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Drone Rules for Prescott National Forest

Prescott, Arizona (AZ) • United States
Prescott, AZ 86305, USA
Lat: 34.6351 • Lng: -112.596
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFS Prescott NF surrounds Prescott, Arizona. Prescott Airport Class D overlaps portions of the forest boundary; the Granite Mountain and Cedar Bench Wilderness Areas ban drones.

Drone Rules - Prescott NF, Arizona

Granite Mountain and Cedar Bench Wilderness Areas ban drones; Prescott Airport (PRC) Class D overlaps portions of the forest boundary.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Prescott Airport (PRC) Class D surface area extends to ~5 NM; the Granite Mountain Wilderness trailhead is ~7 NM from the airport
  • The Prescott area hosts the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park (AZ State Parks, adjacent) -- coordination needed near the memorial
  • Elevation 5,000-7,900 ft MSL; density altitude up to 10,000+ ft DA on summer afternoons

Key Rules

  • LAANC check for PRC Class D before flights near Granite Mountain
  • Granite Mountain Wilderness is the site of the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire that killed 19 hotshots; USFS Rangers actively enforce UAS rules here
  • USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work

Source

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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-251/section-251.50 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/section-261.10 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial landscape, and ARPA Yavapai cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Granite Mountain/Cedar Bench/Pine Mountain (16 U.S.C. § 1131), FAA Prescott Class D 14 CFR Part 107.41, ESA southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila chub Verde River critical habitat, NHPA Gra
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