News Release

Mount Rainier National Park accepting Commercial Use Authorization Applications starting September 1, 2022

Date: July 19, 2022

Superintendent Greg Dudgeon announced today that the park will accept Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) applications starting September 1, 2022 and Special Use Permits in lieu of Commercial Use Authorizations (SUPilCUA) applications starting October 1, 2022. 

Two major changes this year are that the SUPilCUA application period has been pushed back one month from September to October and the submission period for Winter Use has been moved to March.

The application for commercial permits is now available for download on the Park’s Commercial Services webpage. Please read through the application instructions, including all associated attachments before applying.

Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) 

• Starting September 1, 2022, the CUA program will begin accepting applications for:

• • 2023-2024 Guided Backpacking (5) 2023-2024 Drive-in Campground Use (10)           
  • 2023-2024 Guided Bicycle Tours (5) 2023-2024 Guided Day Hiking (20)
  • 2023 Single Trip Guides Climbing (10, one-year permits)

• Starting March 1, 2023, the CUA program will begin accepting applications for:

• • November 2023 – March 2025 Guided Winter Day and Overnight Use (7)

The Park has updated its submission process to accept only applications online. Application submissions will be accepted via online submission only to e-mail us. A complete application must have an emailed timestamp within the respective month for consideration in either the first-level evaluation or second-level evaluation round.

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 permits have been issued. 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, 2022 through September 30, 2022, for the first evaluation round. If there are still CUAs available after the September round, there will be a second evaluation of applications received between October 1, 2022 through October 31, 2022. For Guided Winter Day and Overnight Use CUAs, completed applications received from March 1 to March 30, 2023 will be evaluated in the first round. If any additional Winter Use CUAs are available after the first round, they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until all seven have been issued.

CUA Application Form 10-550 link: Instructions for Commercial Use Authorization Application

Special Use Permits in lieu of a Commercial Use Authorization (SUPilCUA)
New for 2022, Special Use Permits in lieu of Commercial Use Authorizations (SUPilCUA) will not be accepted in the month of September, but in October. Submitting the application, including payment of the application fee, must be received no earlier than October 1, 2022.  The SUPilCUA is for non-business entities offering commercial services within Mount Rainier National Park. Any organized group in which participants exchange money and/or employees are compensated for a service, program, or product within Mount Rainier National Park is required to get this permit. These organized groups include, but are not limited to non-profits, city, state, and collegiate recreational programs, government municipality and military morale, welfare, and recreation programs, or those that offer fundraising climbs. 

Applications will be accepted via email only. These will be reviewed in the early winter of 2022 for activities to be conducted during the year 2023. Please complete the CUA Application Form 10-550 for the SUPilCUA and email completed application packet to e-mail us. These permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and are valid for one year. The SUPilCUA program will continue to issue permits as a limited release, like CUAs. Once limits have been reached, applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis as determined by carrying capacity.

• Starting October 1, 2022, the SUP in lieu of a CUA program will begin accepting applications for:

• • 2023 Guided Backpacking (5)          2023 Drive-in Campground Use (5)    
  • 2023 Guided Bicycle Tours (5)        2023 Guided Day Hiking (5)
  • 2023 Single Trip Guides Climbing (10) 2023 Photography and Art Courses (5)
  • 2023 Winter and Overnight Use (5)

SUPilCUA Application Form 10-550 link: Instructions for Commercial Use Authorization Application.

If you have any questions, contact e-mail us or 253-307-6361.