Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) authorize companies or individuals to conduct business in Rocky Mountain National Park on an annual basis. A CUA provides a group a non-exclusive license to offer services to park visitors.
Your organization is considered a business if it provides goods, services, activities, or other things to the public using National Park Service lands. If you receive any form of compensation for the things you provide, you are conducting a business or commercial activity. The National Park Service definition of a business or commercial organization does not distinguish between commercial and non-profit organizations.
CUA activities must be appropriate to the mission of the park; compliment resource protection, visitor protection, and interpretation goals; and not pose any potential for derogation of values or purposes for which the park was established. They must be consistent with the park's future plans as well as present operations. They should be compatible with the planning documents for the park. The park will not normally limit the number of organizations that offer similar services or activities.
CUA holders have their base of operation outside the park. All the commercial aspects of the activity must occur outside of NPS lands. This includes marketing, advertising, use of permanent or temporary structures, and negotiation with customers. Compensation or payment for services (even tipping) may not occur on NPS lands.
Approved Activities
Some activities are authorized under Concessions Contracts, which are exclusive multi-year authorizations to provide goods and services. Horseback rides, wood sales, merchandise operations, and climbing trips and classes are operated under Concessions Contracts. To obtain more information about these services, send an email or call the Concessions Office at 970 586-1209. Do not use the CUA application to apply for these services.
Currently, the following activities are permitted under the CUA program:
Art/Photography workshops: Instructing individuals in painting or photography of wildlife or landscapes
Guided fly fishing: Guiding or Instructing clients on how to fly fish
Frontcountry bicycle tours: Guiding clients on bicycle rides in the park
Guided backpacking tours: Guiding clients to established backcountry sites. Can include off-trail day hikes with additional requirements.
Guided hiking tours: Guiding clients on established trails in the park. Can include off-trail day hikes with additional requirements.
Interpreted/Interactive Vehicle Tours: Primarily a vehicle tour with limited guided activity (for example, short guided interpretative walks to overlooks or frontcountry lakes or photo tours). Generally, the maximum vehicle carrying capacity is 15 passengers. Park passes are allowed.
Limited Trip Guided Climbing: Guiding clients on rock or ice where the use of technical equipment is necessary (ex. ropes, ice axes, rock protection, crampons, etc.). Limited to 3 trips not to exceed 9 days.
Winter activities: Single day guided snowshoe tours, guided cross-country ski tours, and/or basic avalanche awareness and education classes.
Wedding Coordinating Services** (Wedding Planner)
**in addition to the $350 permit fee, there is a $75 per event booking fee
All clients of a CUA operator must pay an entrance fee or show proof of current Entrance Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass, Interagency Pass, Golden Age/IA-Senior Pass, or Golden Access/IA-Access Pass.
Application Process
For the 2024 operating season, the Commercial Services Office will implement a set application schedule for 2024: December 1, 2023- March 31, 2024. Anyone applying for the 2024 season will be required to have the required paperwork and payment uploaded to the new system during that period of time. If a company has not uploaded the required paperwork during that timeframe, your application may not be approved for the season.
For a 2023 CUA Application, please contact romo_fees_permits@nps.gov.
Insurance Requirements:
Proof of adequate general liability insurance and automobile insurance. Rocky Mountain National Park needs to be listed on the General Liability Insurance as an additional insurer on the face of the policy. To make sure the park receives a copy, it needs to read as follows:
United States Government
Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
We require the following coverage:
Approved Activity
Permit Fee
Commercial Business
Liability Insurance Min.
(see insurance sheet below)
Certifications
Leave No Trace Training
Special Requirements
Interpretative/Interactive Vehicle Tours
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Required: First Aid & CPR
Online Awareness Course
Both Commercial Business
Liability and Commercial Vehicle
Liability Insurance Apply
Frontcountry Bicycle Tours
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Required: First Aid & CPR
Online Awareness Course
Art/Photo Workshops-Tours
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Recommended First Aid & CPR. Required if 0.5 miles or more from roadside/trailhead.
Online Awareness Course
Portrait Photography
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Recommended: First Aid & CPR. Required if 0.5 miles or more from roadside/trailhead.
Online Awareness Course
Wedding Services
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Recommended: First Aid & CPR. Required if 0.5 miles or more from roadside/trailhead.
Online Awareness Course
$75 per event booking fee
Winter Activities
$350
$500,000 per occurrence / $1M aggregate
Required: First Aid & CPR
Online Awareness Course
Ski Mountaineering, backpacking with overnights, and ice-skating are not authorized under this permit
Min. of 1 guide per trip recommended WFR or higher. All others minimum of First Aid & CPR
Online Awareness Course
Day Hiking off-trail to destinations. Max. group size is 12.
Climbing Guide Certification Program
$350
$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
1 guide per trip required WFR or higher. All others First Aid & CPR.
Online Awareness Course
For certification courses only
Limited Trip Climbing / Mountaineering
$350
$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
1 guide per trip required WFR or higher. All others First Aid & CPR.
Online Awareness Course
Up to 3 trips not to exceed 9 calendar days total (can be non-consecutive).
Automobile Liability Insurance
If a CUA holder transports passengers or uses a vehicle in the performance of the service in the park, they are required to have automobile liability insurance. The auto liability insurance must include coverage of "owned, leased, rented or hired" vehicles if the CUA holder rents or leases vehicles. Minimum auto liability insurance:
Vehicle Insurance
(bodily injury and property damage)
Minimum per Occurrence Liability Limits*
Up to 6 passengers
$1,000,000
7–15 passengers
$1,500,000
16–25 passengers
$3,000,000
26+ passengers
$5,000,000
* Indicated minimum per occurrence liability limit or minimum State liability requirement in State or operation, whichever is greater.
Commercial auto insurance provides:
Taxis that do not provide tour serves are only required to have Auto Liability insurance. The Commercial General Liability covers out of vehicle activities, and taxis do not provide of out vehicle activities.
Liability insurance, which includes coverage for bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorists, and underinsured motorists;
Physical damage insurance, which includes collision insurance; and
Other coverage, which includes medical payments, towing and labor, rental reimbursement, and auto loan coverage.
Rocky Mountain National Park is moving towards an online application process with a defined application window. Further instructions on how the application process will work for 2024 Operating Season will be displayed here soon. Watch an how-to video to prepare here
Last updated: August 25, 2023
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park,
CO
80517
Phone:
970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter.
Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.
