Commercial Use Authorization Stipulations

2024 Park Specific Stipulations - Kenai Fjords National Park

P.O. Box 1727 - Seward, AK 99664 - 907-422-0500 phone

Air Taxi
Charter Boats (includes motorized boat tours and marine water taxis)
Group Transportation
Guided Backpacking
Guided Bicycle Tours (roadways only)
Guided Dog Sled Tours
Guided Hiking (includes walking tours of the Exit Glacier Area)
Guided Kayaking (day and overnight)
Guided Mountaineering (includes glacial travel, ice climbing, ice hiking and any activity requiring technical equipment for ascending or descending slopes)
Guided Paddleboarding (day and overnight)
Guided Photography (this category applies to trips organized or sold specifically for photography, generally led by a professional photographer. It is understood that incidental photography occurs during all commercial activities.)
Guided Skiing / Snowshoeing
Snowcoach Tours (roadways only)
Snowmachine Tours (roadways only)


The following specific provisions (in addition to the National and Regional Conditions of the Authorization), are applicable to those commercial activities and areas authorized through a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA). Certain approved activities carry activity specific stipulations in addition to these general stipulations. It is the responsibility of the operator to be familiar with and comply with all stipulations applicable to their permitted activity. Activity specific stipulations are included below.

1. Use of snowmachines for commercial activities is prohibited without the express written authorization of the Superintendent.

2. Group Size Limits

  1. All backcountry trips (this includes the Harding Icefield Trail, Harding Icefield, and all coastal areas of the park) are limited to a maximum group size of 14 people, including guides and assistants. All commercial groups shall maintain a minimum of 500 feet between each other.
  2. Commercial groups larger than 14 should arrange to split up and arrange drop-offs and pick-ups by air or water taxi in such a manner as to prevent more than 14 people on any one beach or other discrete location at one time, except in exigent circumstances or at the following locations:

i) Main kayak drop off beach, Northwestern Fjord
ii) Beach adjacent to the Holgate Public Use Cabin
iii) Any other location approved by the Superintendent in advance and in writing

  1. If more than 14 people are dropped together by air or water taxi, they must make all reasonable efforts to immediately separate into two or more groups smaller than 14 people each and must set up camp at a minimum of 500 feet from each other.
  2. If more than 14 people are picked up together by air or water taxi, they must make all reasonable efforts to minimize the time that combined groups are together at the pickup location, while still allowing adequate time to meet transportation provider schedule, break down equipment, etc.
  3. Group Transportation CUA holders with groups of 14 or more may not advertise or direct clients to Park programming that is open to the public. The holder must arrange for private NPS programming or provide their own services unless approved by the park in advance.

3. Nightly Stay Limits in Heavily Used Areas (Revised 03/16/2013)

  1. In Aialik Bay, Harris Bay and Northwestern Lagoon, commercial groups may not spend more than 2 nights at any location in order to protect opportunities for other groups to use the campsites and food lockers. This requirement does not apply if weather and sea conditions make travel dangerous or in the event of exigent circumstances (e.g. illness of trip member or damage to camping or kayak equipment which makes travel unsafe).
  2. All clients, permittees, guides and other employees must vacate the site and all supplies and equipment must be removed from the campsite / food locker for at least 24 hours to satisfy the requirement of 3 (a) above.
  3. Overnight stays at the Pederson Lagoon Easement site and all other coastal easements are limited to one night only, pursuant to the easement site regulations. Easements are marked by signs and are found on commonly used Trails Illustrated maps of the park. Further location information available upon request.
  4. Any site used for commercial activity must be returned to its natural state after use. Alteration involving the movement of rocks, driftwood, or other natural objects to create objects, including but not limited to tables, chairs, benches, shelters, fire rings, caches or tent frames, must be returned to its previous condition prior to departure.
  5. Campfires along the coast shall be built in the intertidal zone whenever possible. Fire rings of stones or other materials must be dismantled before leaving the site. Ashes must be dispersed, preferably in the ocean. Any burnt food or garbage must be packed out of the park as garbage. A fire pan is strongly encouraged to facilitate this process.

4. Leave No Trace (LNT) Requirements and NPS Waste Management Policies

  1. Guides are responsible for ensuring that all members of the trip follow LNT guidelines (https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles) and adhere to all regulations and policies for waste management and sanitation, backcountry travel, and camping.
  2. Garbage may not be burned or buried. It must be removed from the park at the end of each trip.

5. Food Storage - Designated Areas and Methods

  1. Definition: A bear resistant container (BRC) means an item constructed to prevent access by a bear. BRC’s include-

i) Items approved by the Department of Interior and Agriculture’s Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee http://www.igbconline.org/html/container.html
ii) Park provided metal food lockers at some coastal campsites; and
iii) Any additional items approved in writing by the Superintendent.

