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Drone Rules for Capitol Reef National Park
Utah (UT)
• United States
Utah, USA
Lat: 38.0877 • Lng: -111.135
Rules Edit History: Capitol Reef National Park
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May 30, 2026 11:37 AM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Capitol Reef NP with 100-mile Waterpocket Fold, desert bighorn sheep, and Grand Staircase-Escalante BLM adjacency.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Capitol Reef 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 unique geological features 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 at Capitol Reef National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. | Capitol Reef National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The Waterpocket Fold monocline stretches 100 miles through the park, providing one of the most dramatic geological landscapes in the Southwest. |
| Mapped shapes | 5fbe8ebe-5dc8-4fc6-b1a2-cf3c32a6b3f3 | 7d1fe116-11f3-4231-8dfb-cab009ab744a |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Capitol Reef Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Capitol Reef National Park is located in Wayne County, Utah. - Total area: ~241,904 acres - Coordinates: 38.2972° N, 111.2615° W - Includes Waterpocket Fold (100-mile monocline), Hickman Bridge, Fruita orchards, Cathedral Valley, and Cassidy Arch - Capitol Reef Wilderness: ~194,679 acres - Nearest city: Torrey, UT (~11 miles west) ## 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 - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required Submit requests to: Capitol Reef NP Superintendent, Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, UT 84775
After
## Drone Rules - Capitol Reef National Park **All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. No exceptions without a Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. ### Airspace / Site Context - Remote Wayne County Utah; Richfield Airport (KRCX) lies ~50 miles SW - Park elevation 3,900-8,960 ft MSL; the Henry Mountains and Boulder Mountain flank the park - Waterpocket Fold 100-mile monocline is the primary geological feature - One of the least-visited but most geologically significant NPs in the Colorado Plateau ### Key Rules - No drone launches or landings anywhere within park boundaries - Desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and mountain lion populations are sensitive to air disturbance - Utah prairie dog (ESA delisted) colonies in open meadows - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument adjacent; BLM rules apply there ### Source - NPS Capitol Reef: https://www.nps.gov/care
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- - Wilderness: ❌ Capitol Reef Wilderness absolute motorized ban - Fruita orchards, Cathedral Valley, and Cassidy Arch - - Capitol Reef Wilderness: ~194,679 acres - - Nearest city: Torrey, UT (~11 miles west) - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations - - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park - - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Equipment confiscation by park rangers - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required - Submit requests to: Capitol Reef NP Superintendent, - Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, UT 84775
May 29, 2026 1:30 AM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Capitol Reef National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, and Wilderness Act absolute motorized equipment ban.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Capitol Reef National Park. Wilderness Act absolute motorized ban adds additional restriction layer.
- https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
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 at Capitol Reef National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. |
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: ❌ Capitol Reef Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Capitol Reef National Park is located in Wayne County, Utah. - Total area: ~241,904 acres - Coordinates: 38.2972° N, 111.2615° W - Includes Waterpocket Fold (100-mile monocline), Hickman Bridge, Fruita orchards, Cathedral Valley, and Cassidy Arch - Capitol Reef Wilderness: ~194,679 acres - Nearest city: Torrey, UT (~11 miles west) ## 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 - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required Submit requests to: Capitol Reef NP Superintendent, Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, UT 84775
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+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Capitol Reef Wilderness absolute motorized ban + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Capitol Reef National Park is located in Wayne County, Utah. + - Total area: ~241,904 acres + - Coordinates: 38.2972° N, 111.2615° W + - Includes Waterpocket Fold (100-mile monocline), Hickman Bridge, + Fruita orchards, Cathedral Valley, and Cassidy Arch + - Capitol Reef Wilderness: ~194,679 acres + - Nearest city: Torrey, UT (~11 miles west) + + ## 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 + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations + - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park + + ## Penalties + - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation + - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + - NPS Special Use Permit required + Submit requests to: Capitol Reef NP Superintendent, + Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, UT 84775
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.
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Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Capitol Reef National Park per NPS policy. All recreational drone use is banned. | 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 - Capitol Reef National Park **Drones are not allowed** in Capitol Reef National Park. ### Key Rules - All recreational drone flights are prohibited within park boundaries - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - The park's quiet wilderness atmosphere is protected from drone noise ### Source - Capitol Reef Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/things-to-know.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 - - All recreational drone flights are prohibited within park boundaries - - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - - The park's quiet wilderness atmosphere is protected from drone noise - - ### Source - - Capitol Reef Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm -
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Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| 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 | — | 5fbe8ebe-5dc8-4fc6-b1a2-cf3c32a6b3f3 |
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