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Drone Rules for Ojito Wilderness - Arroyo Bernalillo

Name: Ojito Wilderness - Arroyo Bernalillo
Address: New Mexico, USA, Zia Pueblo, nm, us

Zia Pueblo, New Mexico (nm) • United States

New Mexico, USA

Lat: 35.5112 • Lng: -106.917

Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026

Summary

Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Ojito Wilderness under BLM wilderness regulations, controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit BLM Special Recreation Permit. The area's paleontological significance adds Paleontological Resources Preser

Authorization Status

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

Geographic Boundaries

Ojito Wilderness is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, northwest of Albuquerque.

Total area: ~11,183 acres
Coordinates: 35.7167° N, 107.0500° W
Includes badlands, hoodoos, and the site where Seismosaurus (Diplodocus hallorum) fossils were discovered
Nearest city: San Ysidro, NM (~10 miles south)

Regulations

Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — prohibits motorized equipment including UAS in designated wilderness
43 CFR § 8560.0-5 — BLM Wilderness management regulations
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa) — protects significant fossil resources
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
PRPA fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment for fossil disturbance
FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
Equipment confiscation by BLM rangers

Special Permissions

Paleontological research with BLM + PRPA federal research permit
Wilderness research permit from BLM Albuquerque District
No motorized access under any commercial permit category Submit requests to: BLM Albuquerque District Office, 100 Sun Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109

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Rule sources

https://www.blm.gov/visit/ojito-wilderness — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8560.0-5, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within Ojito Wilderness boundaries.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8560.0-5, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within Ojito Wilderness boundaries.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8560.0-5, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within Ojito Wilderness boundaries.
https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8560.0-5, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within Ojito Wilderness boundaries.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/chapter-II/part-8560 — Wilderness Act prohibitions under 16 U.S.C. § 1131, BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8560.0-5, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within Ojito Wilderness boundaries.

Parent Rule Pages

United States
New Mexico
zia-pueblo
Ojito Wilderness - Arroyo Bernalillo