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Drone Rules for Mendocino National Forest

Lake County, California (CA) • United States
Mendocino National Forest, California, USA
Lat: 39.5624 • Lng: -122.814
Ground Not fully verified Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFS Mendocino NF contains Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness and is one of the more remote California national forests. Annual fire season TFRs and active air tanker traffic make summer flights hazardous.

Drone Rules - Mendocino NF, California

Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness (153,000 acres) bans drones; summer fire TFRs regularly close the forest to all UAS operations.

Airspace / Site Context

  • The forest is the most fire-prone in California's national forest system; air tanker retardant drops occur routinely
  • No Class D or C airports inside the forest; Red Bluff Municipal (RBL) Class D is ~35 NM east
  • TFRs during active fires can be issued with 15-minute notice and cover the entire forest -- check B4UFLY in real time

Key Rules

  • Do NOT fly during any active fire TFR -- drones have grounded air tankers in this forest, triggering federal charges
  • USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography in the forest
  • Cell service is non-existent in most of the forest -- download B4UFLY maps offline before departing

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