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Drone Rules for Tongass National Forest

Petersburg Borough, Alaska (AK) • United States
Tongass National Forest, Alaska 99833, USA
Lat: 56.75 • Lng: -133
Ground Not fully verified Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFS Tongass NF is the largest national forest in the US (17 million acres). Wilderness Areas, tribal interests, bear viewing areas near Admiralty Island, and floatplane traffic all create complex UAS operational considerations.

Drone Rules - Tongass NF, Alaska

Multiple Wilderness Areas (Admiralty Island NM Wilderness, South Baranof, West Chichagof-Yakobi, Stikine-LeConte, Tracy Arm-Fords Terror, etc.) ban drones.

Airspace / Site Context

  • World's largest temperate rainforest; floatplane and helicopter traffic is the primary manned aircraft hazard -- no ATC separation in remote areas
  • Admiralty Island NM Wilderness (956,000 acres) contains the world's highest density of brown bears; drone noise disrupts bear viewing at Pack Creek (managed site)
  • Juneau International (JNU) Class D is ~15 NM from Admiralty Island; other Class G airports throughout Southeast AK

Key Rules

  • Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area (USFS): drones are prohibited within the entire Pack Creek Sanctuary
  • Monitor floatplane traffic on 122.8 MHz CTAF before launching near any floatplane base or lake
  • USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations; Native Corporation land may be intermixed -- verify ownership

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