← Back to Buffalo National River

Drone Rules for Buffalo National River

Arkansas (AR) • Estados Unidos
Arkansas, EUA
Lat: 35.9829 • Lng: -92.7548

Rules Edit History: Buffalo National River

Showing changes between revisions.
Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 28, 2026 11:57 PM Approved • Added drone restriction profile for Buffalo National River based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act America's first national river designation, ESA Section 9 Ozark Hellbender critical habitat, and Cave Resources Protection Act limestone cave systems.
Author: e8be7a99-29f2-421e-95ec-190919c58f9b (1091)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to the drone restriction profile for Buffalo National River has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
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.
Changed fields
Field Before After
Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — 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
Before
After
## 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
Show inline change markers 
+ ## 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