Yellowstone Drone Laws Exposed: The Shocking Rules That Could Land You in Jail

Key Facts at a Glance

• National Park Drone Ban: All U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone, have banned drones since 2014 under National Park Service policy uavcoach.com. This blanket ban applies to both recreational hobbyists and commercial pilots alike uavcoach.com.
• Yellowstone’s Rule: In Yellowstone National Park it is illegal to launch, land, or operate any unmanned aircraft (drone) on park lands or waters without explicit written permission from the park superintendent nps.gov. There are no designated drone-flying areas in Yellowstone – the default rule is no drones, period nps.gov.
• FAA Airspace vs. Park Rules: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates U.S. airspace, but its rules do not override park regulations. Yellowstone’s drone ban is enforced on the ground (under 36 C.F.R. §1.5 closure authority) and does not change FAA requirements nps.gov. In practice, even though much of Yellowstone’s airspace is unrestricted Class G airspace, you cannot legally fly a drone from inside the park.
• Recreational vs. Commercial:No distinction is made between hobby flyers and Part 107 commercial operators within national parks – all unauthorized drone use is prohibited uavcoach.com. Having an FAA license or registration does not grant permission to fly in Yellowstone. Commercial filming with drones in the park is off-limits unless you obtain a rare special permit from NPS (which is seldom granted).
• Heavy Penalties: Flying a drone in Yellowstone without authorization is a federal misdemeanor. Convictions can result in fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail nps.gov. Park rangers may also confiscate your drone equipment upon citation, and violators can be banned from the park in serious cases reuters.com pilotinstitute.com.
• Enforcement Examples: The ban is actively enforced. Notoriously, in 2014 a tourist’s drone crashed into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring – he pled guilty and had to pay about $3,200 (including $1,000 in fines and $2,200 in restitution) reuters.com. Another man who flew a drone into Yellowstone Lake was fined and banned from the park for one year as part of his sentence reuters.com. More recently, in June 2025 a visitor was cited for buzzing an osprey nest with a drone, an act which could carry the maximum penalty of six months in jail cowboystatedaily.com.
• Outside the Park: You can legally fly drones outside Yellowstone’s boundaries (on surrounding public lands) as long as you obey FAA rules and any local restrictions. National Forests around the park generally allow drones pilotinstitute.com, butdesignated Wilderness Areas are strictly no-drone zones under the Wilderness Act pilotinstitute.com. Always confirm you’re not in a Wilderness area, and check for any Temporary Flight Restrictions (e.g. wildfire TFRs) or wildlife closures in the area before flying pilotinstitute.com.
• Exceptions Require Permits: The only drone operations allowed inside Yellowstone are those with explicit NPS authorization. Special use permits may be issued for limited purposes like scientific research, park management, search-and-rescue missions, or other official uses, and these require written approval by the superintendent dronexl.co. Such permits are rare and tightly controlled – casual visitors cannot obtain them for personal use. Even the film/photography permit process for professionals explicitly forbids drones without separate clearance nps.gov.
• Ongoing Policy (2025): As of 2025, the NPS drone ban remains firmly in effect nationwide. Recent laws (like the 2023 EXPLORE Act on filming permits) did not lift the drone restrictions. Park officials continue to emphasize safety, wildlife protection, and visitor experience as reasons for the ban, and there have been no major changes easing drone rules in Yellowstone to date. Any future policy changes will be announced by the NPS, but until then, leave your drone at home when visiting Yellowstone.

National Park Service Regulations: Drones Banned in All Parks

The National Park Service (NPS) has prohibited drones in all national parks since 2014. In June 2014, NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis issued Policy Memorandum 14-05, which instructed park superintendents to ban the launching, landing, or operation of unmanned aircraft on NPS lands uavcoach.com. This policy was implemented using the NPS’s authority under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, which allows park officials to impose public use limits or closures for particular activities in the parks uavcoach.com pilotinstitute.com. Practically speaking, this created a blanket drone ban across the entire National Park System – encompassing all 400+ units (national parks, monuments, seashores, historic sites, etc.).

Why did NPS enact a blanket ban? The decision came after numerous incidents and concerns about drones in parks. Before 2014, some individual parks had already started prohibiting drones due to problems. Drones were found to be disruptive: their noise and presence can spoil the natural soundscape and solitude that visitors expect, and they can harass or harm wildlife nps.gov dronexl.co. In one case at Zion National Park, a drone reportedly scattered a herd of bighorn sheep, separating juveniles from adults and putting them at risk uavcoach.com. Other drones have crashed in sensitive areas (a notable example occurred when a drone fell into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring, detailed later) nps.gov. Park managers grew concerned that unregulated drone use could lead to accidents (e.g. drones hitting visitors or interfering with rescue helicopters) and would degrade the natural environment and visitor experience. As the NPS Director explained, there were “serious concerns about the negative impact that flying unmanned aircraft can have” in parks uavcoach.com. Given these issues, the NPS opted for a precautionary approach by banning drones first and considering case-by-case exceptions rather than allowing them generally.

Legal basis: It’s important to note that the FAA governs airspace, but the NPS ban is a restriction on what people can do on park property. The policy explicitly covers “launching, landing, or operating” drones from or on lands and waters administered by NPS uavcoach.com. In other words, if you are standing in a national park, you are not allowed to use a drone. This approach sidesteps potential conflicts over airspace authority by focusing on ground operations. The NPS policy memo states it does not change any FAA airspace rules; it only imposes an additional layer of protection within park boundaries nps.gov.

No exceptions for hobby vs. commercial: The NPS drone ban applies equally to all drone operators, whether you’re a weekend hobbyist, a professional photographer, or even an FAA-certified Remote Pilot. Unlike FAA regulations that distinguish between recreational flyers (operating under 49 U.S.C. §44809) and commercial (Part 107) operations, the NPS makes no such distinction on park lands uavcoach.com. Recreational model aircraft are not exempt – they fall under the definition of “unmanned aircraft” and are banned just the same. Commercial use (for example, filming a movie or survey work with a drone in a park) is also banned unless specially authorized. Essentially, if you are a member of the public, you cannot fly a drone in a national park without prior approval, regardless of your purpose or credentials.

Nationwide scope: This prohibition covers all units managed by the National Park Service, not just the big iconic parks. It includes national parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc., as well as national monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, seashores, parkways, and even national rivers that NPS oversees uavcoach.com. (Be aware, however, that other federal lands not under NPS – such as National Forests or BLM lands – have different rules, which we’ll address later.) The ban also extends to all types of UAS: from large camera drones to small toy quadcopters or model airplanes – if it’s an “uncrewed aircraft” as defined by the NPS, it’s not allowed in parks nps.gov.

Bottom line: Since 2014, the default rule is “no drones in national parks.” Whenever planning to visit any national park site, you should assume drones are prohibited unless you have official confirmation of a permitted exception (which is very rare). Yellowstone, being one of the crown jewels of the park system, fully adheres to this policy, as detailed below.

Yellowstone’s Specific Drone Restrictions

Yellowstone National Park explicitly bans drones through its local regulations. In line with the nationwide policy, Yellowstone’s Superintendent has included an unmanned aircraft prohibition in the park’s Superintendent’s Compendium (the set of park-specific rules updated annually). The compendium language is clear:

“Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within Yellowstone National Park is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent.” nps.gov

This rule covers everything within the park’s boundaries – all the land, water, trails, campgrounds, thermal areas, etc. Essentially, you may not fly a drone anywhere inside Yellowstone, nor can you take off from or land on any part of the park. Even flying from your car in a parking lot or from the boardwalk at Grand Prismatic is illegal. Yellowstone rangers have posted signs at park entrances and popular sites reminding visitors that drones are not allowed. The park’s official website also prominently notes: “Drones Are Prohibited in Yellowstone National Park.” nps.gov

Because this rule is enacted under 36 C.F.R. §1.5 (the authority given to park superintendents to restrict activities for safety or resource protection), it carries the force of federal law. The reference in the compendium cites 36 CFR §1.5(f), meaning violators can be legally charged. Yellowstone also defines “unmanned aircraft” broadly in its regulations, matching the NPS definition: any device that can fly without a human onboard, including drones, model airplanes, quadcopters, etc., used for any purpose (recreational or commercial) nps.gov.

Rationale: Yellowstone’s superintendent provided a written determination explaining why drones are banned in the park nps.gov. The reasons echo the national concerns: unregulated drone use could disturb wildlife (including sensitive species or nesting birds), mar the unimpaired natural views and soundscapes that visitors expect, create safety hazards (especially if drones crash or distract drivers and crowds), risk damage to thermal features (imagine a drone crashing into a fragile hot spring), and impact the wilderness character of the backcountry with visual/auditory intrusions nps.gov. The park noted that the rapid rise in drone popularity made it difficult to manage case-by-case – thus a complete closure to drone use was deemed necessary to prevent “unacceptable impacts on park resources and values” nps.gov. In short, Yellowstone concluded that letting visitors fly drones freely would conflict with many aspects of park protection and visitor enjoyment.

Are there any drone-friendly zones in Yellowstone? No. Unlike some other public lands where model aircraft fields or limited drone areas exist, Yellowstone has not designated any area for recreational drone flying. The rule is park-wide. The compendium does leave a small door open by saying “except as approved in writing by the Superintendent,” but such approvals are extremely uncommon (more on that under exceptions). If you contact Yellowstone asking for a personal drone permit for fun or photography, the answer will be no. The only potential allowances might be for official research or emergencies, which ordinary visitors don’t qualify for.

It’s also worth noting that Yellowstone’s ban covers both the park’s interior and its airspace up to the park boundary. NPS jurisdiction ends at the boundary, so technically the NPS doesn’t “own” the air above the park in a way that can stop aircraft that are entirely outside. However, a drone launched from outside that merely passes over the park could still violate the rule if the pilot is controlling it from inside the park or if it lands on park property. In any case, Yellowstone rangers treat the airspace immediately above park lands as part of the protected environment – if a drone is buzzing over Old Faithful, they will consider it an illegal operation. (In contrast, high-altitude overflights by manned aircraft are governed by FAA rules; small drones aren’t going to reach those altitudes anyway.)

In summary: Yellowstone’s local regulations back up the national policy with a strict, no-nonsense ban on drones. If you bring a drone to Yellowstone, it must stay in your car or luggage – you cannot legally fly it anywhere in the park. The park’s stance is unwavering: drones and Yellowstone’s wild landscapes simply don’t mix, unless you have special permission which is rarely given.

FAA Rules Within Park Boundaries

It’s important to understand how FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rules intersect with the park’s drone ban. The FAA is responsible for regulating the nation’s airspace and drone operations in general. Key FAA rules for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) include things like maximum altitudes (400 feet AGL for most operations), airspace classifications, the requirement to keep drones within line-of-sight, not flying over people, etc. These rules apply everywhere in the U.S., including over national parks.

However, nothing in FAA regulations gives drone pilots permission to violate local laws or other federal land rules. The NPS drone ban is essentially a land-use regulation, and the FAA acknowledges that other authorities (like park services or cities) may have restrictions on where you can take off/land. When the NPS instituted the ban, they noted that it “does not modify any requirement imposed by the FAA on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System” nps.gov. In practice, this means you must comply with both sets of rules: FAA’s rules for safe drone operation and the NPS rule that you can’t operate from inside the park. If something is forbidden by either, you can’t do it.

Is Yellowstone airspace a no-fly zone? Not in a formal FAA-designated sense. There is no standing FAA prohibition or special airspace (like a TFR or restricted area) specifically over Yellowstone just for drones. For example, some sites like Washington D.C. or military bases have FAA flight restrictions. Yellowstone does not. Most of the park lies in uncontrolled Class G airspace, where under normal circumstances recreational drones could fly legally if not for the NPS ban. There are some small exceptions – near the park’s borders there might be controlled airspace from nearby airports (e.g., the vicinity of West Yellowstone Airport or Jackson Hole Airport farther south near Grand Teton) which would require FAA authorization to fly in. But aside from those peripheral cases, the FAA isn’t actively restricting the air above Yellowstone to drones.

That said, the lack of an FAA “no-fly zone” is not a green light to fly. The park rules effectively create their own no-fly zone from the ground up. If a drone pilot tried to exploit a loophole by, say, operating a drone from just outside the park boundary and flying into the park airspace, they could still face consequences. While the NPS might have jurisdiction issues if the pilot never set foot in the park, in practice such a flight could lead to other violations – for instance, harassing wildlife or interfering with park operations, which are punishable offenses (we’ll touch on these later). Additionally, retrieving a drone that crashes or lands inside the park without permission would violate the ban. It’s a murky area legally, but the bottom line from Yellowstone’s perspective is they do not want drones over their lands at all.

FAA compliance within the park: If you somehow had permission to fly a drone in Yellowstone (e.g., via a special research permit), you would still have to follow all FAA rules while doing so. This includes:

• Drone registration: All drones >0.55 lbs must be registered with the FAA, and even lighter drones if flying under Part 107 require registration.
• Remote ID: As of September 2023, FAA rules require most drones to transmit a remote ID signal. This means an illegal drone in the park could potentially be identified and located by law enforcement with the right equipment.
• Altitude limit: 400 feet above ground is the general limit in uncontrolled airspace for drones (with some exceptions for structures). In a mountainous park like Yellowstone, “above ground” means above the terrain immediately below the drone.
• No flights over people or moving vehicles: Yellowstone often has crowds (boardwalks, roads with traffic jams to see wildlife, etc.), so flying over those would break FAA safety rules in addition to NPS rules.
• Visual line-of-sight: You must always be able to see your drone. In forested or rugged areas, maintaining line-of-sight can be challenging and losing sight of your drone could lead to a crash – which in Yellowstone might mean a crash into a thermal pool or into wildlife, compounding your legal troubles.
• Airspace awareness: While Yellowstone doesn’t have permanent restricted airspace, you should be aware of any temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). For example, if there’s a wildfire in or near the park, the FAA may issue a TFR banning all aircraft (including drones) from that area so as not to interfere with firefighting aircraft. Flying a drone during a wildfire TFR is a serious offense. Always check sources like the FAA’s NOTAM/TFR listings if you’re considering flying near a park boundary pilotinstitute.com.

In essence, FAA rules are an overlay: you must obey them wherever you fly, but in Yellowstone the NPS ban is a more immediate and restrictive rule that stops you before FAA considerations even come into play. Think of it this way: FAA rules tell you how you can fly legally (height, safety, etc.), but Yellowstone’s rules determine where you can fly – and the answer within the park is “nowhere.” If you can’t legally take off or land, you can’t exercise any FAA privileges there at all.

