What is a CUA?
- A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:
- are determined to be an appropriate use of Olympic National Park;
- will have minimal impact on Olympic’s resources and values; and
- are consistent with Olympic’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
- A CUA is required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
- take place at least in part in Olympic,
- use park resources, and
- result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
- Businesses and individuals may not conduct commercial activities in the park without a valid CUA or in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the CUA.
Federal regulations prohibit engaging in or soliciting any business in park areas, except in accordance with the provisions of a permit, contract, or other written agreement with the National Park Service.
The Following Services Require CUAs in Olympic National Park
- Road Based Commercial Tours
- Bicycle Tours
- Hiking/Walking – Front country
- Hiking – Backcountry
- Climbing/Mountaineering – overnight
- Firewood Sales
- Fishing – spin or fly
- Guided Interpretive Tours
- Horseback/Mule/Other livestock
- Photography Instruction
- Styled Photography Instruction
- Skiing/Snowshoeing Tours
- Transport (non-tour) – road
- Outdoor Skills Education
- Boat Tours – non-motorized
- Environmental Education
How do I apply for a CUA?
Olympic National Park uses an online application system. The CUA application period has closed for 2025 and will open again for 2026 CUAs on or about December 15, 2025 and close May 1, 2026 at 8:00am PST. Applications must be submitted a minimum of three weeks in advance of the CUA applicant's first scheduled trip. Applications are processed in the order they are received. Incomplete applications get moved to the back of the list.
The non-refundable CUA application fee will be $350, which is the NPS standardized application fee. $50 goes to NPS to maintain the online system. $300 stays in Olympic National Park to cover staff time to process and issue the CUA.
You must include the following information for your application to be processed:
- Current certificate of insurance with appropriate insurance minimums
- Insurance company rating letter
- List of guides and expiration dates of all certificates
- Do not send copies of certificates
- Itineraries for all trips into the park
- Risk management plan
- VAR form (visitors acknowledgment of risk)
What are the CUA Reporting Requirements?
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CUA holders will submit annual reports via the online CUA system each year by January 31 for the operations that occurred during the preceding year. This report provides the park with visitation statistics, reportable injury data, and a record of annual gross receipts.
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Failure to submit the required reports or misrepresentation of statistics or earnings may result in the inability to submit subsequent CUA applications via the online CUA system or the suspension of active CUAs.
CUA Office Contact Information
If you have questions regarding the CUA Application process or requirements, please email e-mail us
Important Links
Other forms needed by Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) applicants and holders as mentioned in the application can be found at the following links. Once you have downloaded a form, select the "View" menu and choose "Edit Document" to enter your data:
Do CUA holders have to pay park entrance fees?
- Yes. Road-based commercial tour operator/bus and van tours whose service is transporting clients between areas of interest in the park and consist of one or more persons traveling by vehicle on an improved roadway, on an itinerary that someone has packaged and sold for leisure/recreational purposes, do not need a CUA and instead pay the commercial tour entrance fee each time they enter the park, based on the park’s length of stay. Tour leaders with these groups must not accompany clients on walks, hikes or other activities while stopped at these locations in the park. These tours must also not provide shuttle services to clients. Fees & Passes
- Other types of CUA holders pay the park’s per person entrance fee; passes are accepted. Fees & Passes
CUA Suspension, Revocation, or Denial
CUA holders and their employees are required to meet the conditions of the CUA while operating within Olympic National Park. Failure to meet these conditions may result in CUA suspension, restriction, revocation or application denial. Review the Olympic National Park Commercial Use Authorization Revocation Policy.
Filming and Photography
For more information about photography and filming, please check out Permits & Reservations, email olym_permits@nps.gov, or write to Olympic National Park, attn: Fee Program, 600 East Park Ave, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
