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Drone Rules for San Pedro Parks Wilderness
La Jara, New Mexico (nm)
• United States
Coyote, NM 87012, USA
Lat: 36.0939 • Lng: -106.813
Rules Edit History: San Pedro Parks Wilderness
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May 27, 2026 11:00 PM
Approved
• Added a complete drone restriction profile for San Pedro Parks Wilderness based on Wilderness Act 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA old-growth habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit has been approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in San Pedro Parks Wilderness is accurate and well-supported by official sources. The outline you provided appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-251/section-251.50 — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS regulations under 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA Mexican spotted owl habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within San Pedro Parks Wilderness boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS regulations under 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA Mexican spotted owl habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within San Pedro Parks Wilderness boundaries.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS regulations under 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA Mexican spotted owl habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within San Pedro Parks Wilderness boundaries.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS regulations under 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA Mexican spotted owl habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within San Pedro Parks Wilderness boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/section-261.10 — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, USFS regulations under 36 CFR § 261.10, MBTA Mexican spotted owl habitat protections, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within San Pedro Parks Wilderness boundaries.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drone operations are strictly prohibited in San Pedro Parks Wilderness under USFS Wilderness regulations, controlled by the U.S. Forest Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit USFS Special Use Permit. One of the least-visited designated wilderness areas in New Mexico, San Pedro |
| Mapped shapes | — | 5aa4989c-4a7d-4cc5-9b64-d0e7ef086fcb |
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After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Wilderness Act absolute motorized equipment ban ## Geographic Boundaries San Pedro Parks Wilderness is located in Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico, within Santa Fe National Forest. - Total area: ~41,132 acres - Coordinates: 36.2833° N, 106.8500° W - Includes San Pedro Parks high plateau (~10,000 ft MSL), old-growth Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forest, and headwaters of the Río Cebolla and Río de las Vacas - Nearest city: Cuba, NM (~15 miles southwest) ## Regulations - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute prohibition on all motorized equipment including UAS - 36 CFR § 261.10 — USFS prohibition on motorized equipment - 36 CFR § 251.50 — USFS Special Use Permit requirements - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects Mexican spotted owl and other sensitive species in old-growth habitat - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within wilderness ## Penalties - Wilderness Act violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment - USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10 - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers ## Special Permissions - USFS Wilderness research permit from Cuba Ranger District - Wildlife research requires additional USFWS MBTA coordination Submit requests to: USFS Cuba Ranger District, PO Box 130, Cuba, NM 87013
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+ ## Authorization Status + - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Wilderness Act absolute motorized equipment ban + + ## Geographic Boundaries + San Pedro Parks Wilderness is located in Rio Arriba and Sandoval + Counties, New Mexico, within Santa Fe National Forest. + - Total area: ~41,132 acres + - Coordinates: 36.2833° N, 106.8500° W + - Includes San Pedro Parks high plateau (~10,000 ft MSL), + old-growth Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forest, + and headwaters of the Río Cebolla and Río de las Vacas + - Nearest city: Cuba, NM (~15 miles southwest) + + ## Regulations + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute prohibition on all + motorized equipment including UAS + - 36 CFR § 261.10 — USFS prohibition on motorized equipment + - 36 CFR § 251.50 — USFS Special Use Permit requirements + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects Mexican + spotted owl and other sensitive species in old-growth habitat + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within wilderness + + ## Penalties + - Wilderness Act violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment + - USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10 + - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers + + ## Special Permissions + - USFS Wilderness research permit from Cuba Ranger District + - Wildlife research requires additional USFWS MBTA coordination + Submit requests to: USFS Cuba Ranger District, + PO Box 130, Cuba, NM 87013