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Important Information About Processing Time
Applications will be accepted up to 12 months in advance. Applications must be completed in detail and returned with permit application and non-refundable application fee from Pay.gov. A minimum of 30 days are required to process an application and issue a permit. For more complex permits (i.e. fishing tournaments, large ceremonial gatherings, and weddings in the park) a minimum of 60 days will be required. This will allow NPS staff to prepare for the needs associated with the permit. An additional fee may required for complex permits.
Special Use Permits
A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required for activities and events that provide a benefit to individuals, groups or organizations, rather than the general public, and may require some degree of management for the Recreation Area to protect the park's resources and insure visitor safety. There are several types of SUPs:
- For simple events (example: wedding ceremony, fishing tournaments), please fill our the Application for Special Use Permit Short Form.
- For more complex events (example: triathlon, half marathon), please fill out the Application for Special Use Permit, Long Form.
- For livestock trailing, please fill out the Application for Special Use Permit, Trailing Livestock.
Payment is only accepted by check and should accompany the application. Please send the application and $100.00 non-refundable check payable to:
NPS BICA
20 US Hwy 14A E
Lovell, WY 82435
If you are unsure which form to use or have questions, please call the SUP Coordinator's office at (307) 548-5429.
Commercial Use Authorizations
The National Park Service is authorized, upon request, to issue Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) to individuals, corporations or other business operations, to provide commercial services at the Recreation Area in limited circumstances. CUA's are NOT a Concessions Contract and are intended to provide a necessary commercial service on a limited basis. A CUA may be issued only for services that:
- Will have minimal impact on park resources and values;
- Are consistent with the purpose for which the Recreation Area was established, as well as all applicable management plans, policies and regulations.
Commercial uses include businesses that provide any or all goods, activities, services, agreements or other things offered to the general public which take place at least in part in the park, uses park resources, and are undertaken for or results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual, organization, or corporation, whether or not such entity is organized for purposes recognized as non-profit under local, state or Federal law.
Persons or entities issued a CUA are required to provide commercial liability insurance against claims arising out of or a result of acts or omissions of the CUA operator, their employees, agents , or contractors, in carrying out the activities and operations required and/or authorized under the CUA.
For more information, resources, and application procedures, please visit out Commercial Use Agreement Page.
Filming, Photography, and Audio Recording
The National Park Service conserves and protects areas of untold beauty, grandeur and historical importance for current and future generations. The tradition of capturing images of these special places started with explorers who traveled with paint and canvas or cameras. Sharing these images helped inspire the creation of national parks. Today, visitors to national parks continue to memorialize their visits through filming and photography.
On January 4, 2025, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law (Public Law 118-234) and has been codified at 54 U.S.C. 100905. Section 125 of the Act changed how the National Park Service will manage filming, photography, and audio recording in park areas. For more information visit Filming, Still Photography, and Audio Recording page. The following is an overview of the new law as it purtains to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
- In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:
- Occurs in areas open to the public;
- Uses hand-carried equipment only;
- Does not require exclusive use of a site;
- Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
- Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the NPS.
- Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
- All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
- When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.
- Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.
- Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.
For simple projects please use the Application for Filming Still Photography SUP - Short Form. For more complex projects, please submit the Application for Filming Still Photography SUP - Long Form. Both of these contain instructions and fee requirements.
REMINDER - DRONES ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN BIGHORN CANYON
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