.

Glacier National Park only issues CUAs for following authorized commercial activities:

NOTE: The names of our CUA types are slightly different in the online application system. Activities are only allowed during specific dates as defined in the description on the online CUA system.

Authorized Activity	Activity in On-Line System	Activity Defined
Guided Cross-country skiing and snowshoe tours (Winter)	Skiing/Snowshoeing Tours	Authorizes day and/or overnight guided cross-country ski and snowshoe tours. This does not authorize backcountry skiing.
Shoulder Season Shuttle Service (Spring/Fall)	Transport (non-tour) - road, air, water based	Authorizes pedestrian and cyclist shuttles during the shoulder seasons on the specific public roadways.
Guided Bicycle Tours (Spring/Summer)	Bicycle Tours	Authroizes guided bicycle tours during daylight hours on paved roads in Glacier National Park open for hiker/biker access or when open to vehicle traffic.
Photography and Art Workshops (Summer)	Photography Instruction	Authorizes instructional workshops that focus on the scenic, cultural, and/or natural resources of Glacier to create an instructional based experience designed to improve a photographer's or artist's skills and/or techniques.
Birding Workshop (Summer)	Environmental Education - birding classes, biology courses, etc	Authorizes instructional birding workshops that focus on teaching field birding skills and birds in Glacier National Park
East Side Shuttle Service (Summer)	Transport (non-tour) - road, air, water based	Authorizes shuttle service for the purpose of picking up and dropping off visitors within Glacier National Park’s east side at designated locations.

Operating conditions applicable to CUA holder can be viewed on our Glacier National Park CUA Conditions Page - National, Park and Activity Specific conditions are all available.

 

Annual Reporting and Management Fees

Annual Report Form

The annual report form collects information on number of clients, trips, and revenue earned from the CUA holder’s operations in the park for the operating year.

• All CUA holders are required to submit an annual report, via the online CUA system by January 31^st for the proceeding year.
• A separate annual report is required for each CUA activity.
• An annual report is required even if no revenue was earned during the operating year.

Management Fees

Management fees at Glacier National Park are based on a percentage of the gross receipts earned for authorized commercial activities conducted in the park during the operating year.

Management fees are required for the following CUAs:

• Ski/Snowshoeing Tours, Spring Bicycle Tours and Bicycle Shuttle Service, Summer Bicycle Tours, Photography, Art and Birding Workshops, and East Side Shuttle Services.

Management Fees are calculated using the amount reported under Gross Receipts (question 8) on the NPS 10-660 Form.

• “Gross receipts” represents the total amount of all revenues received from services CUA holder is permitted to offer within Glacier National Park.
• The percentage of gross receipts for services will be calculated by:
  • Businesses with gross annual receipts of $250,000 or less will pay 3% of their gross receipts.
  • Businesses will pay 4% of gross receipts for amounts between $250,001 to $500,000, this is in addition to the 3% for gross receipts under $250,000 listed above.
  • Businesses will pay 5% of gross receipts for the amount of gross receipts over $500,000.01; this is in addition to the amounts listed above.
• The application fee is a mandatory, one-time, non-refundable fee submitted when applying for a CUA. The application fee is credited toward the determined management fee due for each activity during submittal process.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding annual reports and management fees, please contact [e-mail].

 

CUA Suspension, Revocation or Denial

CUA holders and their employees are required to meet the conditions of the CUA while operating within Glacier National Park. Failure to meet these conditions may result in CUA suspension, restriction, revocation or application denial. Review Glacier National Park's CUA Suspension, Restriction, Revocation and Application Denial Policy.