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Drone Rules for North Cascades National Park
Washington (WA)
• United States
Washington, USA
Lat: 48.7718 • Lng: -121.298
Rules Edit History: North Cascades National Park
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May 30, 2026 11:45 AM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for North Cascades NP with grizzly bear reintroduction 2024, Canadian lynx ESA habitat, and 300+ glacier count.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in North Cascades 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 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 North Cascades 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. | North Cascades National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The remote park has the greatest concentration of glaciers in the contiguous US and is critical habitat for gray wolves and grizzly bear recovery. |
| Mapped shapes | d9f6aec4-b588-412e-ab6d-e88106c1734f | cbd2dcf1-a66a-47d0-bc32-124e69f30a0f |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Stephen Mather Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries North Cascades National Park is located in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington, on the Canadian border. - Total area: ~504,781 acres - Coordinates: 48.7718° N, 121.2985° W - Includes Cascade Pass, Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mount Shuksan (9,131 ft MSL), and ~300 glaciers - Stephen Mather Wilderness: ~634,614 acres (includes recreation areas) - Nearest city: Sedro-Woolley, WA (~46 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 within park - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Stephen Mather Wilderness - International border proximity — CBP coordination required - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - 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 - CBP border zone penalties for unauthorized overflights - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - Glaciological research: NPS + USGS coordination - CBP coordination mandatory for border-adjacent operations Submit requests to: North Cascades NP Superintendent, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
After
## Drone Rules - North Cascades National Park **All UAS operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. Grizzly bear and gray wolf recovery operations in the park make drone disturbance an active wildlife management concern. ### Airspace / Site Context - Bellingham International Airport (KBLI) Class C lies ~30 miles west - Park elevation up to 9,206 ft (Goode Mountain); glaciers above 5,000 ft - 300+ glaciers in the park complex; most accessible US glaciers for climate research - Gray wolf and Canadian lynx (ESA threatened) habitat throughout the Cascades ### Key Rules - No drone launches or operations within park boundaries - Grizzly bear reintroduction program (initiated 2024); strict drone prohibition to prevent habituation - Canadian lynx ESA critical habitat designation in park; aerial disturbance prohibited - Ross Lake and Lake Chelan NRAs adjacent to the park also prohibit drones under 36 CFR 1.5 ### Source - NPS North Cascades: https://www.nps.gov/noca
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- - Wilderness: ❌ Stephen Mather Wilderness absolute motorized ban - - Includes Cascade Pass, Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mount Shuksan - (9,131 ft MSL), and ~300 glaciers - - Stephen Mather Wilderness: ~634,614 acres (includes recreation areas) - - Nearest city: Sedro-Woolley, WA (~46 miles west) - - International border proximity — CBP coordination required - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park - - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment - - CBP border zone penalties for unauthorized overflights - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Equipment confiscation by park rangers - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required - - Glaciological research: NPS + USGS coordination - - CBP coordination mandatory for border-adjacent operations - Submit requests to: North Cascades NP Superintendent, - 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
May 28, 2026 11:22 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for North Cascades National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, Wilderness Act Stephen Mather designation, and CBP international border proximity restrictions.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to the drone restriction profile for North Cascades National Park is 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/noca/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within North Cascades National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in North Cascades National Park per NPS closure order. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at North Cascades 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. |
Before
## Drone Rules - North Cascades National Park **Drones are not allowed** in North Cascades National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Remote wilderness and grizzly bear recovery habitat make drone bans especially important ### Source - North Cascades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Stephen Mather Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries North Cascades National Park is located in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington, on the Canadian border. - Total area: ~504,781 acres - Coordinates: 48.7718° N, 121.2985° W - Includes Cascade Pass, Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mount Shuksan (9,131 ft MSL), and ~300 glaciers - Stephen Mather Wilderness: ~634,614 acres (includes recreation areas) - Nearest city: Sedro-Woolley, WA (~46 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 within park - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Stephen Mather Wilderness - International border proximity — CBP coordination required - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - 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 - CBP border zone penalties for unauthorized overflights - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - Glaciological research: NPS + USGS coordination - CBP coordination mandatory for border-adjacent operations Submit requests to: North Cascades NP Superintendent, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Stephen Mather Wilderness absolute motorized ban + North Cascades National Park is located in Whatcom and + Skagit Counties, Washington, on the Canadian border. + - Total area: ~504,781 acres + - Coordinates: 48.7718° N, 121.2985° W + - Includes Cascade Pass, Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mount Shuksan + (9,131 ft MSL), and ~300 glaciers + - Stephen Mather Wilderness: ~634,614 acres (includes recreation areas) + - Nearest city: Sedro-Woolley, WA (~46 miles west) + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Stephen Mather Wilderness + - International border proximity — CBP coordination required + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park + - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment + - CBP border zone penalties for unauthorized overflights + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - Glaciological research: NPS + USGS coordination + - CBP coordination mandatory for border-adjacent operations + Submit requests to: North Cascades NP Superintendent, + 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
May 27, 2026 11:05 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for North Cascades NP with grizzly recovery context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in North Cascades National Park, including specific details about the protected grizzly bear recovery habitat.
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. | Drones are prohibited in North Cascades National Park per NPS closure order. |
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 - North Cascades National Park **Drones are not allowed** in North Cascades National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Remote wilderness and grizzly bear recovery habitat make drone bans especially important ### Source - North Cascades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drones are not allowed** in North Cascades National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration + - Remote wilderness and grizzly bear recovery habitat make drone bans especially important + + ### Source + - North Cascades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Bad outlines
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in North Cascades National Park per NPS closure order. | 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 | 265cdc8a-ea2c-4615-808b-b958dca6d730 | d9f6aec4-b588-412e-ab6d-e88106c1734f |
Before
## Drone Rules - North Cascades National Park **Drones are not allowed** in North Cascades National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Remote wilderness and grizzly bear recovery habitat make drone bans especially important ### Source - North Cascades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/rules.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
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. - - ### Key Rules - - No recreational drone flights within the park - - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - - Remote wilderness and grizzly bear recovery habitat make drone bans especially important - - ### Source - - North Cascades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/rules.htm -
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
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 | — | d9f6aec4-b588-412e-ab6d-e88106c1734f |
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