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Drone Rules for Lassen Volcanic National Park

Warner Valley, California (CA) • United States
California, USA
Lat: 40.4977 • Lng: -121.421
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Lassen Volcanic National Park 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. The park protects all four types of volcanoes found on Earth

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • Wilderness: ❌ Lassen Volcanic Wilderness absolute motorized ban

Geographic Boundaries

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in Shasta, Plumas, and Tehama Counties, California, in the southern Cascade Range.

  • Total area: ~106,372 acres
  • Coordinates: 40.4977° N, 121.4207° W
  • Includes Lassen Peak (10,457 ft MSL — southernmost active volcano in Cascades), Bumpass Hell hydrothermal area, Manzanita Lake, Chaos Crags, and Cinder Cone
  • Lassen Volcanic Wilderness: ~78,982 acres
  • Nearest city: Redding, CA (~50 miles west)

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
  • Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban
  • Geothermal feature protection — hydrothermal areas designated as sensitive zones with additional NPS operational restrictions
  • 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
  • Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • Geothermal research requires additional NPS scientific review
  • Volcanological research: NPS + USGS coordination Submit requests to: Lassen Volcanic NP Superintendent, PO Box 100, Mineral, CA 96063
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