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Drone Rules for Isle Royale National Park

Keweenaw County, Michigan (MI) • United States
Michigan, USA
Lat: 47.9959 • Lng: -88.9093
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Isle Royale National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. The most remote national park in the lower 48 states — accessible only by boat or floatplane — Isle Royale protects a roadless wilderne

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • Wilderness: ❌ Isle Royale Wilderness absolute motorized ban
  • Research: ⚠️ Wolf-moose study — active long-term research zone

Geographic Boundaries

Isle Royale National Park is located in Lake Superior, Keweenaw County, Michigan.

  • Total area: ~571,790 acres (land + surrounding waters)
  • Coordinates: 47.9954° N, 88.9091° W
  • Includes Isle Royale island (45 miles long), 400+ smaller islands, Siskiwit Lake, Minong Ridge, and Greenstone Ridge
  • Isle Royale Wilderness: ~132,018 acres
  • Access only by ferry from Houghton/Copper Harbor, MI or Grand Portage, MN; or floatplane
  • Nearest city: Houghton, MI (~73 miles south across Lake Superior)

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
  • MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Common Loon nesting habitat
  • ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus) research population; UAS disturbance disrupts ongoing study
  • 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
  • MBTA: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per loon disturbance
  • ESA wolf research disruption: additional federal penalties
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • Wolf-moose research: NPS + Michigan Tech University coordination
  • Wildlife research: USFWS MBTA permits required Submit requests to: Isle Royale NP Superintendent, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931
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