Commercial Use Authorization Stipulations

2027 Park Specific Stipulations
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

P.O. Box 517 - Skagway, AK 99840 - 907-983-9200 phone

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 the general stipulations. It is the responsibility of the operator to be familiar with and comply with all stipulations applicable to their permitted activity and operating location.

GENERAL STIPULATIONS: The following provisions are applicable to all CUA holders (holder):

1. Day tour operators (holders engaged in operating tours more than 30 days total each season) and their guide employees shall attend an annual orientation session, conducted by park staff, at the beginning of the annual tour season, unless otherwise notified. Tour operators will be notified of the date, time and location of the orientation session at least 30 days in advance.

2. Guided trips, except Dyea Historic Town site walking tours, are limited to a party size of 12, including guides. There must be at least one guide per trip.

3. Each guide shall have the following current and accredited CPR and first aid qualifications as a minimum:

i. American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR or accredited equivalent.
ii. American Red Cross Standard First Aid or accredited equivalent.

4. Guides must be equipped with a basic first aid kit appropriately sized for the group.

5. Further to Alaska Region CUA Condition #10, personal injuries requiring more than basic first aid must be reported to the Chief Ranger, or Superintendent in the Chief’s absence, within 24 hours or as soon as practicable following the incident. Call 907-318-4577 and/or email us. Note that contact information is subject to change; any updates will be provided at the spring meeting and CUA holders will be notified if/when contact information changes during the summer season.

6. Food service and/or consumption beyond light snacks, except for Chilkoot Trail Backpacking, are restricted to day use areas near the NPS Dyea Campground. Food must not be left unattended unless properly secured from bears or other wildlife.

7. In accordance with State law, holder shall not intentionally feed wildlife or negligently leave human food, pet food, or garbage in a manner that attracts wildlife at or around staging area, or any other location, inside of the park legislative boundaries. See 5 AAC 92.230.

8. All natural and cultural objects and features are protected; holders shall require their guides to warn clients near the start of each trip against damaging, picking or collecting at any time.

9. Ground fires are permitted only in NPS Dyea Campground in rings provided for that purpose.

10. Holder shall notify the NPS of all negative behaviors or interactions with bears in as timely a manner as circumstances allow. Negative interactions include incidents and conflicts between bears and humans. Negative behaviors include bears causing property damage, bears obtaining human food, etc. Upon reporting, holder must submit a Chilkoot-Klondike Bear Report Form (available at the NPS Visitor Center, trail center, or via [e-mail]).

Incidents (bear approaches close enough that humans change their behavior), observations of bears exhibiting conditioned or habituated behavior, or signs of property damage due to bears: shall be reported to the NPS within 24 hours or as soon as practicable.

Conflicts (bear approaches to close proximity, about 30 feet or less) or exhibits aggressive behavior: shall be reported within 1 to 3 hours or as soon as practicable. If a bear makes contact with or harms a human, it must be reported to the NPS as soon as possible after calling 911.

Call the NPS to report contact, conflicts, or incidents. Note that contact information is subject to change; current phone numbers will be provided at the spring meeting and CUA holders will be notified if/when contact information changes during the summer season.

More details on Bear Report Forms, bear-human safety, and reporting bear-human interactions will be provided to holders during the annual pre-season orientation meeting.

11. This Authorization is only valid for business operations within the Dyea and Chilkoot Trail Unit in Klondike Gold Rush NHP. This Authorization does not authorize business operations within the Skagway and White Pass Units unless, consistent with municipal restrictions, the Authorization includes Walking Tours in the Skagway Historic District.

12. All guided tours shall remain on the established and maintained trails, as designated for each activity type.

13. Permit holders shall instruct their guides to yield the trail or path to other hikers when their group is stopped in a location which might otherwise block passage by other visitors.

14. The NPS arrowhead, its likeness, the words National Park Service, NPS or the park name must not be used for the purpose of commercial gain or to secure a competitive advantage in the conduct of a permitted activity. This restriction includes but is not limited to signs and vehicle banners.

15. Holders are prohibited from using NPS administered lands for launching and retrieving watercraft without prior approval from the Superintendent. This includes temporary use of the NPS Dyea Campground and other areas of the park for the convenience of the holder.

