Drone Rules for El Malpais

Name: El Malpais
Address: El Malpais, New Mexico 87020, USA, Grants, nm, us

Grants, New Mexico (nm) • United States

El Malpais, New Mexico 87020, USA

Lat: 34.7617 • Lng: -107.956

Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026

Summary

Drone operations are strictly prohibited at El Malpais National Monument 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.

Authorization Status

Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit

Geographic Boundaries

El Malpais National Monument is located in Cibola County, New Mexico, southwest of Albuquerque.

Total area: ~114,276 acres
Coordinates: 34.9833° N, 107.9833° W
Includes lava flows, cinder cones, ice caves, and sandstone bluffs
Adjacent to El Malpais National Conservation Area (BLM managed)
Nearest city: Grants, NM (~10 miles north)

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
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Cebolla Wilderness and other designated wilderness areas within monument
FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within monument

Penalties

NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment in wilderness zones
FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

Scientific/geological research with NPS-approved research permit
Official NPS resource management only
Emergency SAR (NPS-coordinated only) Submit requests to: El Malpais NM Superintendent, 1900 E Santa Fe Ave, Grants, NM 87020

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Rule sources

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.17 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
https://www.nps.gov/elma/index.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/where_can_i_fly/b4ufly — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-1/section-1.5 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), the El Malpais Superintendent's Compendium, and Wilderness Act protections ban all drone operations within monument boundaries, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.

Parent Rule Pages