UP Gazette

Isle Royale National Park has announced that commercial operators interested in offering guided water-based tours for the 2026 and 2027 seasons can apply for a two-year Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) beginning November 1, 2025. Eligible activities include charter fishing, sightseeing, transportation, scuba diving, and guided kayaking.

Applications must be submitted through the National Park Service’s updated online CUA portal by November 30, 2025. The park emphasized that one-year CUAs are no longer available and no applications for water-based CUAs will be accepted between December 1, 2025, and October 31, 2027.

Land-based two-year CUA applications closed on November 30, 2024. That application window will not reopen until November 1, 2026.

A limited number of Charter Fishing CUAs will be issued to highly qualified applicants based on their experience and operating history as well as their ability to ensure visitor safety while protecting park resources. The park has also set a minimum insurance requirement of $2 million per occurrence for all water-based CUAs.

The new online CUA portal is intended to streamline the application process and improve accessibility. Interested parties are encouraged to register ahead of time by creating an account on the platform. Registration can be completed at any time; however, applications may only be submitted during the designated period.

For more information about Commercial Use Authorizations at Isle Royale National Park or assistance with the application process, operators are directed to visit the park’s CUA webpage or contact Lindsey Hughes, Commercial Services Program Manager.

According to the National Park Service website (https://www.nps.gov), more than 20,000 employees manage over 430 national parks across the United States and work with local communities to preserve history and provide recreational opportunities.