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Drone Rules for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Alaska (AK) • United States
Alaska, USA
Lat: 58.6658 • Lng: -136.9
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve protecting 1,000 tidewater glaciers, critical humpback whale feeding habita

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ Kluane/Wrangell transboundary World Heritage Site
  • MMPA: ⚠️ Humpback whale critical feeding habitat

Geographic Boundaries

Glacier Bay National Park is located in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska.

  • Total area: ~3,283,000 acres
  • Coordinates: 58.6658° N, 136.9000° W
  • Includes Grand Pacific Glacier, Johns Hopkins Inlet, Mount Fairweather (15,325 ft MSL), and Beardslee Islands
  • Critical humpback whale summer feeding grounds
  • Nearest city: Gustavus, AK (adjacent to park)

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) — Glacier Bay Wilderness
  • ANILCA (16 U.S.C. § 3101) — Alaska subsistence provisions
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — humpback whale feeding habitat; UAS harassment prohibited
  • MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies
  • 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
  • MMPA: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal incident
  • MBTA: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • MMPA Letter of Authorization for whale research
  • Glaciological research: NPS + USGS coordination Submit requests to: Glacier Bay NP Superintendent, 1 Park Road, Gustavus, AK 99826
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