CUA / SUP Backcountry Permit Reservation Guide

A Commercial (or Special) Use Authorization (CUA or SUP) is required to operate within North Cascades National Park Service Complex, for day or overnight use, for all commercial groups (both for-profit and non-profit) who provide services within the park. Backcountry Permits are required for all overnight trips in the backcountry and must be obtained at a ranger station by the trip leader prior to entering the backcountry. CUA/SUP permitees may apply for an optional Backcountry Permit Reservation subject to the terms listed below.

All backcountry reservations are processed through Recreation.gov. All CUA/SUP permit holders will need a commercial account on Recreation.gov to manage their reservations.

Reservation Timeline 2025

• February 14 – March 14: Submit all reservations for current year directly to park staff. Submit as early as possible for best campsite availability. No submissions are accepted after March 14.
• Late April and beyond: The General On-Sale for reservations opens late April. CUA/SUP permit holders can make reservations during this time and obtain walk up permits at the Wilderness Information Center, but they must be processed through their commercial accounts.
  
  Learn more on the North Cascades Backcountry Permit site on Recreation.gov.

Fees and Payment

Recreation Fee: Adults (16 and older) - $10 per person
Youth (15 and under) - free

Reservation Fee: $6 non-refundable

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your reservation three or more full days before your reservation date and receive a refund. The $6 reservation fee is non-refundable.

Change Policy: You may make changes to your permit itinerary, if space is available, up until the day before your reservation date. Your start date cannot be changed without cancelling your permit and starting over. Once your permit has been issued, you cannot make changes to the permit unless approved by a ranger at the Wilderness Information Center or permit issue station.

Picking Up Backcountry Permits

Reserved permits must be picked up by 11 am of the first day of the trip or they will be cancelled and the reserved site(s) made available to other visitors. If your party cannot meet the 11 am deadline, email the Wilderness Information Center at [e-mail] to hold your reservation.

Contact Information

Trip planning assistance: Contact the Wilderness Information Center, [e-mail]

Commercial Use Authorization questions: Contact the concessions office in Sedro-Woolley, 360-854-7213.

 

Camp Reservation Limits

• Not all camps are reservable. Please see the following table to determine reservable group sites, which are preferred for CUA/SUP reservations. Use the Wilderness Trip Planner to learn more about individual sites.
• Additional reservation restrictions apply in certain high use areas, including: Ross Lake, Cascade Pass, and Copper Ridge. See the table below for details.
• The following camps on the Copper Ridge loop are not reservable between July 1 to Sept 15: Egg Lake, Silesia, Copper Lake and Indian Creek.

Cross Country Zones

• For each zone, there is a limit of one backcountry trip per night per CUA/SUP
• Total reservations per zone are limited to 1/3 of the zone capacity (example: 2 of 6 permits reservable for Boston Basin, Sulphide Glacier, Price, and Eldorado zones).
• Only the following zones will be available for advanced reservations: Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Price, and Triumph. The remaining cross-country zones can be booked through walk-up permits at the Wilderness Information Center

 

Camp	Maximum Reservation Capacity	Reservation Restrictions
39 Mile Stock	12
Basin Creek	4	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Beaver Pass Group	12
Bench Creek Group	12
Big Beaver Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Boundary Bay Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Bridge Creek Group	12
Cat Island Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Cottonwood Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Dagger Lake	12
Dagger Lake Stock	12
Deerlick Stock	12
Devils Creek Stock	12
Dry Creek Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Fireweed Stock	12
Five Mile Stock	12
Graybeal Stock	12
Green Point Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Heaton Stock	12
Hidden Hand Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Hidden Meadows Stock	12
Hideaway Group	12
High Bridge Group	12
Hozomeen Lake Group	12
Johannesburg	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Juanita Lake Stock	12
Junction Stock	12
Lightning Creek Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Little Beaver Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Lodgepole	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
McAllister Group	12
McMillan Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Nightmare Group	12
North Fork Group	12
Panther Group	12
Pelton Basin Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Perry Creek Group	12
Ponderosa	12
Rainbow Meadows Group	12
Reynolds Stock	12
Roland Creek Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Sahale Glacier	4	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Silver Creek Group	12	High use area, maximum of 2 consecutive nights
Skagit Queen	12
South Fork Stock	12
Stillwell	12
Sulphide Creek Group	12
Thunder Group	12
Twin Rocks Stock	12
US Cabin Stock	12
Walker Park Stock	12