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Drone Rules for Lassen National Forest

Lassen County, California (CA) • United States
Lassen National Forest, California, USA
Lat: 40.5002 • Lng: -121.001

Rules Edit History: Lassen National Forest

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May 30, 2026 6:57 AM Approved • Added USFS drone advisory for Lassen NF with Ishi/Caribou Wilderness, Lassen Volcanic NP boundary encirclement, and fumarole thermal hazard context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
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Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Lassen National Forest, including the prohibition of drone operations in Ishi and Caribou Wilderness Areas, and the requirement for FAA authorization near Redding Municipal Airport, has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's guidelines that prohibit drone operations in designated Wilderness Areas and areas with sensitive wildlife. The added context about the forest's proximity to Redding Municipal Airport enhances the understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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Summary — USFS Lassen NF surrounds Lassen Volcanic NP. The Ishi and Caribou Wilderness Areas ban drones; the NPS park boundary is the dominant restriction in the region.
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## Drone Rules - Lassen NF, California

**Ishi Wilderness (41,000 acres) and Caribou Wilderness (20,000 acres)** ban drones; Lassen Volcanic NP (NPS) no-fly begins at the park boundary on the west and north.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Lassen Park Road (Highway 89) cuts through the NP; pilots near the road must confirm which side of the NPS boundary they are on
- Redding Municipal (RDD) Class D is ~50 NM west; local forest airspace is Class G/E
- Fire season TFRs are common in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of the forest (Plumas/Tehama counties)

### Key Rules
- Download NPS Lassen boundary into drone app -- the park is entirely surrounded by the national forest
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest
- Volcanic fumaroles near Lassen Peak create thermal updraughts that can destabilize small drones

### Source
- USFS Lassen: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lassen
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+ ## Drone Rules - Lassen NF, California
+ 
+ **Ishi Wilderness (41,000 acres) and Caribou Wilderness (20,000 acres)** ban drones; Lassen Volcanic NP (NPS) no-fly begins at the park boundary on the west and north.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Lassen Park Road (Highway 89) cuts through the NP; pilots near the road must confirm which side of the NPS boundary they are on
+ - Redding Municipal (RDD) Class D is ~50 NM west; local forest airspace is Class G/E
+ - Fire season TFRs are common in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of the forest (Plumas/Tehama counties)
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Download NPS Lassen boundary into drone app -- the park is entirely surrounded by the national forest
+ - USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest
+ - Volcanic fumaroles near Lassen Peak create thermal updraughts that can destabilize small drones
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFS Lassen: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lassen
+