## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park

**Drone use is strictly prohibited** in Pinnacles National Park.







### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting in the pinnacles formations demands zero aerial disturbance


### Source
- Pinnacles Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park

**All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. California Condor nesting makes drone operations an active ESA Section 9 enforcement priority.

### Airspace / Site Context
- King City Airport (KKNL) uncontrolled field ~20 miles west
- Park elevation 824-3,304 ft in the Gabilan Mountains of the Salinas Valley
- One of three primary California condor release sites; 15-30 condors may be in the park at any time
- Peregrine falcon also nests on the volcanic spires

### Key Rules
- No drone operations anywhere within park boundaries
- California condor (ESA endangered) nest site buffers extend beyond park boundary
- Any drone within 1,000 ft of a condor constitutes a potential ESA Section 9 take
- Bat roost caves (talus caves) are sensitive — Townsend's big-eared bat (ESA concern) present

### Source
- NPS Pinnacles: https://www.nps.gov/pinn

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Condor zone: ⚠️ ESA Section 9 — absolute disturbance prohibition
- Cave systems: ⚠️ CRPA — talus caves protected year-round

## Geographic Boundaries
Pinnacles National Park is located in San Benito and
Monterey Counties, California, in the Gabilan Range.
- Total area: ~26,606 acres
- Coordinates: 36.4906° N, 121.1825° W
- Includes High Peaks, Bear Gulch Cave, Balconies Cave,
  volcanic spire formations, and California condor nesting cliffs
- Active condor release site (reintroduction program since 1992)
- Nearest city: Hollister, CA (~32 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
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — California condor
  (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered; UAS constitutes
  ESA Section 9 harassment
- Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — talus caves
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 condor harassment: 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
- ESA Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for condor-zone research
- CRPA federal permit for cave research
- Condor nesting season blackout: February–August
Submit requests to: Pinnacles NP Superintendent,
5000 CA-146, Paicines, CA 95043

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park





**Drone use is strictly prohibited** in Pinnacles National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting in the pinnacles formations demands zero aerial disturbance







### Source
- Pinnacles Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park





**Drone use is strictly prohibited** in Pinnacles National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting in the pinnacles formations demands zero aerial disturbance







### Source
- Pinnacles Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Condor zone: ⚠️ ESA Section 9 — absolute disturbance prohibition
- Cave systems: ⚠️ CRPA — talus caves protected year-round

## Geographic Boundaries
Pinnacles National Park is located in San Benito and
Monterey Counties, California, in the Gabilan Range.
- Total area: ~26,606 acres
- Coordinates: 36.4906° N, 121.1825° W
- Includes High Peaks, Bear Gulch Cave, Balconies Cave,
  volcanic spire formations, and California condor nesting cliffs
- Active condor release site (reintroduction program since 1992)
- Nearest city: Hollister, CA (~32 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
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — California condor
  (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered; UAS constitutes
  ESA Section 9 harassment
- Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — talus caves
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 condor harassment: 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
- ESA Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for condor-zone research
- CRPA federal permit for cave research
- Condor nesting season blackout: February–August
Submit requests to: Pinnacles NP Superintendent,
5000 CA-146, Paicines, CA 95043

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park

**Drone use is strictly prohibited** in Pinnacles National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting in the pinnacles formations demands zero aerial disturbance

### Source
- Pinnacles Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park


**Drone flights are banned** in Pinnacles National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within park boundaries
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting habitat makes this a particularly strict no-fly zone

### Source
- Pinnacles NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park


**Drone flights are banned** in Pinnacles National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within park boundaries
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting habitat makes this a particularly strict no-fly zone

### Source
- Pinnacles NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm