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Drone Rules for Valles Caldera National Preserve

Jemez Springs, New Mexico (NM) • United States
39201 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025, USA
Lat: 35.8321 • Lng: -106.487

Rules Edit History: Valles Caldera National Preserve

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May 29, 2026 5:19 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Valles Caldera NP with volcanic caldera and elk herd context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
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Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations at Valles Caldera National Preserve, aligning with National Park Service regulations and the site's status as a protected area.
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May 28, 2026 1:26 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Valles Caldera NP with volcanic caldera and elk herd context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations at Valles Caldera National Preserve, emphasizing the protection of its unique volcanic caldera ecosystem and the preservation of the elk herd.
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Summary Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Valles Caldera National Preserve 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 preserve's unique volcanic caldera ecosystem and wildl Drones are prohibited in Valles Caldera National Preserve per NPS closure order. Elk herd and volcanic caldera are protected.
Before
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit

## Geographic Boundaries
Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in Sandoval County,
New Mexico, in the Jemez Mountains.
- Total area: ~89,000 acres
- Coordinates: 35.8620° N, 106.5280° W
- Includes Valles Grande (massive volcanic meadow), Redondo Peak
  (11,254 ft MSL), and multiple geothermal features
- Adjacent to Bandelier National Monument (south)
- Nearest city: Los Alamos, NM (~15 miles east)

## 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
- Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act (Pub. L. 106-248)
  — specific enabling legislation with additional resource protections
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within preserve

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Pub. L. 106-248 resource violation penalties
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- Scientific/ecological research with NPS-approved research permit
- Geothermal/volcanological research subject to additional NPS review
- Official NPS resource management only
Submit requests to: Valles Caldera NP Superintendent,
(managed jointly with Bandelier NM)
15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
After
## Drone Rules - Valles Caldera National Preserve



**Drones are not allowed** in Valles Caldera National Preserve.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the preserve
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from the NPS
- The 13-mile-wide volcanic caldera hosts one of the Southwest's largest elk herds; meadow and forest ecosystems are protected





### Source
- Valles Caldera NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/rules.htm
Show inline change markers 
- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  
- Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in Sandoval County,
- New Mexico, in the Jemez Mountains.
- - Total area: ~89,000 acres
- - Coordinates: 35.8620° N, 106.5280° W
- - Includes Valles Grande (massive volcanic meadow), Redondo Peak
-   (11,254 ft MSL), and multiple geothermal features
- - Adjacent to Bandelier National Monument (south)
- - Nearest city: Los Alamos, NM (~15 miles east)
  
- - Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act (Pub. L. 106-248)
-   — specific enabling legislation with additional resource protections
- - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within preserve
  
- - Pub. L. 106-248 resource violation penalties
- - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- - Equipment confiscation by park rangers
  
- ## Special Permissions
- - Scientific/ecological research with NPS-approved research permit
- - Geothermal/volcanological research subject to additional NPS review
- - Official NPS resource management only
- Submit requests to: Valles Caldera NP Superintendent,
- (managed jointly with Bandelier NM)
- 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
May 27, 2026 9:42 PM Approved • Added a complete drone restriction profile for Valles Caldera National Preserve based on NPS 36 CFR § 1.5, § 2.17(a)(3), Pub. L. 106-248 enabling legislation, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Author: e8be7a99-29f2-421e-95ec-190919c58f9b (1091)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations at Valles Caldera National Preserve under National Park Service regulations and the Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act, as supported by official sources. The outline provided is appropriately placed around the preserve area. This edit is approved.
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Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Valles Caldera National Preserve 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 preserve's unique volcanic caldera ecosystem and wildl
Mapped shapes — cb50c62c-e357-41eb-89aa-385f186e131b
Before
After
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit

## Geographic Boundaries
Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in Sandoval County,
New Mexico, in the Jemez Mountains.
- Total area: ~89,000 acres
- Coordinates: 35.8620° N, 106.5280° W
- Includes Valles Grande (massive volcanic meadow), Redondo Peak
  (11,254 ft MSL), and multiple geothermal features
- Adjacent to Bandelier National Monument (south)
- Nearest city: Los Alamos, NM (~15 miles east)

## 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
- Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act (Pub. L. 106-248)
  — specific enabling legislation with additional resource protections
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within preserve

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Pub. L. 106-248 resource violation penalties
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- Scientific/ecological research with NPS-approved research permit
- Geothermal/volcanological research subject to additional NPS review
- Official NPS resource management only
Submit requests to: Valles Caldera NP Superintendent,
(managed jointly with Bandelier NM)
15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
Show inline change markers 
+ ## Authorization Status
+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
+ 
+ ## Geographic Boundaries
+ Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in Sandoval County,
+ New Mexico, in the Jemez Mountains.
+ - Total area: ~89,000 acres
+ - Coordinates: 35.8620° N, 106.5280° W
+ - Includes Valles Grande (massive volcanic meadow), Redondo Peak
+   (11,254 ft MSL), and multiple geothermal features
+ - Adjacent to Bandelier National Monument (south)
+ - Nearest city: Los Alamos, NM (~15 miles east)
+ 
+ ## 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
+ - Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act (Pub. L. 106-248)
+   — specific enabling legislation with additional resource protections
+ - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
+ - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within preserve
+ 
+ ## Penalties
+ - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
+ - Pub. L. 106-248 resource violation penalties
+ - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
+ - Equipment confiscation by park rangers
+ 
+ ## Special Permissions
+ - Scientific/ecological research with NPS-approved research permit
+ - Geothermal/volcanological research subject to additional NPS review
+ - Official NPS resource management only
+ Submit requests to: Valles Caldera NP Superintendent,
+ (managed jointly with Bandelier NM)
+ 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544