I'd like to know what information and experience folks have with taking small tour groups into U.S. national parks for workshops and tours. What is the procedure for applying and obtaining a permit from the NPS and what fees do they charge, typically?
Appreciate any advice and tips.
Thanks.
Randall K. Roberts
Posted by Scott Fricke on February 28, 2010 at 12:21 PM
If you type in "National Parks Permits" in the Search box it will come up with quite a few previous threads on this topic, sorry I can't offer anything beyond that.
It varies wildly among the parks - both in procedure, and in cost. Best to contact your park of interest and ask them.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on February 28, 2010 at 2:06 PM
From my friends who have run tours in the national parks, I'd really allow for 6-9 months of lead time on the permits. Sometimes they come through fairly quickly. Other times, more than one followup phone call is needed.
Posted by Larry Puckett on February 28, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Go to NPS.gov and then select the park you are interested in. Go to their website and look for their specific policy statement and permitting process. Things are pretty standardized now with requirements for groups, models, commercial photography. What will vary is how specific they are about photography and the amount of time it takes to get the permit since each park has its own staff limitations these days. Sometimes these permits are listed under photography, sometimes under commercial use authorizations, or you may just have to do a little searching on the website to find it. Here is a link to the GSMNP permit package:
Cost is $200 just to submit the application then $340 for a 2 year permit. There are several requirements as to liability insurance on you, your vehicle, and you also have to cover the US Govt. Don't get discouraged by the process and definitely don't try to sneak in without getting caught--they're getting very good at spotting leaders and their tour groups.
A definite must have!! A few things you will also need if you plan on obtaining your CUA is General Liability Insurance, we have a policy up to 3 million, certification from the American Red Cross in adult CPR and First Aid, Auto Insurance that coincides with the state of the NP.
Posted by Rod Barbee on March 16, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Getting the liability insurance can be the biggest hassle in the whole procedure, but you gotta have it. (I got mine through Hill & Usher's Package Choice )
My experience has been that the permits are pretty easy to get once you have all your ducks in a row. All mine have come through pretty quickly and without any hassle.
As others have noted, each park seems to have its own rules and procedures and costs. I've paid as much as $250 for a permit and as little as $100. That's just for the permit; you also have to pay application fees as Larry noted. These are usually about $50-100. GSMNP seems to be one of the more expensive parks to work in. Some parks will also impose limits on group sizes too (Mt. Rainier limits total group size, including leaders, to 12), so take note of that when advertising your workshop.
And speaking of advertising, according to the NPS, you have to have the permit to even advertise a workshop.
As a workshop leader, in the nine or ten years I've been doing this, I've never been approached by a ranger wanting to look at a permit. But, having the insurance and that permit sure gives you peace of mind; it's well worth getting.
Discussion
6 repliesAppreciate any advice and tips.
Thanks.
Randall K. Roberts
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parkmgmt/upload/CUA%20Application-Guides.pdf
Cost is $200 just to submit the application then $340 for a 2 year permit. There are several requirements as to liability insurance on you, your vehicle, and you also have to cover the US Govt. Don't get discouraged by the process and definitely don't try to sneak in without getting caught--they're getting very good at spotting leaders and their tour groups.
My experience has been that the permits are pretty easy to get once you have all your ducks in a row. All mine have come through pretty quickly and without any hassle.
As others have noted, each park seems to have its own rules and procedures and costs. I've paid as much as $250 for a permit and as little as $100. That's just for the permit; you also have to pay application fees as Larry noted. These are usually about $50-100. GSMNP seems to be one of the more expensive parks to work in. Some parks will also impose limits on group sizes too (Mt. Rainier limits total group size, including leaders, to 12), so take note of that when advertising your workshop.
And speaking of advertising, according to the NPS, you have to have the permit to even advertise a workshop.
As a workshop leader, in the nine or ten years I've been doing this, I've never been approached by a ranger wanting to look at a permit. But, having the insurance and that permit sure gives you peace of mind; it's well worth getting.
Rod