be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc

##
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ Additional heritage protection layer

## Geographic Boundaries
Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado,
in the southwestern corner of the state.
- Total area: ~52,485 acres
- Coordinates: 37.2309° N, 108.4618° W
- Includes Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Spruce Tree House, and
  over 600 cliff dwellings
- Nearest city: Cortez, CO (~10 miles west)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  UNESCO World Heritage Site; protects Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  prohibits disturbance of archaeological resources
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ARPA fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment (first offense)
- NHPA penalties for UNESCO heritage site disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- Archaeological/historical research with NPS + SHPO + ARPA permit
- UNESCO site operations subject to multi-agency review
- Official NPS resource management only
Submit requests to: Mesa Verde NP Superintendent,
PO Box 8, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

## Drone Rules - Mesa Verde National Park





**Drones are not permitted** in Mesa Verde National Park.








### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights over the park or cliff dwellings
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Cliff Palace and Balcony House are irreplaceable archaeological sites







### Source
- Mesa Verde Rules: https://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Saguaro National Park

**Drone flights are prohibited** in Saguaro National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within either district (Rincon Mountain or Tucson Mountain)
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- Nesting Gila woodpeckers and elf owls in saguaro cacti are sensitive to aerial disturbance

### Source
- Saguaro Rules: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Petrified Forest National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** in Petrified Forest National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Removing petrified wood is illegal (Class C felony); drone patrols by unauthorized parties are also prohibited

### Source
- Petrified Forest NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Petrified Forest National Park

**Drones are not permitted** in Petrified Forest National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Petrified wood and archaeological sites make enforcement a priority

### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

## FAA facility airspace restriction








            This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.


            This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.

## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy

### Source
- White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

**Drones are not allowed** in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Brazilian free-tailed bat colony of over 400,000 bats is highly sensitive to disturbance

### Source
- Carlsbad Caverns Regulations: https://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

**Drone flights are banned** in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use anywhere in the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Carlsbad Caverns proximity and bat colonies require strict aerial restrictions

### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Big Bend National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** in Big Bend National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- The Rio Grande corridor and dark-sky designation make drones especially unwelcome

### Source
- Big Bend Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Dry Tortugas National Park

**Drones are not permitted** in Dry Tortugas National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights on any of the islands or over the surrounding waters within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The sooty tern and brown noddy nesting colony on Bush Key is extremely sensitive to disturbance

### Source
- Dry Tortugas NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Dry Tortugas National Park

**Drones are not permitted** in Dry Tortugas National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights over islands or surrounding waters
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Sooty tern and frigatebird colonies are highly sensitive to overhead disturbance

### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park

**Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use over land or water within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected

### Source
- Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park

**Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights over land or water within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Coral reefs and endangered sea turtles require strict protection

### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance

### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Kobuk Valley National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** in Kobuk Valley National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes (the largest active sand dunes in the Arctic) and Western Arctic caribou herd migration routes are protected

### Source
- Kobuk Valley NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kova/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit

## Geographic Boundaries
Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in Sandoval County,
New Mexico, in the Jemez Mountains.
- Total area: ~89,000 acres
- Coordinates: 35.8620° N, 106.5280° W
- Includes Valles Grande (massive volcanic meadow), Redondo Peak
  (11,254 ft MSL), and multiple geothermal features
- Adjacent to Bandelier National Monument (south)
- Nearest city: Los Alamos, NM (~15 miles east)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act (Pub. L. 106-248)
  — specific enabling legislation with additional resource protections
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within preserve

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Pub. L. 106-248 resource violation penalties
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- Scientific/ecological research with NPS-approved research permit
- Geothermal/volcanological research subject to additional NPS review
- Official NPS resource management only
Submit requests to: Valles Caldera NP Superintendent,
(managed jointly with Bandelier NM)
15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544

## Drone Rules - Valles Caldera National Preserve



**Drones are not allowed** in Valles Caldera National Preserve.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the preserve
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- The 13-mile-wide volcanic caldera hosts one of the Southwest's largest elk herds; meadow and forest ecosystems are protected





### Source
- Valles Caldera NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including ruins, trails, and protected zones.

## Regulations
- NPS drone ban
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal fines
- Enforcement actions

## Special Permissions
Only allowed with NPS authorization.

## Drone Rules - Aztec Ruins National Monument



**Drone use is prohibited** at Aztec Ruins National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site component; the 12th-century Ancestral Pueblo great house includes a restored Great Kiva

### Source
- Aztec Ruins NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/azru/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire park area including archaeological sites, trails, and protected desert zones.

## Regulations
- NPS drone ban policy
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal fines
- Park removal
- FAA penalties

## Special Permissions
Only allowed with written NPS authorization.

## Drone Rules - Chaco Culture National Historical Park



**Drones are not permitted** at Chaco Culture National Historical Park.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit and Navajo Nation consultation
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site; Pueblo Bonito (800 rooms) is the largest prehistoric structure in North America

### Source
- Chaco Culture NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument including Inscription Rock, trails, and surrounding protected lands.

