All permit applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Due to the current dynamic situation, permits will take longer than usual to process.
Services Available In Glen Canyon
Guided ServicesCheck here for a full listing of Guided Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon. 
Vessel ServicesCheck here for a full listing of Vessel Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon. 
Retail ServicesCheck here for a full listing of Mobile Food & Beverage Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon. Road-based Commercial Tour CUAs (RBCT CUAs)There is currently a moratorium on issuing RBCT CUAs. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area did not historically issue RBCT CUAs prior to May 28, 2020, therefore will not be issuing RBCT CUAs at this time. For updates visit the National Park Service's RBCT CUA page. Services Not PermittedThese types of commercial services are not offered through the CUA Program or authorized under any other permit from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area:
Apply for a New Permit
For Current CUA holdersAll CUA Holders must fill out the following forms: Program ChangesBeginning with operations in calendar year 2020, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area CUA permits will convert back to 2-year CUA permits, with operating years from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, Permit holders will be required to update CUA documents annually. Applications for CUA permits will be accepted at other times during the year, but all permits will expire on December 31, 2021. Application Fees for the first CUA Service Type will be $300 and each additional CUA type cost will be $100 for each year, regardless of when you apply. Changes to CUA Fees Begin in 2019Implementation of Percentage-Based CUA Fee at Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaGlen Canyon National Recreation Area is implementing changes to its Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program in multiple phases over the next two years. The National Park Service (NPS) is required to collect a reasonable fee for CUAs at an amount at least sufficient to recover the costs to the NPS in administering and managing CUAs (Public Law 105-391, Section 418). Commercial Use Authorization Fee Change FactsheetWhat will these changes do and why are they needed? The CUA fee changes will achieve the following:
How will these changes affect smaller and larger CUA business models?
Larger CUA business models will see lower application fees, but could see increased Management Fees based on the Market Price Fee Table. The Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit program authorizes businesses to provide certain commercial services not typically provided by concessioners within the boundaries of a unit of the National Park Service.
There are two types of CUA fees. An Application Fee is a non-refundable fee assessed to recover administrative costs associated with reviewing and approving or denying applications for CUAs. The Management Fee is a type of fee to recover the actual costs incurred by all park divisions involved in support of the use, monitoring, clean-up, and restoration resulting from use. The Management Fee will be a “market price fee”, which is based on the percentage of gross receipts earned in-park or from park-dependent operations.
The Park introduced the changes to the CUA fee structure at the annual CUA meetings held in March, 2017. The Park provided nearly two years notice to companies operating under existing CUAs as changes will not be implemented until January 2019.
Due to the large volume of applications submitted to the park, a complete application packet must be received by November 15, 2018 in order to obtain a finalized CUA before January 1, 2019. Incomplete or late packets will not receive a CUA until after February 15, 2019. Regardless of when in 2019 a company wishes to operate in the park, a complete Annual Report including all financial reporting from 2018 must be received by January 30, 2019.
As the new requirements are implemented, notifications will be posted on our website and mailed and e-mailed to existing CUA holders. The Park will work with CUA holders on a case-by-case basis to issue pro-rated, gap permits as needed to transition to a calendar-year permitting schedule.
Commercial Use Authorizations may be issued only to authorize services that are determined to be an appropriate use of the park, will have minimal impact on park resources and values, and are consistent with the purpose for which the unit was established as well as all applicable management plans, park policies, and regulations. CUAs are not competitively awarded and are limited to what the economy can support unless specifically limited by the Park, are only two years in duration, and pay only Application and Management Fees. Concession contracts are limited in number and scope, are competitively awarded, range from 10-20 years in length, and require the awardee to pay a Franchise Fee that is generally around 10%-15%. Concession contracts are limited to three category types: Category I contracts exist when a concessioner constructs capital improvements on park lands; Category II contracts exist when a concessioner operates on assigned land or in a government building but makes to construction or capital improvements to the property; and Category III contracts exist when the concessioner is assigned neither land nor buildings.
Existing CUA Service Types (subject to change)
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Last updated: February 2, 2023