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Drone Rules for Gauley River National Recreation Area

Victor, West Virginia (WV) • Estados Unidos
36 Fayette Station Rd, Victor, WV 25938, EUA
Lat: 38.2232 • Lng: -80.9912
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Gauley River National Recreation Area under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. The Gauley River — considered one of the most challenging whitewater rivers in the world — carries Wild & Scenic River desi

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • WSR: ⚠️ Wild & Scenic River designation
  • ESA: ⚠️ Indiana bat endangered — cave roost gorge walls

Geographic Boundaries

Gauley River NRA is located in Nicholas and Fayette Counties, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Plateau.

  • Total area: ~11,595 acres
  • River length: ~25 miles of Gauley River gorge
  • Coordinates: 38.2167° N, 80.9833° W
  • Includes Summersville Dam to Swiss, WV corridor; Upper Gauley (Class V+ rapids) and Lower Gauley sections
  • Adjacent to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
  • Nearest city: Summersville, WV (~5 miles north)

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
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — Gauley River
  • ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) endangered; gorge wall cave roosts = Section 9 protection
  • MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Cerulean Warbler and Bald Eagle nesting along gorge corridor
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
  • Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over river

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance
  • ESA Indiana bat: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • 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
  • Indiana bat research: ESA Section 10 ITP + USFWS coordination
  • Bat roost survey blackout: October–April hibernation season Submit requests to: Gauley River NRA Superintendent, 104 Main Street East, Glen Jean, WV 25846
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/gari/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations. Wild & Scenic Rivers Act Gauley River designation, ESA Indiana bat endangered cave roost gorge walls, and MBTA Cerulean Warbler and Bald Eagle nesting add multi-layer federal restrictions.
Parent Rule Pages