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Drone Rules for Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center

Carlsbad, New Mexico (nm) • United States
727 Carlsbad Cavern Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
Lat: 32.1755 • Lng: -104.444
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Carlsbad Caverns 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's cave ecosystem and critical bat colony habitat ad

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ Additional heritage protection layer

Geographic Boundaries

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in Eddy County, New Mexico, in the Guadalupe Mountains.

  • Total area: ~46,766 acres
  • Coordinates: 32.1479° N, 104.5567° W
  • Includes Carlsbad Cavern (over 119 known caves), Natural Entrance, and Big Room (largest cave chamber in North America)
  • Home to ~400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats (seasonal colony)
  • Nearest city: Carlsbad, NM (~20 miles southwest)

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
  • Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — protects cave ecosystems and formations
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects bat flight corridor (May–October evening bat flights)
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • Cave Resources Protection Act: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment
  • MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • Speleological/scientific research with NPS + CRPA federal permit
  • Wildlife research requires additional USFWS MBTA permit
  • Official NPS resource management only Submit requests to: Carlsbad Caverns NP Superintendent, 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220
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