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Drone Rules for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
Alaska (AK)
• United States
Alaska, USA
Lat: 67.6855 • Lng: -153.324
Rules Edit History: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
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Mapped shape change
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May 28, 2026 11:13 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Gates of the Arctic National Park — most remote US national park — based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, Wilderness Act, and ANILCA provisions.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to add a comprehensive drone restriction profile for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in the 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/gaar/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Gates of the Arctic National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
- https://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Gates of the Arctic National Park, the northernmost US national park. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve 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 most remote national park in the United St |
Before
## Drone Rules - Gates of the Arctic National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - The northernmost US national park protects vast Arctic wilderness above the Arctic Circle ### Source - Gates of the Arctic NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Gates of the Arctic Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Gates of the Arctic National Park is located entirely above the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range, Alaska. - Total area: ~8,472,506 acres - Coordinates: 67.7456° N, 153.2924° W - Includes Frigid Crags, Boreal Mountain, Alatna River, North Fork Koyukuk River, and six Wild & Scenic Rivers - No roads, no trails, no visitor facilities of any kind - Nearest city: Bettles, AK (~5 miles south, pop. ~12) ## 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) — absolute motorized ban - ANILCA (16 U.S.C. § 3101) — Alaska-specific subsistence provisions - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G throughout; no controlled airspace ## 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 - ANILCA subsistence research requires tribal coordination - All access by small bush plane only; self-sufficiency mandatory Submit requests to: Gates of the Arctic NP Superintendent, 101 Dunkel St, Suite 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Gates of the Arctic Wilderness absolute motorized ban + Gates of the Arctic National Park is located entirely above the + Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range, Alaska. + - Total area: ~8,472,506 acres + - Coordinates: 67.7456° N, 153.2924° W + - Includes Frigid Crags, Boreal Mountain, Alatna River, + North Fork Koyukuk River, and six Wild & Scenic Rivers + - No roads, no trails, no visitor facilities of any kind + - Nearest city: Bettles, AK (~5 miles south, pop. ~12) + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban + - ANILCA (16 U.S.C. § 3101) — Alaska-specific subsistence provisions + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class G throughout; no controlled airspace + - 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 + - ANILCA subsistence research requires tribal coordination + - All access by small bush plane only; self-sufficiency mandatory + Submit requests to: Gates of the Arctic NP Superintendent, + 101 Dunkel St, Suite 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701
May 27, 2026 11:14 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Gates of the Arctic NP with Arctic wilderness context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, including specific details about the park's location and protected areas.
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| 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. | Drones are prohibited in Gates of the Arctic National Park, the northernmost US national park. |
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
## Drone Rules - Gates of the Arctic National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - The northernmost US national park protects vast Arctic wilderness above the Arctic Circle ### Source - Gates of the Arctic NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drone use is prohibited** in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit + - The northernmost US national park protects vast Arctic wilderness above the Arctic Circle + + ### Source + - Gates of the Arctic NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.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 | — | 99e2667e-4899-4ae6-be50-0285aa406331 |
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