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Drone Rules for Newberry National Volcanic Monument Vista

La Pine, Oregon (or) • United States
PM3J+JW, La Pine, OR 97739, USA
Lat: 43.7041 • Lng: -121.318
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Newberry National Volcanic Monument under USFS regulations, controlled by the U.S. Forest Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit USFS Special Use Permit. The monument's volcanic caldera, obsidian flows, and lava tube systems create Pa

Authorization Status

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

Geographic Boundaries

Newberry National Volcanic Monument is located in Deschutes County, Oregon, within Deschutes National Forest.

  • Total area: ~54,822 acres
  • Coordinates: 43.7167° N, 121.2333° W
  • Includes Newberry Caldera, Paulina Lake, East Lake, Big Obsidian Flow (largest obsidian flow in the U.S.), and Lava River Cave
  • Nearest city: Bend, OR (~23 miles north)

Regulations

  • 36 CFR § 261.10 — USFS prohibition on motorized equipment
  • 36 CFR § 251.50 — USFS Special Use Permit requirements
  • Newberry National Volcanic Monument Act (Pub. L. 101-522) — specific enabling legislation with geological resource protections
  • Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa) — protects volcanic geological and fossil resources
  • Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — Lava River Cave and other lava tube systems
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within monument

Penalties

  • USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10
  • PRPA fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment for geological disturbance
  • CRPA fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment for cave zone violations
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers

Special Permissions

  • USFS Special Use Permit from Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District
  • Volcanological/geological research with USFS + PRPA permit
  • Cave research requires additional CRPA federal authorization Submit requests to: USFS Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 97701
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