For most visitors, the takeaway is simple: Don’t attempt to navigate FAA rules to justify flying in Yellowstone. Even if you are an expert pilot with a Part 107 license, the park’s prohibition makes it illegal to fly. The FAA will not come to your defense if the Park Service catches you; in fact, the FAA itself supports protecting parks from unauthorized drones. The two agencies’ rules operate in tandem to ensure sensitive places like Yellowstone remain drone-free unless explicitly allowed for public safety or resource management reasons.

Rules for Hobbyists vs. Commercial Operators (Part 107)

Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or a certified commercial drone pilot, Yellowstone’s drone ban treats you the same – you’re not allowed to fly there. However, it’s useful to clarify what rules normally apply to each category outside the park, to understand that neither category gets a free pass inside Yellowstone.

Hobbyist/Recreational Flyers: Under U.S. law (specifically 49 U.S.C. § 44809, formerly known as Section 336), people flying drones purely for fun must follow certain requirements. These include:

• Flying only for recreational purposes (not for compensation or business).
• Following the safety guidelines of a community-based organization (CBO) – essentially hobby flight clubs’ rules, one of which is to not fly where it’s prohibited.
• Keeping your drone within visual line-of-sight and under 400 ft.
• Passing the FAA’s TRUST safety test (a basic knowledge quiz required for all recreational flyers).
• Not flying in controlled airspace without prior authorization (using tools like LAANC for airspace requests near airports).
• Yielding to manned aircraft and not flying in dangerous areas (like near wildfires or emergency response efforts).

One key guideline for recreational users is knowing and obeying any community or rules specific to the area. Most CBO guidelines explicitly say to respect no-fly zones and local laws – which would include national park restrictions. So a hobbyist cannot claim ignorance: part of responsible recreational flying is researching whether an area (like a national park) is off-limits. B4UFLY, the FAA’s drone app, will typically show national parks as restricted for takeoff/landing due to the NPS rules.

In Yellowstone, a recreational flyer has no special allowances. Even if you’re just flying as a hobby, you’d be violating federal regulations by launching your drone in the park. Some offenders in Yellowstone have indeed been hobbyists who “just wanted a cool vacation video” – and they ended up fined. For example, the tourist who crashed his drone in Grand Prismatic Spring in 2014 was likely a recreational user; it still resulted in a federal case and fines (see enforcement section) reuters.com. Hobby or not, you can be criminally charged.

Commercial Operators (Part 107): Pilots flying drones for commercial or any non-recreational purpose (which can be as simple as posting YouTube monetized content or doing freelance photography) need to follow the FAA’s Part 107 regulations. This means having an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107 license), adhering to operational limits (daylight only, under 400 ft, under 100 mph, etc. unless waived), and possibly obtaining airspace authorizations near airports. Part 107 pilots generally are more knowledgeable about the rules and tend to check for local restrictions.

Under Part 107, there’s also a requirement to follow any applicable federal, state, or local laws. The NPS drone ban is a federal regulation, so even a commercial pilot must heed it. In fact, when applying for waivers or authorizations, the FAA often asks if you have the permission of the property owner or controlling entity for the area – in a national park, the answer would be “no” unless you went through NPS. The FAA will not grant waivers that enable flying in national parks without NPS approval.

If a freelance filmmaker or a drone services company wanted to do a project in Yellowstone, they would have to apply for a Special Use Permit from the park (more on that soon) in addition to following FAA Part 107 rules. Part 107 certification alone is not a permit to fly in the park. There have been instances where professional drone operators misunderstood this and got in trouble. Yellowstone’s authorities do not care if you have thousands of flight hours or an FAA license – from their perspective, a drone is a drone when it comes to the ban.

No distinction in enforcement: The NPS policy explicitly states that the ban covers all uncrewed aircraft use, “including for recreation or commerce” nps.gov. Yellowstone rangers won’t ask whether you are Part 107 certified or just a hobbyist before writing a citation – it’s irrelevant to the rule you broke. In fact, a Part 107 operator should arguably “know better,” so claiming you are a professional likely won’t earn you any leniency; if anything, it might demonstrate willful violation.

What about model aircraft or toy drones? Even very small drones (e.g. a tiny camera drone or a kid’s toy quadcopter) fall under the definition of unmanned aircraft. There’s no weight threshold in the NPS ban – any size drone is banned. In one Yellowstone incident, a man flew a hobby drone near a geyser basin and wildlife (bison); even if it was a “toy,” he was charged for it reuters.com. Also, traditional model airplane enthusiasts who might fly gliders or other remote-controlled planes are included in the ban. Yellowstone is not a place for RC plane meetups.

To sum up, both recreational flyers and commercial drone pilots must keep their drones grounded in Yellowstone. The park’s rules do not discriminate by intent or pilot status. The only “legal” drone pilots in the park are typically park employees or contractors with explicit permission (for instance, a wildlife research team or a search-and-rescue operation under NPS direction). Everyone else – whether you’re flying for fun or money – is under the same prohibition.

Legal Penalties for Unauthorized Drone Use

Using a drone illegally in Yellowstone (or any national park) is not just breaking a rule – it’s committing a federal misdemeanor. Penalties can be quite severe for those caught. Here’s what you need to know about the consequences:

• Criminal Charges: Flying a drone in violation of the park’s closure is typically charged under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(f) (which makes violating a posted closure or restriction illegal). This is a Class B misdemeanor federal offense. By law, the maximum penalties for a Class B misdemeanor are up to six months imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000 fine nps.gov. Each incident is usually one count, but if you do multiple prohibited acts (for example, disturb wildlife with the drone, or refuse a lawful order to land it), you could face multiple charges.
• Fines: While $5,000 is the maximum statutory fine, actual fines can vary. In many documented cases, violators have been fined in the ballpark of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. For instance, one tourist in Yellowstone who crashed a drone into a hot spring was fined $1,000, and additionally charged $2,200 in restitution for the damage/hazard caused by the crash reuters.com. That totaled $3,200 he had to pay. Fines serve as both punishment and deterrence – even a $1,000 fine should make any casual flyer think twice about an illegal flight. It’s worth noting that fines can escalate if there are aggravating factors (e.g. harassing endangered wildlife, repeated offenses, or doing commercial filming without a permit might all motivate a judge to impose a higher fine).
• Restitution: As seen in the hot spring incident, the court can order restitution to cover the cost of any damage or expenses caused by the illegal flight. In the case of Grand Prismatic Spring, park staff had attempted to locate and possibly remove the drone, and the concern was that the drone could pollute the spring. The $2,200 restitution likely went toward efforts to deal with that. If a drone started a fire or injured an animal, restitution could be even higher to cover mitigation or veterinary care, for example.
• Jail time: Although six months in jail is the max, typically first-time offenders have not been jailed for a full term. Instead, they might get probation or a suspended sentence (meaning jail time is waived if they comply with certain conditions). However, jail is not off the table, especially for egregious behavior or repeat offenders. The possibility of spending time in a federal detention center over a drone flight is a real (if rare) risk. It was reported that in 2014 one of the first people prosecuted – a German national who crashed a drone in Yellowstone Lake – received a sentence including one year of unsupervised probation (no jail, but with conditions) and he was banned from Yellowstone for one year as part of the judgment reuters.com. That indicates the court took the violation seriously, though they stopped short of incarceration in that case. A more recent example (2023 in another park) saw a drone pilot briefly detained. And of course, if someone did something truly dangerous (imagine a drone causing an aircraft near-miss or a serious injury), they could face harsher jail time or even additional federal charges.
• Park bans and other sanctions: Beyond legal penalties, the Park Service can ban individuals from park properties for a period of time as an administrative action or as a condition of probation. As noted, the German pilot was banned for a year reuters.com. Such bans mean if you are caught in the park again during that time, you could be charged with trespassing or violating a court order. While not a monetary penalty, being unable to visit Yellowstone (or other national parks) is a significant consequence for many nature enthusiasts. There has been public sentiment that repeat offenders should receive lifetime bans from all national parks dronexl.co, though that’s not (yet) a formal policy.
• Equipment confiscation: If you’re caught, expect to lose your drone (at least temporarily). Park rangers will confiscate the drone and any related equipment as evidence when citing someone. In many cases, the drone (and the SD card with your footage) will not be returned until the legal case is resolved – and if you’re convicted, the equipment can be forfeited. The Pilot Institute notes that not only the drone but also memory cards can be kept by authorities pilotinstitute.com. So you not only risk a fine, but you could also say goodbye to your $1000 DJI Phantom or whatever system you used. This confiscation also helps deter those who might otherwise say “I’ll risk a fine for a great video” – you won’t have the video or the drone afterward.
• Other charges: Depending on what you did with the drone, you could face additional charges. For example, if your drone was used to harass wildlife, you might be cited under 36 C.F.R. § 2.2 (which prohibits disturbing or harassing wildlife) nps.gov. If you flew in a way that created a hazard or nuisance (say, buzzing a crowd of tourists), you could be charged under 36 C.F.R. § 2.34 (disorderly conduct) nps.gov. Flying a drone into a thermal area or off-trail could theoretically trigger charges for damaging natural features or going off boardwalk (Yellowstone has rules against leaving boardwalks in thermal areas, and obviously a drone isn’t a person on a boardwalk, but retrieving one could cause you to go off-trail illegally). The NPS’s 2014 policy memo explicitly mentioned these other regs to remind violators that multiple laws may apply pilotinstitute.com. In severe cases, one could even imagine charges like “interfering with agency functions” if someone knowingly defies rangers, or FAA enforcement actions if you violated airspace rules (FAA can fine drone pilots separately for reckless flying or flying in restricted airspace, etc.). However, typically it’s the NPS that takes the lead on enforcement in parks.
• Case outcomes: To illustrate, here are a few known enforcement cases in Yellowstone:
  • August 2014 (Grand Prismatic Spring): A Dutch tourist’s drone fell into the Grand Prismatic Spring (a highly protected geothermal feature). He was charged and pled guilty in federal court. The judge ordered him to pay $1,000 in fines and $2,200 in restitution reuters.com. Rangers never recovered that drone from the spring – it’s likely still down there, and the chemicals in the water may corrode it, which was part of the concern.
  • July 2014 (Yellowstone Lake): A German visitor flew a drone that crashed into Yellowstone Lake. He was caught and also pled guilty; the outcome included a one-year ban from the park and one year of probation (during which if he violated any laws, he could face the suspended jail sentence) reuters.com. This was one of the first prosecutions after the ban. No fine was reported in that case, but the ban and probation send a message.
  • September 2014 (Bison harassment case): Another American visitor, in a separate incident, flew a drone over a geyser basin and close to some bison. He was charged as well reuters.com. Details of his penalty aren’t in that snippet, but it shows rangers were actively pursuing these cases even when the drone didn’t crash – the mere act of flying and disturbing wildlife was enough to prosecute.
  • June 2025 (Osprey nest incident): A tourist in Lamar Valley allegedly flew a drone that harassed nesting ospreys, causing the birds distress cowboystatedaily.com cowboystatedaily.com. Another visitor reported this, and rangers tracked down and cited the drone operator that same day cowboystatedaily.com. The park spokesperson confirmed the individual could face up to 6 months in jail and/or $5,000 fine for this violation cowboystatedaily.com. As of the news report, the case was still pending; it demonstrates that even years after the ban, people still violate it and Yellowstone still takes it very seriously. Harassing wildlife (especially nesting birds) likely means the offender could also face the separate wildlife harassment charge in addition to the drone ban violation.
  • August 2025 (Grand Prismatic repeat offender): An Instagram video surfaced showing a drone flying over Grand Prismatic Spring again in 2025, and the social media community erupted in outrage dronexl.co dronexl.co. It was alleged (though unconfirmed officially) that this was the same couple involved in the osprey incident earlier that summer dronexl.co. Public calls for harsh punishment – like lifetime bans or higher fines – emerged dronexl.co. This case underscores that repeat violations may lead to even stiffer penalties. Yellowstone officials had not released the outcome at the time of reporting, but if it truly was a repeat offender who didn’t learn their lesson, a judge might be far less lenient the second time around.

In all cases, the consistent message from the courts and park service has been that drone infractions are punishable and will be enforced. It’s not an “overlooked” rule. Yellowstone’s law enforcement rangers are fully aware of the drone ban and have protocols to handle violations. If you’re caught, you’ll likely be required to make a mandatory appearance before a federal magistrate (often these cases are heard in the nearest federal courthouse or even in the park’s court if one is convened for the season). It’s not just a matter of getting a ticket you can mail in a fine for – you may have to show up in court, possibly hire an attorney, and end up with a federal misdemeanor conviction on your record.

Ultimately, the risk-reward ratio is clear: The risk is high (legal trouble, fines, loss of equipment, criminal record, ruined vacation) and the reward (some cool footage) is not worth it. That’s why the drone ban has teeth – to strongly discourage would-be pilots from trying. Yellowstone would rather have zero incidents than have to punish people, but they will do what’s necessary to protect the park.

Notable Enforcement Cases and Incidents

Yellowstone was actually one of the parks that brought drones into the spotlight with a series of incidents in 2014, just after the national ban was instituted. These cases have become cautionary tales for drone users:

• Drone into Grand Prismatic Spring (2014): This is perhaps the most famous incident. Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the park (and third largest in the world) – an iconic spot known for its brilliant colors. In early August 2014, a Dutch tourist flew a small camera drone to get an aerial shot of the spring reuters.com. The drone malfunctioned (or was mishandled) and crashed into the spring, sinking into its depths reuters.com. Not only was this illegal, but it posed a potential threat to the spring’s ecology and appearance – foreign material in a hot spring can cause chemical changes or clog vent channels. Rangers attempted to locate the drone but never recovered it, as it likely settled in a place too dangerous or deep to reach reuters.com. The pilot, Theodorus van Vliet, was charged. He ended up pleading guilty to violating the ban on unmanned aircraft in the park reuters.com. The federal judge ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine and $2,200 in restitution for the incident reuters.com. This case made international news, underlining the Park Service’s resolve. It also embarrassed the offender, who had to face headlines about his costly mistake. The story serves as a stark warning: one careless drone flight can become a criminal case and cost thousands of dollars.
• Drone into Yellowstone Lake (2014): Just weeks before or after the Grand Prismatic incident (around July 2014), another high-profile case occurred. A German visitor named Andreas Meissner flew a DJI Phantom drone over Yellowstone Lake near the marina reuters.com. The drone crashed into the lake. Rangers identified and charged him. In September 2014, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation (during which he could not violate any laws) and importantly he was banned from Yellowstone National Park for a year reuters.com. This might be one of the first instances of a park ban for drone use. He also likely had to pay some fines or fees (the Reuters report doesn’t mention a fine, but media noted he did face some penalty). Meissner’s case is noteworthy because the judge imposed a ban from the park – a tailored consequence to reinforce that he was not welcome back for a while. It also set a precedent that banishing a visitor for drone misconduct is on the table.
• Drone harassing bison/geyser basin (2014): Another case in late August 2014 involved an American man, Donald Criswell of Oregon, who flew a drone in a thermal area and allegedly harassed a herd of bison reuters.com. Witnesses reported the drone disturbing the animals. He was charged and his case went to federal court in October 2014. He was ultimately fined $1,000 and put on one year of probation by a judge kulr8.com (source from a local news KULR). The fact pattern – flying near geothermal features and wildlife – combined two sensitive issues. This showed that even if the drone doesn’t crash, using it in a way that disturbs wildlife or other visitors is strictly enforced.

These 2014 cases all happened shortly after the NPS ban was announced, which indicates park officials moved quickly to set examples and get the word out. Indeed, after these cases were publicized, there was a noticeable drop in reported drone incidents in many parks for a while as the public became more aware that drones were off-limits.

• Osprey Nest Buzzing (2025): Fast forward to the summer of 2025, and unfortunately some visitors still attempt illegal drone flights. In June 2025, a particularly egregious incident occurred in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. A man launched a drone near a roadside pullout and flew it close to an osprey nest in the cliffs, apparently trying to get footage cowboystatedaily.com. This caused the adult ospreys to become agitated and flee the nest in a panic cowboystatedaily.com, which could have jeopardized any eggs or chicks and certainly caused stress to the protected birds. A witness, who was a regular Yellowstone visitor, confronted the drone operator and told him to land it, only to be told off by the operator (who claimed he “didn’t know” it was illegal) cowboystatedaily.com. The witness reported the incident to park rangers, providing photos of the individuals. Impressively, that very evening rangers found the culprit and issued a citation for illegal drone operation and likely wildlife harassment cowboystatedaily.com. A park spokeswoman confirmed the citation and reiterated the maximum penalties (up to 6 months jail/$5k fine) that the person could face cowboystatedaily.com. This incident got press coverage in Wyoming and led to public outrage on social media. It highlighted a couple of things: some people still claim ignorance of the rules (“I didn’t know” – which is not a valid excuse), and that drones can indeed harm wildlife (the osprey could have abandoned the nest if overly disturbed). The case was pending legal resolution, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the individual faced a fine and possibly a ban from the park, considering the circumstances.
• Grand Prismatic “repeat offender” (2025): In August 2025, as mentioned, an Instagram account (“Tourons of Yellowstone”) shared a video showing another illegal drone flight over Grand Prismatic Spring dronexl.co. The account alleged that the people in the video were the same couple from the osprey incident earlier in the summer dronexl.co, suggesting a brazen repeat violation. While this wasn’t officially confirmed by NPS at that time, it caused an uproar among park lovers. Many comments called for extremely harsh punishment – like a lifetime ban from all national parks, or fines bigger than $5,000 – given the apparent disregard for the rules dronexl.co. The video itself showed a man on the boardwalk operating the drone, clearly indicating knowledge and willfulness. If the park is able to identify and prosecute, a second offense would likely not be treated lightly. This case underscores that social media has become a tool in enforcement: visitors and online communities are quick to expose violators, and park authorities can use such evidence in their investigations.
• Other Parks: While not Yellowstone, it’s worth noting briefly that similar enforcement stories have happened elsewhere – for example, a drone that flew too close to elk in Grand Canyon, drones interfering with search-and-rescue helicopters in other parks, etc. The consistent trend is that when caught, operators face legal action. The first ever national park drone conviction actually happened at Mt. Rushmore in April 2014 (even before the nationwide ban, they had a park-specific rule due to security) – that pilot was fined $1,000 and banned from that park. The pattern of fines around $1,000-$3,000 and potential bans or probation holds across cases.

In Yellowstone, enforcement of the drone ban is very much active. Rangers patrol popular areas and rely on reports from other visitors too. It’s common now for tourists to self-police – many nature enthusiasts know drones aren’t allowed and will quickly alert rangers if they see one. (As evidenced by the osprey case: a visitor immediately took action and informed authorities cowboystatedaily.com.) Yellowstone has limited law enforcement staff, so they do appreciate the public’s help. But once alerted, they can often locate the pilot surprisingly quickly – the person holding a controller tends to stick out if the ranger arrives promptly.

Yellowstone also has some vantage points (like high ground or observation from ranger stations) to spot drones in the sky. With technology like Remote ID coming into play (drones broadcasting their pilot’s location), rangers in the future might have even easier tools to catch violators.

The takeaway from these incidents: If you fly a drone in Yellowstone, chances are you will be noticed, reported, or caught, and you’ll join the list of unfortunate examples. The park and courts have not shied away from making an example out of people to spread the message that this rule is serious. No one wants their vacation to end in court or their name in a Reuters news story about a drone fine, so it’s best not to risk becoming the next case study.

Guidance for Drone Use Near (But Outside) Park Boundaries

Many drone enthusiasts ask: “If I can’t fly in Yellowstone, can I fly just outside Yellowstone and still get some great shots safely?” The answer is yes, with conditions. Areas outside the park are governed by different agencies or owners, each with their own rules. Here’s a breakdown to help you plan responsible drone flying near Yellowstone without breaking any laws:

• National Forests: Yellowstone is largely encircled by national forest lands (Gallatin, Custer, Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee National Forests in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho). The good news for drone pilots is that National Forests generally allow drone operations for recreation and commercial use, as long as you follow FAA rules pilotinstitute.com. The U.S. Forest Service has not imposed a blanket ban like NPS. This means if you step onto National Forest land outside the park, you can launch and land a drone legally, and capture aerial footage of the forest scenery or even the edges of Yellowstone from outside. However, there are critical caveats:
  • Wilderness Areas: Many areas within those National Forests are designated Wilderness Areas (for example, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness to the northeast of the park, or the Teton Wilderness to the south). Congressionally designated Wilderness Areas are off-limits to drones. The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits all motorized equipment and “mechanical transport” in wilderness pilotinstitute.com. Federal agencies interpret this to include drones – you cannot take off, land, or operate a drone within a wilderness boundary. If you do, you’re violating a federal law (different from the NPS rule, but equally enforceable, usually by the Forest Service law enforcement or whichever agency manages the wilderness). Also, FAA guidance asks even manned aircraft to maintain at least 2,000 ft above wilderness areas to minimize disturbance pilotinstitute.com, effectively keeping drones (which are limited to 400 ft) out. So when flying near Yellowstone, check your maps carefully – ensure you’re not in a Wilderness Area like Absaroka-Beartooth, Lee Metcalf, North Absaroka, Washakie, Jedediah Smith, etc. that border the park. Use resources like the USFS or Wilderness.net maps pilotinstitute.com to identify these zones.
  • National Forest regulations: While national forests don’t ban drones outright, they may have local restrictions. For example, temporary closures for wildlife (like an area closed to protect nesting eagles) or fire-related flight restrictions. In summer, forest areas near Yellowstone can have wildfires, and if firefighting aircraft are present, a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will be imposed by the FAA – no drones allowed in a wildfire TFR, period, under hefty federal penalties. Always check for TFRs on the FAA website or apps before flying near the park pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com. Additionally, some National Forest sites or ranger districts might request you not fly in certain busy recreation spots for safety; these are usually posted at trailheads if so.
  • Respect for wildlife and others: Just because you’re outside the park doesn’t mean you should harass wildlife or buzz hikers. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s wildlife doesn’t know park boundaries – elk, bison, wolves, etc., roam in and out of the park. Harassing wildlife on Forest Service or other lands could violate other laws (like the Endangered Species Act or state wildlife laws if you disturb animals). The Forest Service advises launching at least 100 meters away from wildlife and not flying directly over animals pilotinstitute.com. So if you spot, say, a herd of bighorn or a grizzly in the national forest, keep your drone distant. Also be considerate of campers or backcountry hikers who are seeking solitude similar to park visitors; don’t ruin their experience with a noisy drone.
  • Scenic shots of Yellowstone from outside: Many vantage points on national forest land provide wonderful views into Yellowstone (for instance, some peaks or hills just outside the boundary). Flying from those spots could allow you to film parts of the park from outside the border. This is legally a gray area: the drone may be physically over the park if you cross the boundary line in the air. While NPS rules bar operation from inside, if your drone crosses over, NPS technically can’t cite you for launching or landing inside since you didn’t – but if the drone operates within the airspace over the park, NPS might consider that as well “operating” in the park. There’s debate on this, but to be safe, it’s best to avoid crossing the park boundary line with your drone, even from outside. Instead, you can capture the skyline or landscape of Yellowstone from a distance without actually entering its airspace. If you do accidentally cross a bit, it’s unlikely NPS would catch you unless someone sees it and traces you. But err on the side of caution to respect the intent of the rules.
• State Lands and Parks: The states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho each have their own state parks or wildlife management areas around Yellowstone’s vicinity. For example, Montana’s Gallatin County has some state lands north of the park. State park rules on drones vary by state. Some states allow drones in state parks, others require permits or ban them in certain sensitive parks. Wyoming’s state parks (like Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, not near Yellowstone though) currently allow drones in some parks but restrict in others. Since Yellowstone’s immediate environs are mostly federal land, state land use is less of an issue except at the fringes. If you do find a state-administered area, check that state’s official park regulations or website for drone rules. As a general precaution, do not assume you can fly in a state park – always verify. Some states require you to obtain special use permits for any drone photography on state lands.
• Private Lands: There are some private inholdings and ranches near Yellowstone (especially in the gateway communities like West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City, etc.). Flying over private property is subject to privacy laws and any state-specific drone laws. Always obtain permission if taking off/landing on private land. Overflight at a sufficient altitude might not be illegal per FAA (airspace is navigable for aircraft), but it’s courteous and often legally necessary to avoid spying on people or causing nuisance. Essentially, if you launch from a public road pullout outside the park, that’s fine; if you launch from someone’s ranch without permission, that could lead to complaints or legal issues.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land: In Montana and Idaho not far from Yellowstone there are also BLM lands (especially more to the west and north). BLM generally allows drones on its lands as well (with similar caveats about wildlife or any posted restrictions) pilotinstitute.com. BLM lands are often less visited and can be great for drone photography. The only concerns are if there’s any overlap with Wilderness Study Areas or other protected zones – again, check maps. If you’re near Yellowstone’s west side, some BLM lands exist around Island Park (Idaho). Always confirm jurisdiction.
• National Park Boundary Precision: Be very sure where the park boundary is when you operate near it. Use GPS maps or offline mapping tools. The boundary is often marked by signage where trails or roads enter the park, but out in the woods there may not be a fence or obvious line. Flying “just outside” could inadvertently become “just inside” if you misjudge. A tip is to stay a safe buffer distance away – e.g., remain a few hundred yards outside the line to account for any GPS error or wind drift of your drone.
• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs): I’ll emphasize again, because it’s very relevant near Yellowstone: wildfire season. Summers in the Yellowstone region can bring forest fires. When there’s a fire, the FAA will likely issue a TFR that can cover large swaths of airspace (often a radius of 5 or 10 miles around the fire, up to a certain altitude). This will absolutely include drones – no unauthorized aircraft can fly in that TFR. Entering a wildfire TFR with a drone can result in hefty FAA fines (these are separate from NPS fines; FAA can fine tens of thousands of dollars for interfering with firefighting). Moreover, your drone could cause firefighting aircraft to be grounded (for safety, if a drone is spotted, water bombers and helicopters have to halt operations, which is life-threatening to firefighters and residents). Always check the FAA’s TFR map (often available on apps or FAA websites) on the day you fly, especially if you see smoke or know of fire activity in the region pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com. In recent years, hobbyist drones interfering with wildfires have been a major problem in the West.
• General FAA rules: Outside the park, you are fully subject to all FAA drone regulations. That means:
  • Keep below 400 ft AGL.
  • Maintain visual line-of-sight.
  • Don’t fly at night (without a waiver or if your drone isn’t equipped/law changes, etc.).
  • Don’t fly directly over people or moving vehicles (if you’re near a trailhead or highway outside the park, be careful not to breach this).
  • Give way to any manned aircraft (the Yellowstone area sometimes has low-flying tour planes or helicopters outside the park, as well as life-flight helicopters or forest service helicopters).
  • Ensure your drone is registered if required and marked with the registration number.
  • Use Remote ID (from 2023 onward) or have a broadcast module, so your drone is compliant.
  • For recreational flyers, have your TRUST completion certificate with you (in case an authority asks).
  • For Part 107 pilots, carry your license and be ready to present waiver or authorization if you’re in controlled airspace near, say, Jackson Hole Airport’s Class D (south of Yellowstone).
  • Check NOTAMs besides TFRs – occasionally other airspace restrictions pop up (though rare in remote areas).
• Being a Good Neighbor: Even when legally flying outside Yellowstone, consider the impact. If you’re at a popular overlook just outside the park and you send up a drone, park visitors at that spot or nearby could still see or hear it and have their experience diminished. While you might not be breaking the law at that point, it can cause misunderstanding or complaints (someone might see a drone in the sky and report it thinking it’s in the park, causing rangers to investigate). The best practice is to fly in a manner and location that minimizes notice and disturbance to others. Early morning or late evening (in daylight) on weekdays might have fewer people around than midday at a busy trail.
• Winter considerations: In winter, Yellowstone’s interior is mostly closed to regular vehicles, but outside areas are accessible. Drones can be useful for gorgeous winter landscapes. Just be mindful that wildlife like elk or bison are even more vulnerable in winter; startling them can have severe consequences. Also, cold weather can affect drone batteries – plan for shorter flights.

In summary, flying near Yellowstone is possible and legal if you do your homework. Many drone pilots enjoy capturing the grandeur of the Yellowstone region by operating from the national forests or other lands nearby. You could, for instance, hike up a peak in the Gallatin National Forest north of Gardiner and fly there to film the Yellowstone River valley from outside the boundary. That would be a legal and stunning flight, as long as you ensure you’re not over wilderness and follow FAA rules. Just always double-check land ownership, wilderness status, and current restrictions for wherever you launch. When in doubt, contact the relevant agency’s local office (Forest Service ranger district, etc.) – they can often tell you the do’s and don’ts for drones on their lands. By respecting these guidelines, you can enjoy drone photography around Yellowstone without harming the park or risking penalties.

