Special Park Conditions

The following conditions apply to all CUAs operating in Yellowstone National Park.

Definitions: CUA holder or authorized agent(s) hereinafter referred to as Holder

1. Damages—The holder will leave the area(s) authorized for use under this permit in substantially the same condition as it was prior to the activities authorized herein and shall pay the United States for any damage resulting from this use which would not reasonably be inherent in the authorized use.
2. The holder will not advertise, solicit business, collect any fees, or sell any goods or services on lands owned and controlled by the United States Government. All advertisements, including brochures, rack cards, and websites must include a statement that the holder is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service. CUA holders (Holder) are not authorized to use the NPS arrowhead or Authorized Concessioner Mark.
3. Advertisements for trips in Yellowstone National Park must list all authorized outfitters involved with each trip package and who will be conducting each service for clients.
4. Third parties that offer packages or sell trips for authorized outfitters must clearly state the name of the permitted business conducting trips within Yellowstone National Park. Similarly, CUA holders who partner with other authorized outfitters must disclose in their advertising the name of the authorized business responsible for any services they are not authorized to provide. For example, “Fishing services advertised by Wonderland Photography are conducted by commercial authorization permit holder, Bella’s Fly Fishing, LLC.” “Snowcoach transportation will be provided by Chilly Bear Tours an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service”.
5. For advertising purposes, the permit holder or guides listed on the CUA permit may use incidental photos and video of authorized activities and scenery in front-country areas, and backcountry campsites where they have been issued a backcountry campsite permit. Footage may be shot with a small handheld video camera, cell phone, DSLR, or Go Pro. If the CUA designates a staff member or hires a professional or separate business to film or photograph for advertisement purposes, a Commercial Film Permit may be required. For Commercial Film Permit inquiries, please contact the Film Office at [phone] or [phone].
6. The holder should provide a courtesy notification to the Yellowstone Public Affairs Office prior to speaking to members of the media regarding park management or park operational topics. Holders do not need to provide a courtesy notification regarding media inquiries concerning their operation. For example, a holder should provide a courtesy notification for comment provided to media outlets regarding ‘viral’ incidents (fatalities, weather events and natural disasters, wildlife encounters, etc.), but does not need to provide notification for public interest articles about their business (e.g. comments on how ecotourism companies affect the local economy). Yellowstone’s Public Affairs Office may be reached at: [e-mail].
7. Activity-based CUAs are issued for a maximum of one year, expiring on December 31 of the operating year regardless of date the CUA was issued. Service-based CUAs are issued for a maximum of two years, expiring on December 31 of the second operating year regardless of the date the CUA was issued.
8. No more than one CUA will be issued to an applicant for the same activity category (inclusive of its individual owners and employees). However, applicants may apply for CUAs for more than one activity category.
9. To protect park wildlife, the following are prohibited:
   • Knowingly approaching, remaining, viewing or engaging in any activity:
   • Within 25 yards of any wildlife, except bears, wolves, and cougars.
   • Within 100 yards of bears, wolves, and cougars.
   • Willfully using a motor vehicle to approach wildlife or in a manner that disturbs, displaces, or interferes with the free unimpeded movement of wildlife is prohibited.
   • Within any distance that disturbs, displaces, or interferes with the free unimpeded movement of any wildlife.
   • Within any distance that creates or contributes to a potentially hazardous condition or situation.
   • Failing to remove oneself to prescribed distances during inadvertent, accidental, or surprise encounters with wildlife.
10. CUA holders and their employees must report the following immediately to 911:
    • All fatalities
    • All known or suspected violations of law.
    • Injuries, property damage, and motor vehicle accidents that necessitate a Law Enforcement response. The caller should be prepared to provide information regarding the incident, location, number and age of parties needing assistance, known injuries, current responsiveness of injured parties, and assistance being provided.
    • Incidents adversely affecting the Area’s resources that necessitate a Law Enforcement response.
11. All of the below must be reported within 24 hours of the incident to Yellowstone Commercial Services by emailing [e-mail]:
    • All fatalities
    • Known or suspected violations of the law within or affecting the CUA holder’s operation including, but not limited to, traffic citations, food storage citations, etc.
    • Employee or visitor injuries requiring evacuation or more than minor first aid treatment.
    • Property and motor vehicle accident damage over $300.
    • All incidents adversely affecting the area's resources.
    • Reports should include date, time, location, and nature of incident. Do not provide visitor’s personal identifiable information in medical/injury report.

