News Release

Mount Rainier National Park Accepting Commercial Use Authorization Applications Starting September 1, 2019

Date: July 18, 2019
Contact: Jan Crosetto, CUA Office, 360-569-6514
Contact: Josh Boisvert, Concessions Management Specialist, 360-569-6505

Ashford, WA -- Acting Superintendent Tracy Swartout announced today that the park will accept Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) applications starting September 1, 2019. The CUA application is now available for download on the park’s website. The link is provided below. This is an updated CUA application, so please read through the application instructions, including all attachments before applying.

Commercial Use Authorizations 
Starting September 1, 2019, the CUA program for Mount Rainier National Park will begin accepting applications for:
2020–2021 Single Trip Guides Climbing
2020–2021 Photography and Art Courses

Starting September 1, 2020, the CUA program will begin accepting applications for:
2021-2022 Guided Backpacking                 2021-2022 Guided Winter Day and Overnight Use
2021-2022 Drive-in Campground Use        2021-2022 Guided Bicycle Tours
2021-2022 Guided Day Hiking                      

The number of CUAs issued for each activity will continue to be limited under this program per the park’s Commercial Services Plan 2005. Potential permittees will compete for the award of permits. CUA applications will be accepted until all of the permits have been issued. In order to ensure that the most qualified operators are selected for CUAs, application evaluations will occur at the end of each month. The park will accept applications from September 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, for the first evaluation round. If there are CUAs available after the September round, there will be a second evaluation of applications postmarked October 1 through October 31, 2019.

CUA Application Form 10-550

Special Use Permits in lieu of a CUA
Starting September 1, 2019, the CUA program will begin accepting applications for Special Use Permits (SUP) in lieu of a CUA for year 2020 for all activities listed under a CUA. Organized groups in which participants exchange money for a service within Mount Rainier National Park are required to get this SUP. This includes non-profit, city, state, and collegiate recreational programs, government municipality and military morale, welfare, and recreation programs, or those that offer fundraising climbs. Please complete the CUA Application Form 10-550 for a SUP. SUPs will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. SUPs are for one year and will continue to be limited under this program. Once limits have been reached, applications will be considered on a case by case basis as determined by carrying capacity. Please contact the Commercial Services Office at 360-569-6514 or 360-569-6505 or by email at e-mail us.                                   

After doing a cost recovery analysis for each CUA and SUP in lieu of a CUA activity, the park is updating associated application and management fees. CUA applications for the 2020-2021 Climbing and Photography activities will be the first to pay the new fees, followed by the 2021-2022 CUA activity applications in 2020. This fee update will also apply to all future SUP in Lieu of a CUA applications: Climbing, Winter Use, Backpacking, Day Hiking, Photography, Drive-in Campground Use, and Bicycle Tours. The new fee rates are found in Attachment C, page 14, of the CUA Application. All fees can be paid on pay.gov.

CUA applications must be mailed to the park; emailed applications will not be accepted.

Mount Rainier National Park
Attn: CUA Coordinator
55210 238th Avenue East
Ashford, WA 98304

If you have any questions, contact the park at e-mail us or 360-569-6514.

www.nps.gov 

Park information, announcements, and the Mount Rainier webcams are posted on the park’s official website, nps.gov/mora.

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