  1. Food, food containers, garbage and harvested fish must be stored in a BRC or secured-

i) Within a hard sided building;
ii) Within lockable and hard sided section of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft; or
iii) By suspending at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet horizontally from a post, tree trunk, or other object on a wire or branch which will not support a bear’s weight.

  1. At the Exit Glacier Campground all food preparation, cooking and eating must be done in the campground cooking shelter. No food items shall be taken to, consumed, or stored at the individual campsites.
  2. This regulation does not apply:

i) On the Harding Icefield when surrounded by snow or ice for at least 1 mile in all directions, unless directed to do otherwise by park staff due to recent bear or other wildlife activity;
ii) To food that is being transported, consumed or prepared for consumption; and
iii) To clean dishes and cooking equipment which are free of food odors.

6. Bear/Human Interaction
Any encounters with bears, including but not limited to situations where human food was obtained and / or bear spray or firearms were used, must be reported to a park employee as soon as practical. If an employee cannot be contacted in the field, the incident must be reported to park headquarters in Seward immediately when the group leaves the field. This report may be made in person, by phone, fax, or email.


7. Human Waste
All solid human waste from participants of activities authorized under this CUA will be managed in accordance with current NPS Regulations found in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations and in Superintendent’s Compendium:

  1. Within the Exit Glacier area and all other areas of the park, including the coast and within one mile of the edge of the Harding Icefield, all human waste and toilet paper must be carried out in a container such as Reststop II or Cleanwaste which is approved for disposal in a landfill.
  2. On the Harding Icefield more than one mile from the edge of the icefield, solid human waste and toilet paper must be deposited in biodegradable bags and deposited in a crevasse at least one mile from the edge of the icefield or packed out in a container such as Reststop II or Cleanwaste which is approved for disposal in a landfill.
  3. All other glaciated areas of the park – Human waste must be deposited in a deep crevasse or carried out in a Restop II, Cleanwaste, or similar container and disposed of in a landfill. Tissue paper and sanitary items must be packed out or burned when fire hazard is low.
  4. Coastal Public Use cabins and beaches – Restop II, Cleanwaste, or similar containers must be used and carried out for disposal in a landfill. Tissue paper and sanitary items should be packed out or burned when fire hazard is low.

8. Communication

  1. Groups traveling in the coastal backcountry must carry at least one VHF radio capable of sending and receiving on Marine channel 16.
  2. FRS or GMARS radios are recommended to maintain communication between CUA holders.
  3. Satellite phones are also highly recommended.

9. All CUA holders and employees operating within the park must have current First Aid and CPR certifications. The CUA holder must provide certificate copies upon NPS request.

10. Search and Rescue Guidelines

  1. In certain instances, guides and team members may become involved with search and rescue operations involving other teams and/or the NPS. Before engaging in search and rescue events that do not directly involve their team, guides must ensure the safety and well-being of their clients.
  2. Guides will not be paid for search and rescue operations initiated by themselves or others.

11. Cultural and Archeological Resource Protection

  1. Groups shall not enter any adit or other mine opening on coastal mining claims either active or inactive.
  2. Archeological and historic resources are protected by federal law. In the event that the permittee, their employees, or their clients encounter materials thought to be associated with a cultural site, the site location shall be recorded and Park will be notified.

12. Permitees, guides and other employees are responsible for knowing the location of private holdings, native corporation lands, and public use easements along the coast of the park, and abiding by all applicable laws relating to same. In particular, guides should note that the Port Graham Corporation requires a use permit for entry upon their lands for any period of time and any purpose. Use of that land without permit constitutes trespass.

13. All equipment and supplies, including but not limited to tents, tarps, tools, fuel, food, kayaks, rafts, canoes, and garbage must be removed from each campsite upon departure. Departure will be defined as leaving the site with the intent of not occupying the site overnight within the next 24 hours.

14. Temporary storage or "caching" of equipment or supplies must be approved in advance and in writing by the Superintendent. This includes leaving food or other materials in a park provided Bear Resistant Container (bear box) unattended for one or more nights.

15. Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield

  1. Commercial groups camping within the Exit Glacier area must either use public toilets or pack out all solid human wastes and toilet paper in an approved container such as the Restop II or Cleanwaste Bag which is approved for disposal in a landfill.
  2. Groups camping at the Exit Glacier Campground may not occupy more than 4 sites per night. Sites are limited to 2 tents per site and 6 people per site.
  3. Any permittee conducting guided ice hiking on Exit Glacier will permit Kenai Fjords staff to accompany the group for monitoring purposes upon the request by Kenai Fjords National Park. Any accompanying NPS staff members will not be included in the 14 person group size limit for permitted activities.
  4. All members of commercial groups on the Harding Icefield Trail must stay on the established trail in the alpine tundra zone. Shortcutting of switchbacks is prohibited.
  5. Campfires are prohibited in the Exit Glacier area except in a steel fire ring provided at the developed campground and in the picnic area. Along the coast, fires shall be built in the intertidal zone whenever possible. Fire rings of stones or other materials must be dismantled before leaving the site. Ashes must be dispersed, preferably in the ocean. Any burnt food or garbage must be packed out of the park as garbage. A fire pan is strongly encouraged to facilitate this process.

16. Neither permittees nor their employees shall rent or reserve a Public Use Cabin for commercial purposes. Permittees and/or employees shall not act as agents or representatives for clients renting or reserving Public Use Cabins.

17. Commercial groups shall not utilize Public Use Cabins, porches, decks or associated toilets, unless a member of the group has rented the cabin and has a valid Special Use Permit for same. No individual or group shall camp within 500 feet of a Public Use Cabin.

18. Bicycles are not permitted for commercial purposes except on the Exit Glacier Road, campground parking lot and in the main parking area.

19. Permittees shall, upon request, provide names and current addresses of all current owners, employees, agents, and / or representatives of the company.

20. Commercial groups in motorized or non-motorized vessels inside the boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park are required to adhere to Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines, published by the National Marine Fisheries Service, as a condition of this permit. The current guidelines are summarized as follows:

  1. Remain at least 100 yards (length of a football field) from whales, dolphins, porpoises, and from seals and sea lions that are on land, rock, or ice.
  2. Use extra caution when viewing seals and sea lions that are on land, 100 yards may not be sufficient distance to prevent harassment.
  3. If a whale approaches within 100 yards of your vessel, put your engine in neutral and allow the whale to pass. d) Offering food, discarding fish, fish waste, or any other food item to a marine mammal is prohibited.
  4. Handling pups, touching, or swimming with the animals is prohibited. f) If you need to move around a whale, do it from behind the whale.
  5. Vessels that wish to position themselves to allow whales to pass the vessel should do so in a manner that stays fully clear of the whale's path. Whales may surface in unpredictable locations.
  6. Breaching and flipper slapping whales may endanger people and/or vessels. Feeding humpback whales often emit sub- surface bubbles before rising to feed at the surface. Stay clear of these light green bubble patches.
  7. Emitting periodic noise may help whales know your location and avoid whale and boat collisions. For example, if your engine is not running, occasionally tap the side of the boat with a hard object.
  8. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are more likely to be disturbed when more than one boat is near them. Avoid approaching the animals when another vessel is near. Do not encircle the animals or trap them between the shore or another boat and your boat.
  9. Always leave whales, dolphins, and porpoises an "escape route."
  10. When several vessels are in an area, communication between vessel operators will ensure that you do not cause disturbance.
  11. Limit your time with any individual or group of marine mammals to less than one half hour.
  12. Your vessel may not be the only vessel in the day that approaches the same animal(s), please be aware that cumulative impact may also occur.
  13. Vessels traveling in a predictable manner appear to be less disturbing to animals. The departure from a viewing area has as much potential to disturb animals as the approach.
  14. Pursuit of marine mammals is prohibited by law.
  15. Never attempt to herd, chase, or separate groups of marine mammals or females from their young.
  16. Avoid excessive speed or sudden changes in speed or direction in the vicinity of whales.
  17. Assume that your action is a disturbance and cautiously leave the vicinity if you observe any of the following behaviors:

i) Aggressive behavior by many animals towards the disturbance; or movement by many away from the disturbance
ii) Herd movement towards the water
iii) Hurried entry into the water by many animals
iv) Increased interactions with other animals
v) Increased vocalizations
vi) Several individuals raising their heads simultaneously

21. Engaging in a commercial activity other than that specifically permitted for is prohibited.

22. CUA holders authorized to use motorized vehicles must display their business name and CUA number on the dashboard of each vehicle parked in the Exit Glacier Developed Area. The business name and CUA number must match the holder’s current CUA permit (Form 10-115).

23. A $100 Management Fee is due at the time of application for all Kenai Fjords NP CUA holders authorized to operate in 2024. Effective January 1, 2025, Kenai Fjords NP CUA holders will be assessed a per person Monitoring Fee. The Monitoring Fee of $6.00 per person, per day (excludes guides) is due on or before November 15th annually along with Activity Reporting as specified in the Interior Region 11 CUA Conditions.

End of Kenai Fjords NP Stipulations Applicable to All Commercial Use Authorizations

Activity Specific Stipulations

Last updated: April 2, 2024

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