Exceptions and Special Permits for Drone Use in Yellowstone

Given the strict ban, one common question is: Are there any circumstances under which I can fly a drone in Yellowstone legally? The answer: Only under very limited, special exceptions that require prior approval.

Yellowstone’s rule itself says drone use is prohibited “except as approved in writing by the Superintendent” nps.gov. This implies the superintendent (the park’s top official) has discretion to allow drone operations on a case-by-case basis. In practice, these approvals are rare and usually fall into a few categories:

1. Scientific Research and Resource Management: If a scientist or a park resource management team has a legitimate need for aerial data that can only be gathered via drone, the park may issue a Scientific Research Permit or Special Use Permit for that project. For example, drones can be useful for wildlife surveys, mapping geothermal features, or monitoring environmental changes in areas that are dangerous or hard to access on foot. There have been instances in other parks (and possibly Yellowstone) where researchers used drones for things like counting nesting birds on cliffs or creating high-resolution maps of archeological sites, under strict permits. The DroneXL report notes that limited exceptions exist for scientific research missions with prior written approval dronexl.co. Additionally, in 2017, the NPS granted special permission for a geospatial mapping project in Great Sand Dunes National Park, showing that they will allow drones for research when clearly justified pilotinstitute.com. In Yellowstone, one could imagine permits being granted for studying wildlife migrations, surveying forests after beetle infestations, or geothermal feature mapping. These permits would typically be given to professionals (e.g., university researchers or NPS scientists) who propose a project that benefits the park’s understanding or management of resources.

Anyone seeking such permission would have to go through the Office of the Superintendent or the park’s research permitting process. They would need to outline why a drone is necessary (as opposed to satellites or manned aircraft), how they’ll mitigate impacts (e.g., not disturbing wildlife, perhaps using the drone at times/areas with no visitors), and how long/where they need to fly. Approval is not guaranteed – it’s a high bar.

2. Search and Rescue (SAR) or Emergency Operations: Yellowstone’s terrain is vast and rugged. In emergencies, drones can be valuable. Park authorities themselves have started using drones in some parks for SAR operations, firefighting support, or other emergencies nps.gov. For example, if a hiker is lost or injured in Yellowstone’s backcountry, a drone with thermal imaging could be flown (by park staff or authorized personnel) to search large areas more quickly and safely than sending ground teams. Similarly, after a wildfire or during a flood, drones can help assess damage. The NPS’s policy memo doesn’t forbid the NPS from using drones – it only restricts public use. In fact, the NPS has been building an internal drone program in some parks (the Grand Canyon has used drones for SAR and to help with archaeological surveys, as noted in the NPS article nps.gov). Yellowstone can deploy drones for its purposes if approved by the superintendent.

For non-NPS personnel: If you are part of a rescue organization or are assisting in an emergency at the request of the park, that might be an exception. For instance, if a person went missing and a volunteer drone pilot with special skills offered to help, the superintendent could grant a quick written approval or coordinate through incident command to allow that drone. These are situational and would always be under direction of the authorities. Do not assume you can just fly to “help” in an emergency without clearance – that could backfire legally and practically.

3. Official Operations and Partner Entities: The rule doesn’t bar other agencies or contractors from flying if it’s an approved operation. For example, the US Geological Survey (USGS) or state agencies might be involved in projects in the park. If they have a need to use a UAS, they’d go through the park’s permission process. Also, film crews working on a major documentary or movie might petition for an exception (though Yellowstone has been extremely reluctant to allow drones even for filmmaking due to the disturbance factor – usually they opt for helicopters with careful regulation if aerial shots are needed, because a helicopter is a manned aircraft not subject to the unmanned ban and can fly over at high altitude).

4. Special Events or Demonstrations: Conceivably, the superintendent could allow a one-time drone flight for a special event – for instance, a controlled drone demonstration for educational purposes, or if a VIP were visiting and wanted a drone view. But there’s no public record of Yellowstone doing this. Some other parks have allowed drones for specific events (e.g., filming a live TV segment with prior approval). These are exceptions that prove the rule: they need explicit, written prior permission.

How to obtain permission: If you believe you have a valid reason to fly a drone in Yellowstone (like research), you would typically need to apply for a Special Use Permit (SUP) or a research permit well in advance. The process usually involves:

• Contacting the park administration: Start with the park’s administration or permits office to explain your request. Yellowstone’s website provides contacts for Special Use Permits nps.gov, which cover things like special events, commercial filming, etc. Drones are mentioned as prohibited, but for an exception you’d be dealing directly with the park managers.
• Submitting a detailed proposal: You’d have to detail why the drone is needed, what equipment, when and where you plan to fly, and how you’ll ensure minimal impact pilotinstitute.com. They’ll want to see that you’ve thought about noise, wildlife, visitor safety, etc.
• Ensuring FAA compliance: The park will not handle FAA waivers for you. If your operation requires any FAA approval (like flying at night or in restricted airspace), you must obtain those separately. The permit application might require proof of your FAA licenses or waivers pilotinstitute.com.
• Review process: The superintendent (and possibly NPS regional office) will review and decide. Given how averse Yellowstone is to drones, only the most compelling cases are approved. If approved, strict conditions will be attached (e.g., only on certain days, times, locations, maximum altitudes, perhaps requiring an NPS monitor to accompany you).
• Fees and insurance: Special permits often involve fees (cost recovery for staff time) and proof of insurance/bond, especially for commercial or high-risk activities.

Examples of permitted uses: While Yellowstone hasn’t publicized many drone permits, we can infer scenarios. For instance, if Yellowstone wanted to survey its elk populations, it might allow a team to use a quiet drone that can capture infrared images, instead of using a loud helicopter that can stress animals. Or for infrastructure inspections (like checking remote communication towers or the condition of backcountry bridges), the park might permit drones to avoid sending employees into hazardous spots. Also, search and rescue: Yellowstone’s backcountry sees a number of SAR incidents each year (lost hikers, climbers, etc.). The park could deploy a drone for rapid searching, as Grand Canyon did, which is within their administrative rights nps.gov. Those are technically “exceptions” but as internal operations.

What about commercial filming? Up until a few years ago, commercial filming in parks was heavily restricted and required permits and location fees. Drone use for filming was basically off the table due to the ban. After some legal changes (court cases and the EXPLORE Act of 2020s), parks simplified some filming rules for small crews, but drones remain specifically barred without separate approval nps.gov. For example, if a filmmaking crew gets a permit to film in Yellowstone, that permit will explicitly state that all activities must comply with laws including the drone ban nps.gov. So they would have to film with handheld cameras or tripod, or if aerials are absolutely needed, use a helicopter with coordination (helicopter overflights can be arranged in some cases since air tour operators exist, but they must not land in the park). The park might allow a drone for a big BBC or NatGeo documentary if convinced it’s low-impact and crucial – but such permission would be extraordinary.

Enforcement of exceptions: If you do get a permit, you must follow it to the letter. Rangers would likely monitor the operation. If any permit condition is violated, the permit can be revoked on the spot and you’d be subject to the same penalties as any violator (plus likely banned from future permits). Also note that the NPS can cancel permits or exceptions if conditions change (say wildlife enters the area, or a crowd shows up unexpectedly). Flexibility is needed.

