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Contact: Josh Boisvert, Commercial Services Manager, 253-392-5424
ASHFORD, Wash. – Superintendent Greg Dudgeon announced today the park will accept Commercial Use Authorization applications through the National Park Service’s new online portal starting September 1, 2025 and Special Use Permits in lieu of Commercial Use Authorizations applications starting October 1, 2025 for Photography Instruction and Guided Mountaineering (formally Single Trip Guided Climb) activities.
To better assist potential commercial operators in understanding the requirements of applying for and holding a CUA, Mount Rainier National Park now has created a standalone Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) webpage.
As part of a larger effort to streamline and modernize the National Park Service (NPS) CUA program, the NPS has developed on online system (https://cua.nps.gov/) designed for processing CUA applications and collecting required annual reports. Non-profit applications are also received, issued, and reports collected through the online system. Instructional videos for potential CUA operators are hosted at https://cua.nps.gov/help/.
The online CUA system includes a standard application fee across all national parks. The standard application fee is $350 for the first application and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park. Application fees must be paid through the online CUA system upon application submission. Management fees, activity specific, will be collected in arears annually through the system.
The number of CUAs issued for each activity will continue to be limited under this program per the park’s Commercial Services Plan. Potential permittees will compete for the award of permits. CUA applications will be accepted until all permits have been issued. To ensure the most qualified operators are selected for CUAs, application evaluations will occur at the end of each month.
The park will accept guided climbing and photography instruction applications from September 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025, for the first evaluation round. If there are CUAs available after the September round, there will be a second evaluation of applications received between October 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025.
Special Use Permits in lieu of a Commercial Use Authorization
Any organized group in which participants exchange money and/or employees are compensated for a service within Mount Rainier National Park is required to get a permit to operate in the park. 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.
The park recommends these organizations apply for a CUA, if the organization chooses. Since CUAs are issued in two-year terms, CUAs provide greater consistency for organizations and allow for better protection and management of the park. If requested by a qualifying organization, the Commercial Services Program will instead accept Special Use Permit (SUP) in lieu of a Commercial Use Authorization (SUPilCUA) requests. SUPilCUA requests can be emailed to our office at mora_commercial_services@nps.gov. These permits are only valid for one year and are available on a first-come, first-served basis within the same guide qualifications and requirements as CUAs. Once limits have been reached, applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis as determined by carrying capacity per the Commercial Services Plan.
Starting September 1, 2025, the SUP in lieu of a CUA program will begin accepting applications for:
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2026 Camping Backcountry
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2026 Camping Frontcountry
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2026 Bicycle Tours
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2026 Hiking Backcountry
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2026 Guided Mountaineering
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2026 Photography Instruction
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2025-2026 Guided Winter Activies - Day Use
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2025-2026 Guided Winter Activities - Overnight Use
Last updated: July 28, 2025