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Commercial Use Authorizations

 

Want to provide a service to visitors at Grand Canyon National Park? Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) are required for all commercial visitor services provided by a company or organization not based in the park. To apply for a 2018 CUA:

• Read the "2018-2019 CUA Fees, Types, Timeline Changes" notification letter on website before applying.
• Read all instructions on the Application Form 10-550.
• Read all conditions in each CUA service 10-115 form that you are applying for.
• Submit a complete application packet to Commercial Services every year at least 4 weeks before departure (refer to Notification Letter for 2017 Deadlines).
• A CUA is only valid from the date of finalization to the end of the calendar year (December 31st). Information is posted for 2018 CUAs.
• If you are applying to operate for the remainder of 2017, email us at [e-mail] for the required 2017 forms.

A complete application packet includes:

1. CUA Form 10-115 (must be typed) for each service you wish to provide, including any additional forms listed for the CUA:

• Commercial Tour CUA 10-115
• Day Hiking CUA 10-115
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Day Hiking/Transit CUA 10-115
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking CUA 10-115
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking and Day Hiking CUA 10-115
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking and Day Hiking/Transit CUA 10-115
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Photography & Art Workshop CUA 10-115
  • Attachment B - Workshop Itinerary
• Photography & Art Workshop/Transit CUA 10-115
  • Attachment B - Workshop Itinerary
• Equipment Rental CUA 10-115
• Equipment Rental/Transit CUA 10-115
• Bicycle Tour CUA 10-115
• Bicycle Tour/Transit CUA 10-115

2. Application Form 10-550

• Sample Visitor Acknowledgment of Risk Form

3. Certificate of Insurance from your insurance agent for the required amounts (see last page of Application Form 10-550) listing as Additionally Insured: The United States of America, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023. Two types of insurance are required:
   • Commercial General Liability
   • Commercial Automobile Liability
4. Application Fee (see below)
5. Annual Report 10-660 for the previous year (if you have operated in the park before). Do not leave any answers blank. If you have not concluded 2017 operations yet, you must indicate that in your 2018 Application Packet.

Note: Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Incomplete applications are placed on hold until missing documents are received. Requests cannot be expedited.

 

2018 CUA APPLICATION FEES:

• Refer to "2018-2019 CUA Fees, Types, and Timeline Changes" Notification Letter on website for Fees.
• Instructions are also listed in the 2018 Application Form 10-550.
• Commercial Tour CUA application fees will begin with 2018 CUA applications.

The CUA application fees are determined by cost analysis in compliance with the 2005 Interim Guidelines for CUAs. This guidance authorizes the National Park Service to recover, at a minimum, associated management and administrative costs associated with CUAs.

Jump To:
Commercial Tour Entrance Fees
Backcountry Camping Permits for Overnight Backpacking Operators

 

Date: August 10, 2017

Applying for a 2018 or 2019 CUA? Read this first: 2018-2019 CUA Fees, Types, & Timeline Changes

 

TUWEEP CUA:
Grand Canyon National Park is accepting applications for Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) in the Tuweep area through December 31, 2018. All CUAs will expire at that time. Applications for Tuweep Commercial Transportation will be considered to the extent they do not have unacceptable impacts on park resource and values.

CUAs issued during this time period are not guaranteed a CUA in 2019. The park's Backcountry Management Plan is being revised and will provide guidance on managing Commercial Use in the Tuweep area. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the revised plan was available for public comment until March 4, 2016.

e-mail us for more information.

SHUTTLE AND MOTORCYCLE TOUR CUAs:
Contact the Commercial Services Office: e-mail us

Additional Information for NORTH RIM COMMERCIAL TOUR CUAs:
Download the Commercial Vehicle Parking Policy update letter here.

 

Submitting your CUA application packet:

Email submission is preferred: e-mail us

You may also mail the complete application packet to:

Grand Canyon National Park
Attn: Commercial Services
PO Box 129 (USPS)
3 Camper Services (UPS, FedEx, etc.)
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Questions for Commercial Services? e-mail us or call 928-638-7707 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Arizona Time (AZT) (no Daylight Savings Time), Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

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Commercial Van Tour

Entrance fees for commercial vehicles are based on seating capacity:

• 1-25 seat capacity: $8 per person.

• 26+ seat capacity: $300. This fee is a flat rate per vehicle.

Grand Canyon National Park no longer accepts ANY passes or private vehicle receipts for waiving entrance fees for any commercial vehicles.

This includes the Grand Canyon Annual Pass and all of the passes in the America The Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program, also known as Interagency Passes (formerly known as Golden Eagle/Age/Access passes).

By policy, "a vehicle fee is an entrance fee for entry of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle and its passengers." Private vehicles or individuals with entry receipts are non-transferrable to any other entity or organization and may not be used to waive commercial vehicle entrance fees.

As stated on the back of all Interagency Passes: "Admit the pass owner(s) and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas . . ." this is a clear prohibition the use of these passes for commercial entry.

To be consistent with National Park Service policy and the other park units across the service, Grand Canyon National Park will no longer accept these receipts or passes for commercial entry into the park.

Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) payment system and checks will no longer be accepted for park entrance fees at Grand Canyon National Park.

The park has phased out the PAD payment system and the acceptance of checks. If you are currently using the Commercial Tour Passenger Certification Form (half sheet) for entry into the park, you are longer be required to submit this form.

Cash, credit card and traveler’s check will be the only approved forms of payment for entrance fees. Any company arriving at the entrance station without one of the approved forms of payment for entry fees will be denied access to the park.

Learn more here or contact Park Headquarters at 928-638-7888.

 

Backcountry campsite

Backcountry Camping Permits
for Overnight Backpacking Operators

In addition to the CUA, Backpacking CUA holders are required to obtain all necessary backcountry camping permits from the Backcountry Information Center. Find more information about Backpacking Permits on the Backcountry Permits page.

CUA Backcountry Permit Request Form (400kb PDF File)

 

Jump to:
CUA application packet

 

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