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Drone Rules for Mark Twain National Forest
Rolla, Missouri (MO)
• United States
401 Fairgrounds Rd, Rolla, MO 65401, USA
Lat: 37.6913 • Lng: -91.0802
Rules Edit History: Mark Twain National Forest
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 5:37 AM
Approved
• Added USFS drone advisory for Mark Twain NF with Irish Wilderness, gray bat maternity caves, and Ozark NSR dual-agency context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Mark Twain National Forest has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's guidelines that prohibit drone operations in designated Wilderness Areas and near sensitive wildlife habitats. The added context about the forest's proximity to Ozark National Scenic Riverways and the need to check agency boundaries 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 Mark Twain NF contains the Irish Wilderness and Paddy Creek Wilderness. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways (NPS) are adjacent; both agencies restrict UAS. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 601e658b-742b-49a7-b651-6c10ae7e400b |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Mark Twain NF, Missouri **Irish Wilderness (16,500 acres) and Paddy Creek Wilderness (6,900 acres)** ban drones under the Wilderness Act. ### Airspace / Site Context - Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Current River/Jacks Fork) borders the eastern edge of the forest -- NPS no-fly applies in the river corridors - Spring cave-restoration zones (gray bat maternity caves) restrict ground and air access April-September - Poplar Bluff (POF) Class G; Springfield Branson National (SGF) Class C is ~80 NM north ### Key Rules - Gray bat maternity caves are mapped by Missouri Department of Conservation; obtain list before flying near cave mouths - No commercial UAS without USFS Special Use Permit - Confirm position before launching near Jacks Fork -- NPS boundary is within 0.25 miles of several forest roads ### Source - USFS Mark Twain: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf
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+ ## Drone Rules - Mark Twain NF, Missouri + + **Irish Wilderness (16,500 acres) and Paddy Creek Wilderness (6,900 acres)** ban drones under the Wilderness Act. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Current River/Jacks Fork) borders the eastern edge of the forest -- NPS no-fly applies in the river corridors + - Spring cave-restoration zones (gray bat maternity caves) restrict ground and air access April-September + - Poplar Bluff (POF) Class G; Springfield Branson National (SGF) Class C is ~80 NM north + + ### Key Rules + - Gray bat maternity caves are mapped by Missouri Department of Conservation; obtain list before flying near cave mouths + - No commercial UAS without USFS Special Use Permit + - Confirm position before launching near Jacks Fork -- NPS boundary is within 0.25 miles of several forest roads + + ### Source + - USFS Mark Twain: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf +