1. Areas Open to Conduct Commercial Services
- 1980 Park and Preserve Additions
- Kantishna Airstrip
- Savage Campground Group Sites
- Designated Frontcountry and Wonder Lake Trails
- Park Road to Mountain Vista Rest Area for Guided Winter Activities - September 24 through when the park road closes for winter and mid-February through May 10 only
2. Areas Closed to Commercial Services (except as noted in Stipulation #16 below)
- Former Mt. McKinley National Park
- Windy Creek drainage, northwest of Cantwell in the former Mt. McKinley National Park
- Glaciers in the 1980 Park and Preserve Additions are closed to air taxi landings, including lakes on glaciers
3. Incident Reporting
All incidents involving serious injury, fatality, or vehicle property damage must be reported immediately by calling the Alaska Regional Communication Center at (907) 683-2276.
4. First Aid and CPR
At a minimum, each guide must be currently certified in basic first aid and CPR. Each group must carry and be familiar with a basic first aid kit, with a valid expiration date, appropriately sized for the group. Documentation must be presented upon request from NPS personnel.
5. Wildlife Safety Messaging
Employees shall be trained in proper wildlife safety protocol for preventing incidents and acting in case of a wildlife encounter. Visitors must be made aware of this protocol prior to beginning activities. Bear spray must be carried for any activity where bears may be present. See the
park website for more information on wildlife safety protocol.
6. Bear and Wolf Encounters
- Any bear interactions (wherein a bear's behavior is changed in anyway due to the presence of a human/s) that occur involving clients or guides must be reported using a Bear Human Incident Management System (BHIMS) form.
- Any wolf interactions (wherein a wolf's behavior is changed in anyway due to the presence of a human/s) that occur involving clients or guides must be reported using a Wolf Encounter Form (WEF).
- NPS wildlife staff must be immediately notified anytime a bear makes contact with a human, damages property, continually approaches an area occupied by humans, touches a tent, or shows signs of aggression or excitement toward a human. Contact NPS wildlife staff at e-mail us or by calling Wildlife Technicians at (907)683-9574.
7. Leave No Trace
All employees who accompany clients in Denali National Park & Preserve must be knowledgeable of Leave No Trace principles. Operations must be conducted with regard to minimizing the impact on park resources and other visitors.
Leave No Trace 101 course is recommended for all guides and required for some permit types. Denali-specific Leave No Trace information can be found on the park
website. The CUA holder must remove all trash and garbage generated by their activities within the park, including food waste.
8. Closures
Public closures may be established in the interest of maintaining public health, protecting environmental and scenic values, and protecting natural and cultural resources. This may include but is not limited to wildlife activity such as dens/nest sites, kill sites, or potentially hazardous animals.
9. Interpretation
The
Eppley Foundations of Interpretation course is recommended for all guides and required for some permit types. CUA holders must provide effective interpretation which meets the following standards:
- Uses effective techniques to provide opportunities for visitors to make meaningful and relevant intellectual and emotional connections to park resources.
- Is appropriate for the audience.
- Provides a clear focus for their connection with the resources(s) by demonstrating the cohesive development of a relevant idea or ideas, rather than relying primarily on a recital of chronological narrative or a series of related facts. Conveys accurate information about Denali National Park and Preserve and its mission. Access to park information about Wildlife Safety, Leave No Trace, Natural and Cultural History, as well as tips, tools, and training for creating effective visitor experiences can be found online.
10. Employee Performance
All employees must maintain the highest professional standards of conduct, treating each guest/client with respect. Employees must provide quality customer service, show leadership, maintain group management, guide decision making, communicate hazards to visitors, provide relevant safety messaging, and make conservative risk management judgements and decisions during activities. Employees must also respect the freedoms and rights of other groups and individuals they encounter on federal lands.
11. Entrance Fees
CUA holders are required to ensure their clients have paid the park's weekly entrance pass or own a valid Interagency or Denali Pass. Annual and Lifetime passes cover the passholder and up to three other adults, in the passholder's party. Examples of valid pass types are found on the park’s
fee webpage. A weekly park pass may be paid in conjunction with the purchase of a bus ticket, or in person at the Denali Visitor Center (summer), Murie Science and Learning Center (winter) or Talkeetna Ranger Station (year-round). Passes may also be purchased
online. Pre-printed/pre-paid entrance fee tickets may also be available through a Third-Party Sales Agreement. To learn more about this Agreement, or for any other questions regarding park entrance fees and passes, contact the Fee Program Manager at 907-683-6347.
12. Guiding
CUA holders and employees (guides) are not allowed to accompany clients in areas closed to CUA activities and if found doing so, will be assumed to be conducting guiding activities and considered to be in non-compliance of the terms of the CUA. Guides may accompany their clients on the park transportation system but must conduct themselves as a park visitor and not as a guide. Any actions such as providing expertise and/or support to clients will be deemed a violation of this stipulation.
13. Reporting Requirements
CUA holders must meet the following annual reporting requirements to maintain a valid authorization. Reporting requirements include:
| Document |
Due |
| Guide List |
May 1 or before operation begins |
| Activity Reports |
January 31 |
| Annual Financial Report (form 10-660) |
February 28 |
| Annual Fee |
Two weeks after the annual report is accepted by the NPS |
| Insurance Certificate |
With application and as insurance renews |
14. Annual Fees
Required fees are calculated based on the following schedule. Annual fees are based on a percentage of gross receipts for: Land-Based Guiding, Air Transportation, and Auto Transportation.
| Gross Receipts |
Annual Fee |
| Between $0.00 and $250,000 |
3% of gross receipts |
| Between $250,001 and $500,000 |
4% of gross receipts in addition to the prior amount |
| Above $500,001 |
5% of gross receipts in addition to the prior two amounts |
A flat 6% Annual Fee will be applied to gross receipts on all income earned as a result of providing mountaineering services within Denali National Park and Preserve.
15. Commercial Road Access within Denali National Park and Preserve
- Commercial passenger-carrying motor vehicles are allowed within the boundaries of Denali National Park and Preserve on the George Parks Highway and on the Denali Park Road as far west as the Denali Visitor Center complex (Mile Post 1.4) and Alaska Railroad Depot. No permit is required for this access. A commercial operator may therefore bring passengers into the park and stop within the developed area of the road corridor up to the Denali Visitor Center complex. This allows commercial operators to access the following: Denali Bus Depot, Backcountry Information Center, Riley Creek Mercantile store, showers and laundry, McKinley Park airstrip, U.S. Post Office, Day Use Picnic Area, Railroad Depot, and the Denali Visitor Center complex.
- No commercial vehicle may proceed west beyond the Denali Visitor Center complex except under either of the following scenarios: they have a Group Camping CUA and their travel is related to a current campground reservation or they have a Guided Winter Activities CUA and they are traveling during the time period of September 24th through when the park road closes for winter and mid-February through May 10 when the road officially opens to Mountain Vista Turnout. The winter closure date and February start date for road access will vary and is weather and driving-condition dependent.
Download or print the Denali National Park Stipulations Common to All CUAs. CUA holders and their employees are responsible for knowing and following all rules.
