Can I fly my drone in a US national park?

Winter is a great time to visit national parks. Many national parks in the US have recreation centers that support winter activities such as skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing or offer guided tours and classes. But if you’re thinking of taking that drone with you to admire the beauty of nature from a different vantage point, think again. Flying a drone may be prohibited at the park you are visiting.

Camera drones have become an extremely popular tool to photograph nature. And it’s not all that hard to imagine why someone visiting Yellowstone National Park would want to capture a picture of Old Faithful from above. But the best you can do in this scenario is to hike the Observation Point Trail because public use of drones is not allowed at the majority of sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS).

What are the rules for flying a drone at a US national park?

The NPS is a federal government agency within the US Department of the Interior that manages…