Permits for Guides, Water Taxis, and Other Businesses

 

Do you want to become a fishing guide or conduct other business in the park? A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) will allow you to legally do so in Voyageurs.

J. Wieber / NPS

 

Guided fishing trips are one of the most popular activities offered by CUA holders.

Hoyt / NPS

Intro to Guiding, Renting, and Doing Business in the Park

If you're interested in offering commercial services in the park, you must obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to legally operate within Voyageurs. Businesses with CUAs (e.g., professional fishing guides, water taxis, private tour boats) offer crucial services that help visitors access and learn about the park.

In Voyageurs, valid CUAs are effective for 2 years. Starting December 1, 2024, businesses can apply to provide the following CUA services for the 2025 - 2026 season:

• Boat Tours - Motorized (includes the sub-services listed below)
  • Guided fishing (summer and winter)
  • Water taxi services
  • Motorboat tours
  • Guided hiking

• Boat Tours - Non-Motorized (includes the sub-services listed below)
  • Guided paddle trips
  • Guided hiking
  • Guided camping

• Boat Rental (includes the sub-services listed below)
  • Motorized boat rental
  • Non-motorized boat rental

• Vessel Support Services - Salvage, Launch, and Retrieval (includes the sub-services listed below)
  • Underwater Salvage
  • Barging and Hauling
  • Marine Repair and Towing

• Houseboat and Camper Support Services

• Skiing/Snowshoeing Tours

• Dogsledding

• Snowmobile/Snowcat Tours

• Winter Recreation Equipment Rental (includes the sub-services listed below)
  • Ski rental
  • snowshoe rental
  • Snowmobile rental

• Ice Fishing Shelter and Equipment Rental

• Mukooda Lake Boat Rental (non-motorized)

Businesses that want to provide services in the park other than those listed above must also obtain a valid CUA before they can begin operating, and should contact the park to begin the process.


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Current CUA Forms

• Annual Report (for 2024 only)
• Visitor Acknowledgement of Risk form (may be used instead of liability waivers, which are not permitted).

 

Rentable paddle craft such as canoes and kayaks offer a valuable, memorable way for visitors to explore Voyageurs National Park. The park, itself does not rent paddle craft for use on lakes such as Rainy or Kabetogama, and local businesses instead provide this service.

C. Olson / NPS

Upcoming Changes for CUA Holders

The National Park Service's central office in Washington, D.C. is requiring all park units across th country to make changes to their CUA programs. In Voyageurs these changes will begin on December 1, 2024.

• Fees: Application fees must be set at $350 for the first CUA and $250 for each subsequent CUA. Parks must also charge management fees. Voyageurs will begin charging a $200 management fee per CUA each year to meet this legal requirement.

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• Online Applications: CUA applications must be submitted online through a centralized website instead of hard-copy documents or emailed applications.
  • CUA holders and future CUA applicants can start setting up their profile on the CUA application website now. This is strongly encouraged; businesses will be able to apply faster if their profile is already set up.

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• Multiple CUAs for Multiple Services: Businesses must apply for multiple CUAs if they offer multiple separate services. Traditionally, only one CUA was required to cover all of a business's commercial activities in Voyageurs.

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• Terms and Conditions: Some new CUA terms and conditions will be added in the new system, but most of the requirements will remain the same that they were in previous years.

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• Application Window: applications will be accepted December 1 - February 28 every two years instead of year-round. Unlike other changes, this is a mandate Voyageurs opted to add at the park level.

For more details, contact the park or visit the National Park Service's central CUA website.

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Companies that rent snowmobiles in the winter give visitors an opportunity to see the park at a unique time of year, and sometimes in areas that cannot be easily accessed in summer.

M. Challeen / NPS photo

CUA Application Website Workshops

The park will host several CUA application workshops in late 2024 and early 2025 for businesses that seek help applying for the first time with the new system.

Business owners may come and go at their convenience, but are strongly encouraged to contact the park's Commercial Services program to reserve a specific time slot. Applicants are also encouraged to bring copies of their commercial insurance policies and all other supporting documents required under the conditions of the CUA(s) that they apply for.

