Commercial Use Authorizations

 

What Is a CUA?

A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that: 

  • Are determined to be an appropriate use of Capitol Reef National Park;
  • Will have minimal impact on Capitol Reef's resources and values; and 
  • Are consistent with Capitol Reef’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations. 

A CUA may be required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:

  • take place at least in part in Capitol Reef, 
  • use park resources, and 
  • result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit. 

Permitted Activities

At Capitol Reef National Park, the following business activities will be considered for permits:

  1. Bicycle Tours
  2. Camping Backcountry (backpacking)
  3. Camping Frontcountry (Fruita, Cathedral Valley, and Cedar Mesa campgrounds)
  4. Climbing/Mountaineering (day trip) (Canyoneering and Climbing)
  5. Guided Interpretive Tours (Jeep Tours, vehicles with fewer than 26 seats)
  6. Environmental Education (includes historical and cultural education)
  7. Hiking Backcountry (unmaintained routes)
  8. Hiking Frontcountry (All maintained trails off Scenic Drive and State Route 24, as shown on Fruita Map & Guide)
  9. Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock Rides or Services (day) (horses, mules, burros only)
  10. Other (guiding bison hunters to legal access areas)
  11. Photography Instruction
  12. Retail Sales
  13. Transport (shuttle services)

We look forward to working with you.

What are the Reporting Requirements?

CUA holders must submit an annual report via the online CUA system each year by January 31 for the operations that occurred during the preceding year. This report provides the park with visitation statistics, reportable injury data, and a record of annual gross receipts. 

Failure to submit the required reports or misrepresentation of statistics or earnings may result in the inability to submit subsequent CUA applications via the online CUA system or the suspension of active CUAs.

 

Updates for the 2025 CUA Season

As part of a larger effort to streamline and modernize the National Park Service (NPS) commercial use authorization (CUA) program, the NPS has developed on online system designed to process CUA applications and collect required CUA reports. NPS hosted a public comment period from July 26, 2023, through September 20, 2023, to solicit comments about the online system. Thank you to all who provided comments.

NPS began using the online CUA system in 52 parks for the 2024 CUA season. That initial launch was very successful and provided NPS with the information needed to identify and implement system changes leading to an even better user experience.

NPS will initiate its online system in all parks for the 2025 CUA season. For the 2025 CUA season, the standard CUA application fee for all CUAs except road-based commercial tour CUAs will be $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park. Capitol Reef does not require road-based commercial tours to have a CUA for 2025. Road-based commercial tours must pay the commercial entrance fee (based on seating capacity of vehicle).

Capitol Reef National Park will begin accepting applications for the 2025 CUA season (calendar year 2025) in the fall of 2024. The deadline to apply for the 2025 CUA season is April 15, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after that date. Paper and email applications will not be accepted for the 2025 CUA season.

See the table below for updated CUA service categories:
Original New Details
Environmental and Wilderness Education Environmental Education Includes historical/cultural education.
Guided Bicycle and E-bike Tours Bicycle Tours Must stay on roads.
Guiding bison hunters across designated areas to access legal hunting areas (Henry Mountain Resource Area) Other Hunting is not allowed in the park.
Guided Canyoneering and Climbing Climbing/Mountaineering (day trip) Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center or online.
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight Hiking Backcountry (day trip) All unmaintained, named hiking routes throughout park (including Sulphur Creek).
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight Hiking Front Country (day trip) All maintained trails off Scenic Drive and State Route 24, as shown on Fruita Map & Guide.
Guided Hiking - both day and overnight Camping Backcountry Backpacking. Requires additional free permit from Visitor Center.
Guided Horseback Rides Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip) Only horses, burros, or mules.
Guided Motor Vehicle Tours Guided Interpretive Tours For “Jeep Tours” and other vehicle tours on all roads in the park. Group size 1-25 participants. Vehicles must have 26 of fewer seats. Step-on guide services included here.
Horse Pack Trips Horseback/Mule/Other Livestock rides or services (day trip) Only horses, burros, or mules.
Photographic Workshops Photography Instruction Includes short hikes to overlooks and points of interest.
Retail Sales of Convenience Items Retail Sales
Shuttle Services Transport (non-tour) For point-to-point hiker shuttles.
NEW!! Camping- Front Country Fruita Campground, Cedar Mesa Campground, & Cathedral Valley Campground CUA use. Limits apply.
 

To Apply for a 2025 CUA

  1. Visit the new NPS CUA website and search by location for Capitol Reef National Park.
  2. Create login.gov account if you don't already have one.
  3. Apply for desired CUA activities.
  4. Pay fees ($350 for first activity at Capitol Reef, and $250 for all subsequent activities).
  5. Deadline for 2025 season (calendar year 2025) is April 15, 2025.
  6. If CUA is approved, you will be notified through the online system. Additional communication will also come from care_commercialservices@nps.gov.
  7. If you had a 2024 Capitol Reef CUA, submit your 2024 Annual Report by email to care_commercialservices@nps.gov. It is due no later than January 31, 2025. CUAs for 2025 will not be issued until the park has received the 2024 Annual Report.

Links to required documents:

Additional Information:

Watch a video on how to use the new CUA online system.

Certain high-risk activities, including but not limited to canyoneering, climbing, and horseback rides, require a higher insurance minimum: $1,000,000 per occurrence. Other activities require a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence.

Payment and documents are submitted through the online system.

Questions?

Email us through care_commercialservices@nps.gov.
Call 435-425-4130 during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday.

 

Entrance Fees

CUA Fees During Visit

Guided CUA activities are charged the per person entrance fee of $10.00 per client, excluding the trip leader or guide. If a client has an America the Beautiful pass (annual, senior, access, etc.) it covers 4 people in the group.

For example: If a guided tour has 10 clients and one guide, the fee is $100. If one person has a senior pass and another has an annual pass, the passes cover eight of the people and the fee would be $20.

Road-based Commercial Tours

Subject to the Commercial Tour Fee. Road-based tours may or may not need a CUA.

 

Restriction on Idling:

Commercial vehicles (buses, vans, school buses, etc.) are only allowed to idle while actively (passengers are physically getting on or off) loading and unloading passengers. All operators must turn off vehicle engines when parked or when not actively loading or unloading. This restriction does not apply to vehicles stopped on roadways in obedience to traffic control devices or orders, or as needed in response to legitimate traffic safety concerns.

Determination:

Commercial tour bus operators have a tendency to idle their engines while parked. The primary reason is that tour operators like to keep their buses cool with air conditioning while their clients are away from the bus. Idling occurs in the visitor center parking lot and in other parking areas where large numbers of visitors congregate. Idling engines produce noise pollution and exhaust that impacts clean air. This limitation will minimize the impacts to natural resources and visitors. (Superintendent’s Compendium).

Last updated: December 5, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

HC 70, Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775

Phone:

435-425-3791
Recorded park information available 24 hours a day. Phones are answered when staff is available. If no one answers, please leave a message, your call will be returned. Questions may also be sent to care_information@nps.gov.

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