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Drone Rules for Chattahoochee National Forest
Union County, Georgia (GA)
• United States
Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia 30512, USA
Lat: 34.7834 • Lng: -84.0332
Rules Edit History: Chattahoochee National Forest
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May 30, 2026 5:25 AM
Approved
• Added USFS drone advisory for Chattahoochee NF with six Wilderness Areas, Cohutta roadless area, and Anna Ruby Falls permit context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Chattahoochee National Forest has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's policy that prohibits drone operations in designated Wilderness Areas, as drones are considered motorized equipment under the Wilderness Act. The added context about Anna Ruby Falls requiring a special use permit 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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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | — | USFS Chattahoochee NF prohibits drones in six designated Wilderness Areas. Anna Ruby Falls and Tallulah Gorge are popular filming locations with seasonal permit requirements. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 446c8f25-5fbf-4dcd-8c9b-2706fe58fec1 |
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## Drone Rules - Chattahoochee NF, Georgia **Six Wilderness Areas** (Cohutta, Rich Mountain, Raven Cliffs, Ellicott Rock, Blood Mountain, Mark Trail) prohibit drone use under the Wilderness Act. ### Airspace / Site Context - Cohutta Wilderness (37,000 acres) is one of the largest roadless areas in the eastern US; no exceptions for commercial UAS - Anna Ruby Falls is within the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area -- special use permit required year-round - Gainesville Memorial (GVL) Class D is ~20 NM south; Dalton Municipal (DNN) is ~10 NM west of Cohutta trailheads ### Key Rules - Confirm Wilderness boundary on USGS/USFS topo before launching near ridgelines - Anna Ruby Falls NRA requires separate filming permit even outside Wilderness - Appalachian Trail in Blood Mountain Wilderness -- NPS trail corridor rules may also apply ### Source - USFS Chattahoochee: https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf
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+ ## Drone Rules - Chattahoochee NF, Georgia + + **Six Wilderness Areas** (Cohutta, Rich Mountain, Raven Cliffs, Ellicott Rock, Blood Mountain, Mark Trail) prohibit drone use under the Wilderness Act. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Cohutta Wilderness (37,000 acres) is one of the largest roadless areas in the eastern US; no exceptions for commercial UAS + - Anna Ruby Falls is within the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area -- special use permit required year-round + - Gainesville Memorial (GVL) Class D is ~20 NM south; Dalton Municipal (DNN) is ~10 NM west of Cohutta trailheads + + ### Key Rules + - Confirm Wilderness boundary on USGS/USFS topo before launching near ridgelines + - Anna Ruby Falls NRA requires separate filming permit even outside Wilderness + - Appalachian Trail in Blood Mountain Wilderness -- NPS trail corridor rules may also apply + + ### Source + - USFS Chattahoochee: https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf +