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Drone Rules for Canyonlands National Park
Utah (UT)
• United States
Utah, USA
Lat: 38.2136 • Lng: -109.903
Rules Edit History: Canyonlands National Park
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May 30, 2026 11:35 AM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Canyonlands NP with Colorado/Green River confluence, California condor ESA observations, and 527 sq mi coverage.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Canyonlands National Park has been approved. This aligns with National Park Service regulations, which prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft in the park to protect public safety, minimize visitor-use conflicts, and prevent unacceptable impacts to scenic values, natural soundscapes, and wildlife. The added context regarding the park's size and the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park 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 Maze is considered the most remote and i | Canyonlands National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park's remote canyons and mesas protect critical wilderness and the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers. |
| Mapped shapes | 74b6e249-c35e-4f16-9e74-e06190d82c5b | 1cace069-b938-42ca-a7f0-352fa5e2cab9 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Canyonlands Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Canyonlands National Park — Maze District is located in San Juan and Wayne Counties, Utah, on the Colorado Plateau. - Total park area: ~337,598 acres - Maze District: ~40,000 acres (westernmost, most remote district) - Coordinates: 38.1500° N, 110.1833° W - Includes The Maze canyon labyrinth, Horseshoe Canyon (Great Gallery pictographs), Land of Standing Rocks, and Doll House formations - No paved roads; high-clearance 4WD required for access - Nearest city: Hanksville, UT (~50 miles northwest) ## 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 - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Canyonlands Wilderness - National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — Horseshoe Canyon Great Gallery rock art (Barrier Canyon Style, ~2,000–8,000 years old) - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — protects pictograph panels and archaeological sites - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations - ARPA fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment for rock art disturbance - NHPA penalties for prehistoric rock art site disturbance - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required (extremely limited approvals) - Archaeological research with NPS + SHPO + ARPA federal permit - All access requires self-sufficiency; no rescue guarantees in Maze Submit requests to: Canyonlands NP Superintendent, 2282 SW Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532
After
## Drone Rules - Canyonlands National Park **All UAS operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park spans 527 square miles of Utah canyon country divided by the Colorado and Green Rivers. ### Airspace / Site Context - Canyonlands Field Airport (KCNY) Class D near Moab - Park elevation ranges from 3,900 to 7,180 ft MSL; severe downdrafts in canyon terrain - Colorado River and Green River confluence is the park's geographic and ecological center - California condor (ESA endangered) has been observed in the Canyonlands region ### Key Rules - No drone operations anywhere within park boundaries - Narrow canyon walls and mesa tops create severe radio signal issues for drone control - California condor flyover routes make drone operations an active ESA concern - Wilderness Area designations within the park add USFS Wilderness Act drone prohibition equivalent ### Source - NPS Canyonlands: https://www.nps.gov/cany
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- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - - Wilderness: ❌ Canyonlands Wilderness absolute motorized ban - pictographs), Land of Standing Rocks, and Doll House formations - - No paved roads; high-clearance 4WD required for access - - Nearest city: Hanksville, UT (~50 miles northwest) - - National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — - Horseshoe Canyon Great Gallery rock art (Barrier Canyon Style, - ~2,000–8,000 years old) - - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — - protects pictograph panels and archaeological sites - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park - - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations - - ARPA fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment for rock art disturbance - - NHPA penalties for prehistoric rock art site disturbance - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Equipment confiscation by park rangers - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required (extremely limited approvals) - - Archaeological research with NPS + SHPO + ARPA federal permit - - All access requires self-sufficiency; no rescue guarantees in Maze - Submit requests to: Canyonlands NP Superintendent, - 2282 SW Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532
May 28, 2026 2:21 PM
Approved
• Added a complete drone restriction profile for Canyonlands National Park Maze District based on NPS 36 CFR § 1.5, § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act, ARPA rock art protections, NHPA provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park 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.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.17 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
- https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1510/arpa.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-1/section-1.5 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Canyonlands Wilderness Act prohibitions, ARPA Horseshoe Canyon pictograph protections, NHPA prehistoric rock art provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all drone operations within the Maze District boundaries.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Permission | NoFly |
| Summary | United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park 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 Maze is considered the most remote and i |
Before
## This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System. https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Canyonlands Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Canyonlands National Park — Maze District is located in San Juan and Wayne Counties, Utah, on the Colorado Plateau. - Total park area: ~337,598 acres - Maze District: ~40,000 acres (westernmost, most remote district) - Coordinates: 38.1500° N, 110.1833° W - Includes The Maze canyon labyrinth, Horseshoe Canyon (Great Gallery pictographs), Land of Standing Rocks, and Doll House formations - No paved roads; high-clearance 4WD required for access - Nearest city: Hanksville, UT (~50 miles northwest) ## 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 - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Canyonlands Wilderness - National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — Horseshoe Canyon Great Gallery rock art (Barrier Canyon Style, ~2,000–8,000 years old) - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — protects pictograph panels and archaeological sites - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations - ARPA fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment for rock art disturbance - NHPA penalties for prehistoric rock art site disturbance - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required (extremely limited approvals) - Archaeological research with NPS + SHPO + ARPA federal permit - All access requires self-sufficiency; no rescue guarantees in Maze Submit requests to: Canyonlands NP Superintendent, 2282 SW Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532
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+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Canyonlands Wilderness absolute motorized ban + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Canyonlands National Park — Maze District is located in San Juan + and Wayne Counties, Utah, on the Colorado Plateau. + - Total park area: ~337,598 acres + - Maze District: ~40,000 acres (westernmost, most remote district) + - Coordinates: 38.1500° N, 110.1833° W + - Includes The Maze canyon labyrinth, Horseshoe Canyon (Great Gallery + pictographs), Land of Standing Rocks, and Doll House formations + - No paved roads; high-clearance 4WD required for access + - Nearest city: Hanksville, UT (~50 miles northwest) + + ## 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 + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Canyonlands Wilderness + - National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — + Horseshoe Canyon Great Gallery rock art (Barrier Canyon Style, + ~2,000–8,000 years old) + - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — + protects pictograph panels and archaeological sites + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park + + ## Penalties + - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation + - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations + - ARPA fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment for rock art disturbance + - NHPA penalties for prehistoric rock art site disturbance + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + - NPS Special Use Permit required (extremely limited approvals) + - Archaeological research with NPS + SHPO + ARPA federal permit + - All access requires self-sufficiency; no rescue guarantees in Maze + Submit requests to: Canyonlands NP Superintendent, + 2282 SW Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532
May 27, 2026 10:57 PM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Included broken and wrong link... In every post. Mass edit spam of national parks adding nothing specific.
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Canyonlands National Park per NPS closure order. No exceptions for recreational pilots. | United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive. |
Before
## Drone Rules - Canyonlands National Park **Drone flights are not permitted** in Canyonlands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park - Commercial media requires a Special Use Permit - Remote canyon terrain makes unauthorized drone recovery very difficult ### Source - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
After
## This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System. https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
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+ This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System. - - ### Key Rules - - No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park - - Commercial media requires a Special Use Permit - - Remote canyon terrain makes unauthorized drone recovery very difficult - - ### Source - - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm -
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Rule category | — | Ground |
| Flight status | — | Permission |
| Summary | — | United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 74b6e249-c35e-4f16-9e74-e06190d82c5b |
Before
After
## This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System. https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
Show inline change markers
+ ## + This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System. + + https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm