2027 Changes to Shenandoah's CUA ProgramStarting in 2027, Road-Based Commercial Tours (RBCT) are required to have a CUA at Shenandoah. What do I need to know before applying?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 Shenandoah; will have minimal impact on Shenandoah’s resources and values; and are consistent with Shenandoah’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:
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.
*Backcountry permits are required for each overnight trip. Old Rag day-use tickets are required for each trip to the Old Rag area between March 1 and November 30. One trip guide/leader per trip must be certified in the above listed First Aid/CPR and Leave No Trace courses. Proof of certifications is not required with the application but must be made available upon request. **Group size limit includes clients, trip leaders, guides, and any other employees. For Bicycle Tours only: drivers and passengers on support vehicles, who will not be cycling at all during the trip, do not count towards group size. Nearly 40% of land at Shenandoah National Park is Designated Wilderness. In order to preserve wilderness character, the number of CUAs issued that authorize activity in wilderness will be limited to the following:
If you would like to conduct commercial services in Designated Wilderness (interactive map with Wilderness boundary), make sure that you are applying for the correct CUA type with “Wilderness and non-wilderness” under “Service Specification”. It is the responsibility of the applicant to know where Shenandoah Wilderness boundaries are, to apply for the correct CUA, and to incorporate this into your trip planning. There are no limits to the numbers of CUAs issued for non-wilderness areas. These limits are currently under review and may be updated in the future. Additional resources for understanding Designated Wilderness:The Shenandoah National Park Commercial Services Office will not issue any CUA allowing a CUA Holder to conduct commercial services on the Appalachian Trail (AT80). Any use of the AT80 (emergencies not withstanding) is a violation of the CUA Special Conditions and is grounds for immediate revocation. The Appalachian Trail Management Plan, an agreement between Director, National Park Service and Chief, National Forest Service for the management of the AT on federal lands, specifically calls out commercial activity as contrary to the idea and intent of the simple footpath. How do I apply for a CUA?For frequently asked questions relating to the new online system, visit the NPS CUA Help page. Interested parties can an apply any time during the year for the current year’s CUA. CUA’s are issued for one calendar year, expiring on December 31, regardless of when you apply. Please note that Shenandoah requires at least 30 days to process a CUA application and applications are reviewed in the order they are received. For a complete list of requirements and to apply, visit the online CUA system. Search by park or by service type to apply. Application packages may vary by service type but generally require the following items:
Required items that do not need to be submitted with the application, but must be made available to the NPS upon request:
Entrance Fees: CUA holders are required to pay applicable park commercial entrance fees for each group entering the park according to activity type or vehicle size. Entrance fees may be paid on site at park entrance stations or ahead of time on recreation.gov. Required Documentation: While in the park, the CUA holder or guide must have a printed or downloaded digital copy of the CUA and all conditions pages with them at all times. This must be presented to NPS staff, including but not limited to entrance station staff, law enforcement officers, and commercial services staff, when requested. It is the holders responsibility to know and follow all conditions of the authorization, park regulations, and federal law. Annual Reports: You are required to submit an annual report through the online system by January 31 for the previous calendar year operations. Failure to submit an annual report may lead to suspension or denial of future CUAs. Camping, hiking, climbing, and fishing CUA holders are also required to submit the supplemental activity report spreadsheet, due at the time of the annual report. Management Fees: In addition to the application fee, CUA holders must pay a management fee to allow Shenandoah to recover costs associated with administering and managing the CUA program. The required management fee for each CUA service type and additional details can be found under “CUA Fees” for that service on the CUA online system. The management fee must be paid annually no later than January 31, for the prior year, based on the information that you provide in your annual report. Failure to submit your annual report and pay the corresponding management fee will prevent you from being issued a future CUA. Contact InformationFor questions about commercial use authorizations or applying please contact the Commercial Services Office at SHEN_permits@nps.gov. |
Last updated: July 14, 2026