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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

Rules Edit History: Cunningham Falls State Park

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May 30, 2026 4:42 AM Approved • Added Maryland DNR drone advisory for Cunningham Falls with dual state/NPS boundary and Frederick Airport airspace context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
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Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to include drone regulations at Cunningham Falls State Park has been approved. This aligns with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' guidelines, which require a Special Use Permit for drone flights in state parks. The added context about the park's proximity to Catoctin Mountain National Park, where drone use is prohibited, 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 — 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.
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## 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
- Maryland DNR: https://dnr.maryland.gov
- NPS Catoctin: https://www.nps.gov/cato
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+ ## 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
+ - Maryland DNR: https://dnr.maryland.gov
+ - NPS Catoctin: https://www.nps.gov/cato
+