 

12. CUA holders and employees are prohibited from possessing firearms while performing authorized commercial activity within the park. CUA holders are responsible for determining whether state or local laws allow the possession of firearms by their clients.
13. The CUA holder may use legally obtained plant, animal, geological and cultural specimens for guest educational purposes only. Clients must be advised that possessing, destroying, removing, or disturbing specimens in a National Park is strictly prohibited. To comply with park policy, all such specimens or parts thereof must remain inside the vehicle while operating in Yellowstone National Park. All wildlife parts such as antlers, pelts or feathers, must remain out of sight of all other (non-client) visitors while within park boundaries. CUA holders must request, complete, and carry a Permit to Transfer form from the entrance station to identify specimens brought into the park for educational purposes. CUA holders can contact the visitor service office for additional information at: 307-344-2106 or [e-mail].
14. For activity-based CUAs and guided activities, all paid and unpaid staff participating in authorized commercial service must meet guide requirements. Guides must be at least 18 years of age and trained in basic safety, resource protection, Leave No Trace principles, park rules and regulations, and the requirements of the CUA terms, special park conditions, and operating plans. The Holder must ensure that all employees working in the park are adequately trained to safely and competently perform the services authorized and comply with the conditions of this CUA. In the event of a violation or infraction, responsibility and liability will generally be placed upon the Holder, including citations, warnings, and fines. However, the National Park Service retains the right to cite, warn, and fine employees associated with a commercial operator.
15. At a minimum, guides must be currently certified in standard first aid and CPR. One guide in each group must carry a first aid kit suitable for their level of certification and containing adequate materials for the number of clients they are guiding. Additional certifications may be required based on the CUA activity. Required guide certifications for each CUA activity can be found in Attachment A—Authorized Services, Required Documentation, and Training.
16. While in Yellowstone, the CUA holder or guide is responsible for their clients for the guided portion of the trip. CUA holders must arrange travel needed to transport clients back to their original meeting location (i.e., client’s vehicle within park, hotel in or out of park) for clients that are separated from the tour group due to missing tour group departure, misconduct, or seeking treatment at a medical clinic. Guides must remain with unaccompanied minors at all times.
17. Supplies/Materials/Storage: The holder shall not store supplies/materials/equipment in the park unless specifically authorized under an operating plan or special written approval. Trailers may not be left unattached and unattended within the park boundary except for reserved campgrounds and concessioner lodging accommodations with appropriate approval from location manager.
18. The CUA holder will ensure that clients and guides are properly clothed and equipped for the authorized activity.
19. For activity-based CUAs and guided activities, the CUA holder or guide shall provide all clients with an orientation prior to the trip which emphasizes safe practices in bear habitat, Leave No Trace ethics, NPS mission, park rules and regulations, proper distances for wildlife viewing, and specific nature, demands, and dangers of the trip in which they are participating. The Superintendent’s Compendium regarding park regulations can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/compendium.htm.
20. In accepting this Authorization, the Holder acknowledges that the proposed activity, in order to qualify for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA), must bear a direct relationship to the purpose for which the Park was established; for example, visitor understanding and enjoyment of the park. Even though the activity may be primarily recreational in nature, the Holder agrees to provide time, stops, and talks to accurately explain the natural ecosystems, history, and culture within the park, to their clientele.
21. This authorization does not confer exclusive use of any area in the park. All groups must honor the rights of others and always conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The Holder agrees to carry out the services authorized under this CUA in a safe, professional, and courteous manner and that causes no damage to the natural/cultural resources or facilities within the park.

 