16. Vehicles are only permitted on established roadways.

17. Unattended CUA vehicles in the Chilkoot Trail trailhead parking lot are restricted to two vehicles per CUA holder.

ACTIVITY SPECIFIC STIPULATIONS: The following provisions are applicable to the specific type of commercial use activity:

Guided Overnight Backpacking (Chilkoot Trail)

1. Business operations are subject to campground and camp space capacities. In 2027, hikers can hike the trail on the U.S. or Canadian sides only and must turn around at the border. It is illegal to cross the international border between Canada and the United States via the Chilkoot Trial. Campground spaces are reserved in advance through Recreation.gov ; reservation requests are processed in the order received and this CUA does not provide for priority consideration.

2. Guided overnight trips are restricted to 12 or fewer persons total, including guides.

3. Incidental use of the Dyea Campground on the night preceding the start of a guided trip on the Chilkoot Trail is permissible subject to availability of space, which may not be reserved in advance, and which use is subject to the usual recreation use fees payable on- site at the time of use.

4. Holders shall obtain trail permits, backpack tags, and a trail orientation for each of their clients at the Chilkoot Trail Center before the group starts on the trail. Holders shall provide Trail Center staff the following information:

   1. Proposed itinerary (start date, campgrounds to be used, exit date), and

   2. Verification of first aid qualifications for each guide, and

   3. Number, names, and nationality of people in the group, and

   4. Names of guides.

NOTE: The NPS CUA permit only applies to commercial backpack guide service on US side of the Chilkoot Trail.

5. All members of a group, including guides and patrons, shall use the boot brushes stationed at the Chilkoot Trailhead at the beginning and end of each trip.

6. The route for overnight backpacking hikes starts at the Chilkoot Trailhead. Overnight hikes must turn right at the intersection of the “spur” trail to the river at 1.5 mile and continue (north bound) up the Chilkoot Trail. For the return route (south bound), overnight hikes must continue down the Chilkoot Trail and over Saintly Hill to the trailhead, without a side trip on the “spur” trail to the river and back. To reduce the spread of the invasive plants identified along the “spur” trail, travel on the “spur” trail to the river and return to the intersection is prohibited.

Guided Hiking – Day HikesWalking Tours (Dyea Historic Townsite, Chilkoot Trail)

1. Day hikes within the Dyea Historic Townsite are limited to the established and maintained trails.

2. Walking tours within the Historic Townsite of Dyea must not exceed a client to guide ratio of fifteen clients to one guide. The total group size must not exceed 32 including guides. Multiple tour groups offered by any one, or multiple, permit holders shall have staggered starts of at least 30 minute intervals.

3. Day hikes on the lower Chilkoot Trail are limited to two routes, both starting at the trailhead and traversing Saintly Hill to the intersection of the Chilkoot Trail with the “spur” trail to the river. Guided trips may continue farther north up the trail as time allows. To reduce the spread of the invasive plants identified along the “spur” trail, roundtrip travel down the “spur” trail to the river and returning to the intersection is prohibited. These routes and authorized direction of travel are depicted in detail on the attached maps.

4. All members of a group using the Chilkoot Trail, including guides and patrons, shall use the boot brushes stationed at the Chilkoot Trailhead at the beginning and end of each trip, as applicable.

Walking Tours (Skagway Historic District)

1. Consistent with municipal restrictions, only existing businesses authorized by the Municipality of Skagway to lead walking tours in the Skagway Historic District will be eligible to apply for a CUA. Tour size for Skagway Historic District walking tours is limited to 20 persons including guides. Permitted guides are authorized to lead clients on the following two defined areas of NPS owned properties:

   1. Between the 6th Street boardwalk north of the Peniel Mission along the walk adjacent to the Mission building south to the alley between 5th and 6th Streets. Guides shall advise clients to respect the privacy of occupants housed in the Mission building when traversing the property.

   2. On the grass lawn immediately surrounding the NPS crib structures on the alley between 5th and 6th Streets. Guided tours are not authorized to cross the lawns behind Frye-Bruhn Cold Storage Building or surrounding the Moore House buildings.

Guided Bicycle Tours (Dyea)

1. The following safety equipment will be provided by the Holder for each trip:

   1. Bicycle safety helmets (1 for each client and guide), and
   2. Brightly colored outer-wear or vest (1 for each client and guide), and
   3. Bicycles, with all major components maintained in functional condition.

2. Bicycles are only permitted on established roadways and “hardened” trails within the Historic Townsite of Dyea as provided for on the attached map. Bicycle guides shall require clients to walk their bikes across all bridges and boardwalks within the Historic Townsite of Dyea and must yield to pedestrians when present. Bicycles are not permitted to cross directly through Nelson Slough irrespective of the presence of mud or water. Bicycle tours are not permitted on the Chilkoot Trail.