## Regulations
- NPS drone ban
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal fines
- Enforcement action

## Special Permissions
Only with written authorization.

## Drone Rules - El Morro National Monument



**Drone flights are banned** at El Morro National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within the monument
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- The sandstone bluff bears Ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs and 17th-century Spanish and American traveler inscriptions

### Source
- El Morro NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/elmo/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Grand Staircase Region

**Drone use is restricted** throughout the Grand Staircase region.

### Key Rules
- NPS prohibits drones in Bryce Canyon National Park
- BLM prohibits drones in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Hoodoo geology, nesting California condors, and fragile soil crusts require aerial protection

### Source
- BLM Grand Staircase: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Petrified Forest National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** in Petrified Forest National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Removing petrified wood is illegal (Class C felony); drone patrols by unauthorized parties are also prohibited

### Source
- Petrified Forest NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## FAA facility airspace restriction








            This area appears in FAA_NS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.


            This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.

## Drone Rules - Boston National Historical Park

**Drone flights are banned** at Boston National Historical Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within any park unit (Freedom Trail sites, Bunker Hill, USS Constitution)
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- The park sits within Boston Logan Airport Class B airspace; all drone flights require FAA authorization

### Source
- Boston NHP NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bost/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including cliff dwellings and desert landscape.

## Regulations
- NPS drone prohibition
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal fines
- Park enforcement

## Special Permissions
Only with written approval.

## Drone Rules - Tonto National Monument



**Drone use is prohibited** at Tonto National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Well-preserved Salado Culture cliff dwellings built between 1300-1450 AD overlook Roosevelt Lake

### Source
- Tonto NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/tont/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including cliff dwellings and desert landscape.

## Regulations
- NPS drone prohibition
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal fines
- Park enforcement

## Special Permissions
Only with written approval.

## Drone Rules - Wupatki National Monument



**Drone use is prohibited** at Wupatki National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Over 2,700 archaeological sites including multi-story pueblos built after the Sunset Crater eruption are protected

### Source
- Wupatki NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/wupa/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Niagara Falls State Park

**Drone flights are banned** at Niagara Falls State Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the park or over the falls
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from New York State Parks
- The Niagara Falls gorge creates dangerous wind conditions; the international border with Canada adds airspace complexity

### Source
- New York State Parks: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/niagara-falls

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
- Seasonal: ⚠️ Migratory bird nesting/wintering periods trigger
  heightened enforcement (October–February)

## Geographic Boundaries
Bosque del Apache NWR is located in Socorro County, New Mexico,
along the Rio Grande.
- Total area: ~57,331 acres
- Coordinates: 33.7667° N, 106.8833° W
- Includes wetland impoundments, riparian cottonwood forest,
  and upland desert habitats
- Winters ~10,000 sandhill cranes and ~50,000 snow geese annually
- Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north)

## Regulations
- USFWS Refuge UAS Policy — prohibits all UAS in National Wildlife
  Refuges without Special Use Permit
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects all
  migratory species from harassment or disturbance
- Refuge-Specific Compendium — Bosque del Apache explicitly bans
  UAS operations year-round
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research
- MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for disturbance-adjacent research
- Documentary/media with strict USFWS review (seasonal blackout
  periods October–February)
Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Manager,
1001 NM-1, San Antonio, NM 87832

## Drone Rules - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge





**Drone use is prohibited** at Bosque del Apache NWR.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit from the refuge manager
- Over 10,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000 snow geese winter here; aerial disturbance can disrupt critical feeding







### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache

No fly zone due to rules of state management

## Drone Rules - Fort Sumter National Monument

**Drone flights are banned** at Fort Sumter National Monument.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use over Fort Sumter Island or Fort Moultrie
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- The April 1861 Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter started the Civil War; the site is a solemn memorial

### Source
- Fort Sumter NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

**Drone use is prohibited** at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights along the cliffs or lakeshore
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The multicolored sandstone cliffs, Grand Sable Dunes, and Lake Superior shoreline are fragile and ecologically sensitive

### Source
- Pictured Rocks NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including cliff dwellings, trails, parking areas, and protected archaeological zones.

## Regulations
- NPS drone prohibition policy
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal citations
- Park removal
- FAA penalties

## Special Permissions
Only authorized operations approved by the National Park Service are allowed.

## Drone Rules - Montezuma Castle National Monument



**Drone use is prohibited** at Montezuma Castle National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The 20-room, five-story Sinagua cliff dwelling built around 1100 AD is one of the best-preserved prehistoric structures in the US

### Source
- Montezuma Castle NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/rules.htm