22. “Foot travel in all thermal areas, and within the Yellowstone Canyon between the Upper Falls and Inspiration Point, must be confined to boardwalks or trails that are maintained for such travel and are marked by official signs.” 36 CFR, Ch1, se. 7.13(i) In such areas, no off-trail travel is allowed; stay on designated boardwalks and trails. Off-trail travel in backcountry areas without thermal features is generally not encouraged but is not prohibited if backcountry activities are authorized in the holder's CUA category and the area is not closed to human entry.
23. Guides may not meet clients at NPS Visitor Centers. Guides may not meet clients on park concessioner’s land assignments without permission from the concessioner’s location manager.
24. The CUA holder will not conduct any form of guided activity that conflicts with or disrupts National Park Service ranger-led interpretive programs or conducted activities (i.e., talking over someone, crowding at locations where another group is already meeting, etc.).
25. The CUA holder must provide all visitor services in a manner that is consistent with and supportive of the Park’s strategic priorities, interpretive goals and objectives. CUA holders and guides can access the interpretive plans and other resources at the following links: Comprehensive Interpretive and Education Plan, Strategic Priorities, Yellowstone Foundation Document, and Resources for Commercial Guides.
26. CUA holders will contact their state’s Department of Transportation to determine if a DOT number is required. If a DOT number is required, it must be displayed on the vehicle with required documentation carried in the vehicle.
27. All vehicles transporting clients and conducting tours must display the following information on both sides of their vehicles (step-on and stream & shoreline guides are exempt from this requirement):
    • Company name to which the CUA is issued,
    • Department of Transportation number, if required,
    • Letters must contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed,
    • Markings must be legible, during daylight hours, from a distance of 50 feet with the vehicle stationary.
28. All guides providing tours under an activity-based CUA are required to display the name of the CUA holder’s company on their person while providing tours/guide services within the park that distinguishes them as a guide or staff member. Guides may meet this requirement by wearing, at a minimum, one of the following: nametag, jacket, shirt, or hat.
29. Employee and guide documentation requirements:
    • Service-based CUAs—Drivers must carry a physical copy of the first page of their CUA while operating in the park.
    • Activity-based CUAs—One guide in each tour group must have a physical copy of the first page of their CUA. One guide must carry a physical or digital copy of their CUA operating plan. CPR/First Aid/ Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder/ Emergency Medical. Technician certification cards and driver's licenses must be carried at all times while operating in the park (digital copies of certifications will suffice).
30. All paid and unpaid staff associated with activity-based CUAs must be certified and registered guides. CUA holders must submit a list of authorized guides including their relevant certifications to the online 2025 Guide List Form. CUA holders operating under an activity-based CUA must ensure that guides possess current certification/training requirements for their respective activity categories. The Park will complete spot checks of guide certifications throughout the year as part of the CUA Administrative and Field Monitoring Plan.
31. Holder will be held responsible for ensuring entrance fees are paid by all participants within park boundaries, regardless of entering through an official manned entry station. Under 36CFR 2.23(b), failure to pay the designated entrance fee upon entering Yellowstone National Park may result in a fine and the suspension or revocation of your permit.
    Entrance Fees:
    • Guides/employees of commercial operators conducting business inside the park must identify themselves at entrance stations by presenting the first page of their approved CUA form.
    • Guides are prohibited from using their personal annual or lifetime pass to cover client’s park entrance fees. Participants aged 16 and older must pay applicable entrance fees of $20 per person. Clients may use their own personal annual or lifetime passes to cover this entry fee.
    • Park passes for those not entering through a manned entrance station may be purchased in advance at Recreation.gov.
    • Guides/employees of commercial operators entering the park to recreate personally must pay appropriate entrance fees and may not use their CUA.
32. In accordance with RM-83A, if handling, transporting, and/or preparing food for clients that fall into levels 2 – 6 of the table below, then guides preparing and handling food must be a certified food handler.
    • Food prepared by guides prior to a trip in the park must be prepared in a commercially-licensed kitchen. Food may not be prepared inside private homes (unless commercially-licensed), hotel rooms, or vehicles.

 

Activity	Examples	Food Handler Certification Requirement
Level 1
Handling ready-to-eat, pre-packaged, food with no time and/or temperature control (TTC) requirements	Individually packaged trail mix, nuts, chips, nutrition bars, candy bars etc.	Not required
Level 2
Opening and handling exposed non-TCC pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food.	Bulk packages of trail mix, nuts, chips, candy, pastries, etc.	Required
Level 3
Handling and/or transporting commercially prepared, ready-to-eat, and pre-packaged food with TTC requirements.	Packaged/wrapped sandwiches and salads	Required
Level 4
Handling and/or transporting commercially prepared, pre-packaged, ready-to-eat TTC food for the purpose of portioning or assembly prior to serving customers.	Deli meat, sliced cheese, prepared salads (e.g. tuna salad, potato salad, coleslaw etc.), hummus, cut fruit etc.	Required
Level 5
Handling and/or transporting ready-to-eat TTC and non-TTC food to slice, chop, grate, mix, stir, or perform other preparation prior to serving customers.	Cutting/chopping produce or fruit, slicing cheese or meats, slicing tomatoes etc.	Required
Level 6
Handling and/or transporting and cooking TTC foods for immediate service.	Meat, poultry, fish, hot dogs, sausage, cooked produce or fruit etc.	Required

 

33. Activity Operating Plan - The holder will abide by the applicable activity-specific operating plan. I hereby confirm that myself, all guides, and all relevant employees will be trained in the requirements of this CUA, the Yellowstone CUA Special Park Conditions, and Operating Plan.
34. Failure on the part of the permittee (CUA holder, authorized Agents, and employees) to abide by the provisions of the permit (CUA) is citable under 36 CFR Section 1.6 (g) and Section 5.3. and may result in revocation, suspension, or denial. Yellowstone National Park’s Commercial Use Authorization Application Denial and CUA Revocation Standard Operating Procedures can be found at https://www.nps.gov/yell/getinvolved/application-process-and-required-documents.htm.