December 2024 Workshops

Workshop Date & Time	Location	Time Slots
Thursday, December 5, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Park Headquarters Building 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Park Headquarters Building 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Park Headquarters Building 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Friday, December 13, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Virtual (Link will be provided when applicants sign up for the workshop)	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Park Headquarters Building 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Thursday, December 19, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Park Headquarters Building 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm
Friday, December 20, 2024 10 am - 4 pm	Virtual (Link will be provided when applicants sign up for the workshop)	10 am - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 1 pm 2 pm - 3 pm 3 pm - 4 pm

January and February 2025 Workshops
Dates and times to be announced

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CUA Fee and Program FAQs

 

Fee FAQs

What's the current price of a CUA, and why is there a fee?

Public Law 105 (Section 418) and Department of the Interior policy require all national park units to charge reasonable fees that—at minimum—recover the cost of managing their individual CUA programs.
 

• Application Fee: businesses pay this fee to cover the park's cost of reviewing their CUA application. Since 2018, this fee has been $200 in Voyageurs. On December 1, 2024 the application fee will increase to the nationwide minimum of $350 for the first CUA and $250 for each subsiquent CUA.

 

• Management Fee: parks must also charge a management fee to recover other remaining costs for administering their CUA programs. Voyageurs has not met this requirement, and is now being mandated to start charging one. Beginning in 2025, management fees will be charged at a flat rate of $200 per CUA.

How are CUA fees used?

A park's CUA fees stay almost exclusively at that park unit, and the funds can only spent in two ways.
 

1. Cost recovery for administering the CUA program (e.g., hourly wages of staff when they spend time reviewing applications or monitoring for compliance. Also office supplies for preparing and printing CUAs, mailings CUA documents, and other similar expenses).

 

2. Projects or services that benefit visitors (e.g., improving day use sites or replacing rusted fire rings).

How and why are CUA fees increasing for the 2025 - 2026 season?

Application Fees
The National Park Service's central office is requiring all park units across the country to standardize application fee prices.

• Some parks opted to follow this requirement early; Voyageurs will begin doing so December 1, 2024 (the latest date by which all parks must charge the new standard price).
• Application fees must be set at $350 for the first CUA and $250 for each subsequent CUA.

Management Fees
Department of the Interior policy also requires parks to charge management fees. Voyageurs has not met this requirement as of 2024, and will begin charging a $200 management fee per CUA each year to do so.  

How will the fee changes affect local businesses and visitors?

While it is difficult to predict how the upcoming changes will affect each individual business, the following examples describe the expected costs (factoring in the increase in application fees, plus the new yearly management fees) if businesses pass the costs down to their customers.

Example 1: a business provides fishing guide, water taxi, and private tour boat services in the summer.

• This business will still only require 1 CUA under the new system.
• If this business serves 100 customers each year, the new fees translate to a $3.75 increase per customer.

Example 2: A business rents ice fishing shelters in the winter. In addition, the same business also rents motorboats and paddle craft in the park during the summer months.

• This business will require 2 CUAs under the new system.
• If this business serves 50 customers each winter and 100 customers each summer, the new fees translate to a $4.67 increase per customer.

 

CUA Program FAQs

Why do businesses need CUAs to operate in the park?

CUAs help national park units protect visitors (e.g., by requiring businesses to review safety equipment with each visitor before they can use a rental motorboat). They also help parks protect natural resources (e.g., some parks limit the number of CUAs they give out to prevent overuse of sensitive areas).

CUAs are also the law. 36 CFR 5.3 (1966) states:

"Engaging in or soliciting any business in park areas, except in accordance with the provisions of a permit, contract, or other written agreement with the United States...is prohibited."

How do businesses apply for a 2025 - 2026 CUA?

Business owners can learn how to prepare to apply for a 2025 - 2026 CUA on this webpage. When they are ready, they can create an account on the nationwide CUA application online portal. They can begin applying for a 2025 - 2026 CUA beginning December 1, 2024.

I'm trying to apply for a 2025 - 2026 CUA and can't find Voyageurs on the application website. Why?

Businesses will not be able to see Voyageurs in the CUA application portal until the application period opens on December 1, 2024. Until then, its CUA services will not be visible on the website.

When is the application window for 2025 - 2026 CUAs?

The open application period for 2025 - 2026 CUAs is December 1, 2024 until February 28, 2025. 

How Can a Business Get Added to the Park's Website?

Voyageurs maintains a list of valid CUA holders and their business services on our website.

To be listed, CUA holders must maintain a valid CUA by submitting their renewal application, insurance, annual report, and supporting documents (if applicable) on or before the deadline. Businesses must also keep their CUAs valid (i.e., by keeping unexpired insurance and captains licenses on file with the park) to  remain listed on the website. 

Can Businesses with CUAs Give Out Liability Waivers?

No; CUA holders may not require visitors to sign a waiver of liability. However, CUA holders offering high-risk services may advise visitors about risks using a Visitor Acknowledgement of Risk form (VAR). The VAR describes the inherent risks of the activity and warns visitors of those risks. The form may not be modified to include waiver of liability language.

If a CUA holder wishes to use an alternative VAR, they must first send a draft to the park for approval before distributing it to clients.

Where Can Businesses View the Terms and Conditions of CUAs?

Voyageurs publishes the park-specific terms and conditions for the 2025 - 2026 season on its website. These do not include the terms and conditions that are applied on a nationwide level to all CUAs, and CUA holders should refer to the national CUA website to find or request those restrictions.

How Can Businesses Get More Information and Ask Questions About CUAs?

Businesses and individuals with questions can:

• Email the park's Commercial Services Specialist.
• Call the park's headquarters office at [phone].
• Send written documents to the address below.

Voyageurs National Park
Commercial Services Program
360 Highway 11 East
International Falls, MN 56649

 

Water taxi services provide important access to the park for visitors who do not have their own boat. Water taxis might also provide assistance to visitors using paddle craft if strong winds create conditions that are too dangerous for canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards to negotiate.

Lindgren / NPS

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How To Prepare to Apply for a CUA
(2025 - 2026 season)

Note for 2025 - 2026 applicants: Voyageurs' CUAs will not be visible on the national CUA website until the open application period begins on December 1, 2024.

1. Create your business's account on the CUA application website.
   • Click "Login," and then "Sign Up."
   • Creating an account and profile early can help you apply faster once the open period begins on December 1, 2024.

2. Watch the training video on how to apply.
   • Note: The park's CUAs will not be visible until December 1, 2024. However, you can learn the process you will use ahead of time by watching this video and checking out the FAQs on the same webpage.

 

Professional camping guides help customers find their campsite by boat. They may also help set up needed equipment, cook meals, provide information about the park, and more. Professional camps regularly bring youth groups to Voyageurs to conduct environmental education trips.

B. Chishom / NPS

3. Make sure your commercial insurance policy is valid.
   1. The policy must include your business name, the minimum coverage per incident, and the policy's expiration date. Download an example Acord25 form to see an acceptable policy.
      • Additionally Insured: policies must list Voyageurs National Park or the United States Government as "additionally insured." You can add this statement to your policy by calling your agent.
      • Minimum Coverage: minimum coverage is $500,000 per occurrence. If your services have a higher level of risk, you may need higher coverage.
      • Commercial Auto: If your business transports people in the park via road-based vehicle, you must also include proof of commercial auto insurance.

4. Make sure your MMC is valid (if needed).
   • Merchant Mariner's Credentials (MMCs) must be valid with the US Coast Guard and include the name of the MMC holder plus his/her photograph, the expiration date, and the MMC document number.
   • The Coast Guard provides a sample MMC for reference.
   • The following CUA services require a valid MMC in 2025 - 2026:
     • Boat Tours - Motorized (includes guided fishing, water taxi services, and motorboat tours)
     • Houseboat and Camper Support Services (if moving a vessel with passengers aboard)
     • Vessel Support Services - Salvage, Launch, and Retrieval (includes underwater salvage, bargiung and hauling, and marine repair and towing).
       • An MMC may be needed for vessel support services depending on the type of vessel being used.

 

Businesses that offer houseboat support assist houseboaters by swapping out propane tanks, filling freshwater tanks, replacing propellers, delivering items, and other services.

NPS

5. Check the terms and conditions to see what additional documents (if any) you will need to apply. Examples:
   • Fleet list (for motorboat and paddle craft rentals)
     • Fleet lists should include the make, model, length, and state registration number of each craft.
   • Staff/guide list (for houseboat support services, guiding CUAs, etc.)
   • Records of vaccinations (for dogsledding CUA applications)

Note for winter businesses: businesses that do not currently have a 2024 CUA and need one to operate in the park through December 31, 2024 should contact the park.

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Issuance, Denial, and Suspension of CUAs

The park's current Standard Operating Procedure provides guidance to park managers when considering whether to restrict, suspend, or revoke a Commercial Use Authorization, and also when considering whether to approve an application for a CUA.

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