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Drone Rules for Buffalo National River

Arkansas (AR) • Estados Unidos
Arkansas, EUA
Lat: 35.9829 • Lng: -92.7548
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Buffalo National River under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. America's first national river — a free-flowing Wild & Scenic River

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • WSR: ⚠️ America's first national river — Wild & Scenic designation
  • ESA: ⚠️ Ozark Hellbender — critically endangered

Geographic Boundaries

Buffalo National River is located in Baxter, Marion, Searcy, Newton, Carroll, and Boone Counties, Arkansas.

  • Total area: ~94,293 acres
  • River length: ~135 miles (entire Buffalo River protected)
  • Coordinates: 36.0986° N, 92.9243° W
  • Includes Lost Valley, Steel Creek, Ponca, Hemmed-in Hollow Falls (209 ft — tallest waterfall between Rockies and Appalachians), and extensive limestone cave systems
  • Nearest city: Harrison, AR (~25 miles north)

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
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — Buffalo River designated America's first national river 1972
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) critically endangered; UAS disturbance of river habitat constitutes ESA Section 9
  • Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — extensive limestone cave systems within park boundaries
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over river

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance
  • ESA Section 9 Hellbender: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • CRPA cave violations: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • Hellbender research: ESA Section 10 ITP + USFWS coordination
  • Cave research: CRPA federal authorization required Submit requests to: Buffalo National River Superintendent, 170 Ranger Road, St. Joe, AR 72675
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Buffalo National River. Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, ESA Section 9 Ozark Hellbender critical habitat, and Cave Resources Protection Act add multi-layer federal restriction layers.
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