← Back to Cunningham Falls State Park

Drone Rules for Cunningham Falls State Park

Thurmont, Maryland (MD) • United States
14274 William Houck Dr, Thurmont, MD 21788, USA
Lat: 39.6047 • Lng: -77.4552
Ground Not fully verified Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
Edit rules/place details on map

Maryland DNR prohibits drone use in all state parks and forests without special use permit. Cunningham Falls lies within Catoctin Mountain Park (NPS) buffer zone; dual state/federal rules apply.

Drone Rules - Cunningham Falls SP, Maryland

Drones require a Special Use Permit from Maryland DNR; nearby Catoctin Mountain National Park (NPS) bans drones entirely.

Airspace / Site Context

  • The state park shares a boundary with Catoctin Mountain NP; the 78-ft falls boardwalk is near the NPS line
  • Any drone that crosses into NPS land is subject to federal citation under 36 CFR 1.5
  • Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) Class D airspace is ~7 NM south -- check LAANC before flight

Key Rules

  • Apply for Maryland DNR Special Use Permit at least 30 days in advance
  • Must remain at least 500 ft inside state park boundary and avoid NPS land entirely
  • Commercial shoots require both DNR permit and separate film permit

Source

Map is not loaded yet
Load the map only when you need to view the rule outline.
This shows the latest mapped outline for this rules page. Click a shape to view its note when available.
Rule sources
Parent Rule Pages