Permits for Guides, Water Taxis, and Other Businesses

 
A retirement-aged couple float in a boat on a scenic lake, holding up two Smallmouth Bass fish they recently caught.
Do you want to become a fishing guide or conduct other business in the park? A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) will allow you to legally do so in Voyageurs.

J. Wieber / NPS

 
Boy and fish
Guided fishing trips are one of the most popular activities offered by CUA holders.

Hoyt / NPS

Intro to Guiding, Renting, and Doing Business in the Park

If you're interested in offering commercial services in the park, you must obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to legally operate within Voyageurs. Businesses with CUAs (e.g., professional fishing guides, water taxis, private tour boats) offer crucial services that help visitors access and learn about the park.

In Voyageurs, valid CUAs are effective for 2 years. As of 2024, businesses can apply to provide the following CUA services:

  • Fishing Guide (Summer)
  • Water Taxi / Shuttle Service
  • Private Tour Boat
  • Marine Repair / Towing
  • Houseboat Support Services
  • Fishing Guide (Winter)
  • Dogsled Tours
  • Snowmobile Rental
  • Snowmobile Towing and Repair
  • Ice Fishing Shelter Rental and Placement
  • Guided Paddle Trips
  • Guided Camping
  • Guided Hiking
  • Paddle Craft Rental
  • Motorboat Rental
  • Underwater Salvage
  • Barging and Hauling

Businesses that want to provide services in the park other than those listed above must also obtain a valid CUA before they can begin operating. When applying, add a page to the application that describes the location, type of service you want to offer, and a business plan and timeline.

 

2024 CUA Forms

 
The nose of a kayak points towards a blue and yellow sunset reflected by the waters of a scenic lake.
Rentable paddle craft such as canoes and kayaks offer a valuable, memorable way for visitors to explore Voyageurs National Park. The park, itself does not rent paddle craft for use on lakes such as Rainy or Kabetogama, and local businesses instead provide this service.

C. Olson / NPS

Upcoming Changes for CUA Holders

The National Park Service's central office in Washington, D.C. is requiring all park units across th country to make changes to their CUA programs. In Voyageurs these changes will begin on December 1, 2024.

  • Fees: Application fees must be set at $350 for the first CUA and $250 for each subsequent CUA. Parks must also charge management fees. Voyageurs will begin charging a $200 management fee per CUA each year to meet this legal requirement.
  • Online Applications: CUA applications must be submitted online through a centralized website instead of hard-copy documents or emailed applications.
    • CUA holders and future CUA applicants can start setting up their profile on the CUA application website now. This is strongly encouraged; businesses will be able to apply faster if their profile is already set up.
  • Multiple CUAs for Multiple Services: Businesses must apply for multiple CUAs if they offer multiple separate services. Traditionally, only one CUA was required to cover all of a business's commercial activities in Voyageurs.
  • Terms and Conditions: Some new CUA terms and conditions will be added in the new system, but most of the requirements will remain the same that they were in previous years.
  • Application Window: applications will be accepted December 1 - February 28 every two years instead of year-round. Unlike other changes, this is a mandate Voyageurs opted to add at the park level.

For more details, contact the park or visit the National Park Service's central CUA website.
 

CUA Fee and Program FAQs

 

Fee FAQs

 

CUA Program FAQs

 
A boat cruises across a large scenic lake and leaves a large, blue wake behind it.
Water taxi services provide important access to the park for visitors who do not have their own boat. Water taxis might also provide assistance to visitors using paddle craft if strong winds create conditions that are too dangerous for canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards to negotiate.

Lindgren / NPS

How To Apply for a CUA

  1. Fill out a CUA application.
    • In 2024 applicants can download the application and fill it out.
    • See the "Upcoming Changes" section of this page to learn about applying for the 2025 - 2026 season.
  2. Add proof of insurance to your application.
    • The policy must include your business name, coverage minimum amounts, and the policy's expiration date. Download an example Acord25 form to see an acceptable policy.
      • Additionally Insured: policies must list Voyageurs National Park or the United States Government as "additionally insured." You can add this statement to your policy by calling your agent.
      • Minimum Coverage: minimum coverage is $500,000 per occurrence. If your services have a higher level of risk, you may need higher coverage.
      • Commercial Auto: If your business transports people in the park via road-based vehicle, you must also include proof of commercial auto insurance.

 
A sunset on the tree-lined horizon of a scenic lake
Professional camping guides help customers find their campsite by boat. They may also help set up needed equipment, cook meals, provide information about the park, and more. Professional camps regularly bring youth groups to Voyageurs to conduct environmental education trips.

B. Chishom / NPS

  1. Add US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner's Credential (MMC) if needed
    • MMCs must be valid with the US Coast Guard and include the name of the MMC holder beside his/her photograph, the issuance and expiration dates of the document, and the document number.
    • The Coast Guard provides a sample MMC for reference.
    • The following CUA services require a copy of a valid MMC in 2024:
      • Fishing Guide (Summer)
      • Water Taxi
      • Private Tour Boat Services
      • Marine Repair / Towing (only if towing non-recreational vessels)
      • Houseboat Support Services (if vessels will be moved with clients aboard)
      • Barging / Hauling Services (depending on the size of the craft being used).
  2. Application Fee
    • In 2024 a $100 application fee invoice will be emailed automatically to applicants after submitting their applications to the park.
    • CUA applicants can also pay by check in 2024. Checks should be made out to the National Park Service and included with the application.
 
A white and blue houseboat tows a metal fishing boat behind it along the surface of a tree-lined scenic lake.
Businesses that offer houseboat support assist houseboaters by swapping out propane tanks, filling freshwater tanks, replacing propellers, delivering items, and other services.

NPS

  1. Add a list of your fleet if you apply to rent motorboats or paddle craft.
    • List should include type, brand, length, registration number, and registration expiration dates of each watercraft.
  1. Send your application package to the park.

Voyageurs National Park
Commercial Services Program
360 Highway 11 East
International Falls, MN 56649

  1. The park will review your application. If more details are needed, the park will contact you by phone and/or email.
  1. Sign draft CUA. If your application is approved, the park will send you a draft of your CUA by email or hard-copy mail (mirroring how you sent your application). Sign the draft and return it to the park. The park will then review it one final time, and—if approved—apply the final signature validating the authorization. CUAs are not valid unless both signatures are applied to them.
  1. Keep final copy on hand when conducting business in the park. Once approved and signed by the park, the finalized CUA is emailed and also hard-copy mailed (along with a wallet-sized CUA card for convenience) to your business.
 

Issuance, Denial, and Suspension of CUAs


This Standard Operating Procedure provides guidance to park managers when considering whether to restrict, suspend, or revode a Commercial Use Authorization, and also when considering whether to approve an application for a CUA.
 

Last updated: September 6, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Voyageurs National Park Headquarters
360 Hwy 11 East

International Falls, MN 56649

Phone:

(218)-283-6600

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