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Drone Rules for Umatilla National Forest

Pendleton, Oregon (OR) • United States
72510 Coyote Rd, Pendleton, OR 97801, USA
Lat: 45.1946 • Lng: -118.667

Rules Edit History: Umatilla National Forest

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May 30, 2026 6:27 AM Approved • Added USFS drone advisory for Umatilla NF with North Fork Wilderness, CTUIR tribal land boundary, and Pendleton Class D airspace context.
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Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Umatilla National Forest, including the prohibition of drone operations in North Fork Umatilla Wilderness and areas with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's guidelines that prohibit drone operations in designated Wilderness Areas and during active fire TFRs. The added context about the proximity to Pendleton Airport's Class D airspace enhances the understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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Summary USFS Umatilla NF spans the Oregon-Washington border in the Blue Mountains. The North Fork Umatilla Wilderness bans drones; the forest is adjacent to Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
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## Drone Rules - Umatilla NF, Oregon/Washington

**North Fork Umatilla Wilderness (20,144 acres)** bans drones; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) borders the northern forest.

### Airspace / Site Context
- CTUIR tribal land begins immediately north of the forest boundary near Pendleton; tribal government requires separate authorization for drone operations over reservation land
- Pendleton Airport (PDT) Class D is ~15 NM north of the forest boundary
- High fire risk in the Blue Mountains; annual TFRs June-October

### Key Rules
- Confirm you are on USFS land (not CTUIR) before launching near the Umatilla River corridor
- Check fire TFR daily during summer; Blue Mountains fires are common
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest

### Source
- USFS Umatilla: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla
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+ ## Drone Rules - Umatilla NF, Oregon/Washington
+ 
+ **North Fork Umatilla Wilderness (20,144 acres)** bans drones; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) borders the northern forest.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - CTUIR tribal land begins immediately north of the forest boundary near Pendleton; tribal government requires separate authorization for drone operations over reservation land
+ - Pendleton Airport (PDT) Class D is ~15 NM north of the forest boundary
+ - High fire risk in the Blue Mountains; annual TFRs June-October
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Confirm you are on USFS land (not CTUIR) before launching near the Umatilla River corridor
+ - Check fire TFR daily during summer; Blue Mountains fires are common
+ - USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFS Umatilla: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla
+