Isle Royale National Park Seeks Commercial Use Authorization Applications for 2027 Operating Season

News Release Date: October 1, 2026

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Isle Royale National Park will accept applications for one-year Commercial Use Authorization for the 2027 operating season from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. Commercial operators may apply to offer services such as backcountry camping, guided hiking, environmental education, photography instruction, charter fishing, boat tours and SCUBA or snorkeling tours.

Program Updates

• The park is transitioning from two-year to one-year CUAs to create more opportunities for commercial operators to participate in park activities.

• CUA conditions are updated annually. Operators must review their CUA conditions before beginning activities to ensure compliance. Any changes to CUA conditions will be posted on the Isle Royale National Park website a minimum of 120 days prior to the start of the upcoming operating season.

Reminders

• A limited number of charter fishing CUAs will be issued to highly qualified applicants based on relevant experience, operating history and ability to ensure visitor safety and protect park resources.

• A $2,000,000 per occurrence insurance minimum for water-based CUAs is required.

• Transportation-only CUA services are not permitted.

How to Apply
All CUA applications must be submitted through the National Park Service's new online CUA portal, which streamlines the application process and improves accessibility. Interested operators are encouraged to register their companies and become familiar with the system ahead of the application window. While applications may only be submitted during the designated period, company registration can be completed at any time by selecting "Sign in" on the landing page and choosing "Create an account." Follow the instructions provided in the tutorial video when applying.

For more information, visit Isle Royale National Park's CUA webpage or contact Lindsey Hughes, Isle Royale's commercial services program manager, at e-mail us.

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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