For regular visitors: Realistically, there are no exceptions available for general recreational flying. It’s not worth trying to ask for one just to, say, take personal photos. The answer will be no. Exceptions are geared for operations that benefit the park or are critical in nature.

Park Service use of drones: It’s interesting to note that while the public is barred, the Park Service itself is cautiously embracing drone technology for its work. Yellowstone’s management might use drones in the future for things like:

• Mapping thermal areas (some areas are too dangerous for people to walk).
• Tracking wildfires (drones can map fire spread at night when manned aircraft can’t fly).
• Monitoring wildlife in hard-to-reach places (cliffs, high elevations).
• Search operations for lost visitors or even law enforcement surveillance in anti-poaching efforts.
  Any such uses would be under strict control and not done when/where visitors could be disturbed. The NPS has to follow DOI (Dept. of Interior) policies for using drones, which require training and privacy considerations.

The key point: Unless you have an official, written permit in hand, you should assume no exceptions apply to you. The existence of exceptions is not a loophole to exploit; it’s a provision for park management needs and truly special cases.

Relevant Updates or Changes in Drone Laws (as of 2025)

Since the initial 2014 ban, the core rule – “no drones in national parks without permission” – has remained consistently in effect. However, a few developments in recent years are worth noting to stay up-to-date:

• Terminology – “Uncrewed Aircraft”: You may notice newer NPS documents (including Yellowstone’s website) now use the term “uncrewed aircraft” instead of “unmanned aircraft” or “drones.” This is a shift toward gender-neutral and encompassing language. The definition remains the same nps.gov. So if you see “uncrewed aircraft prohibited,” it means drones. This change was reflected in the updated NPS article in 2025 nps.gov, but it’s purely a semantic update, not a legal change.
• NPS Reaffirmation of the Ban (2020s): The NPS periodically updates its guidance and has reaffirmed the drone ban multiple times. The article “Uncrewed Aircraft in the National Parks” was last updated May 22, 2025 nps.gov and still states the ban is in force with few exceptions. This suggests the NPS remains committed to the policy. Despite the growing popularity of drones, there has been no indication that NPS plans to lift or loosen the ban for the general public. In fact, the challenges of enforcement and some high-profile illegal flights (as we saw in 2025) likely strengthen NPS resolve to keep the ban.
• FAA Regulation Updates: The FAA has introduced new rules, like the Remote ID requirement (effective September 2023) and updated recreational flying laws (the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act clarified model aircraft rules under 49 USC 44809). Remote ID means most drones must broadcast a signal with the drone’s location and an ID, which theoretically could make it easier for authorities to identify rogue drones and their pilots. If Yellowstone law enforcement has the equipment, they could use Remote ID receivers to track a drone and find the pilot more quickly. This is a tech update rather than a law “change” but is relevant to enforcement. Recreational flyers now also must pass the TRUST test, which includes learning about not flying in prohibited areas – so fewer can claim ignorance. Part 107 rules have also been slightly relaxed in some ways (like flying over people with light drones is allowed if they meet certain criteria, etc.), but none of those changes affect the park prohibition.
• EXPLORE Act (Film Permits) 2023/2025: The EXPLORE Act, passed in late 2022 and taking effect 2023-2025, overhauled the NPS filming permit system. It removed some red tape for small crews and free expression filming. However, it did not legalize drones. Yellowstone’s current interim guidance (as of July 2025) explicitly reminds filmmakers that they must comply with all laws “including those regulating unmanned aerial equipment (drones)” nps.gov. So even if you no longer need a paid permit for a small shoot, you still cannot use a drone without separate approval. The EXPLORE Act mainly affected fees and permits for filming, but did not amend any of the 36 CFR regulations about drones.
• Pending Legislation or Policy Discussions: Occasionally, there is chatter about whether NPS might designate some parks or areas where drone use could be allowed in the future, given how common drones have become. As of 2025, no formal proposals have advanced to open up national parks to recreational drones. Parks would be concerned about setting precedents. It’s possible that as drone tech evolves (quieter drones, better controls), the NPS might re-evaluate very limited use, or create a permit system for skilled pilots. But that’s speculative – for now the policy is unchanged. If anything, we see parks doubling down with more signage and public awareness.
• Increased Enforcement Tools: One change not on paper but in practice is that parks are getting savvier about enforcement. Use of visitor reports via social media (as in Tourons of Yellowstone Instagram outing violators) and possibly technology like drone detection systems might become more common. Some parks have tested drone detection networks (sensors that detect radio frequencies or the drones’ electronic signature). These tools could help rangers know a drone is in the air even if they haven’t visually spotted it, and then respond. Yellowstone, with its large area, might not have a permanent detection system (those are more often used at high-security parks like around the Statue of Liberty or D.C. monuments), but as tech costs come down, it could be deployed in busy spots.
• International Context: While U.S. parks maintain this ban, some other countries have also moved to restrict drones in their parks. For instance, Canada has very steep fines (up to CAD $25,000) for flying in national parks without a permit dronexl.co. European countries vary, but a recent headline involved a tourist facing a €200k+ fine for a drone flight in a sensitive area in Spain dronexl.co. These international examples sometimes influence how strictly the U.S. perceives its own rules. It highlights that the concept of banning drones in protected areas is globally recognized.
• Public Awareness and Education: Over time, awareness of the “no drones in parks” rule has grown among the general public. By 2025, most drone hobbyist websites, forums, and courses emphasize that you cannot fly in national parks faa.gov. The NPS and FAA have also included these messages in their materials (the FAA’s “B4UFLY” app will flag national parks, and NPS visitor centers often have signs). The continued incidents suggest not everyone gets the memo, but outreach is ongoing. If planning a trip to Yellowstone, a quick search will yield many warnings about the drone ban, which is a good thing. For example, online drone guides and travel sites frequently remind people of the strict prohibition and penalties instagram.com thetravel.com. The hope is that eventually hardly anyone shows up with a drone at all.
• Remote Controlled Land Vehicles and Toys: While our focus is aerial drones, note that Yellowstone’s rules also consider other remote-controlled devices. The compendium prohibits remote-controlled vehicles, boats, and even audio recording devices used remotely in certain ways nps.gov. This is to prevent disturbance as well. So if anyone thought of using a ground drone (rovers) or other RC gadget in the park, those are generally not allowed either without permission.

In summary, as of late 2025 the legal landscape for drones in Yellowstone remains much as it was after 2014 – firmly restricted. The changes have been more about clarifying and enforcing the existing rules than about loosening them. Any pilot should keep an eye on official NPS policy updates, but realistically don’t expect a sudden allowance for drones in parks in the immediate future. If anything changes, it will likely be communicated via the NPS website or press release. For now, the safest and smartest course is to continue treating Yellowstone (and all national parks) as no-drone zones unless you are directly told otherwise by park management for a specific permitted purpose.

Conclusion: Yellowstone National Park’s drone laws are among the strictest you’ll encounter, reflecting the high value placed on its wildlife and natural tranquility. In Yellowstone, drones are banned for the general public – no recreational flights, no commercial filming flights – and violators face serious legal penalties. This stems from NPS-wide regulations in effect since 2014, which Yellowstone enforces diligently to prevent disturbances to its environment and visitors. The only way a drone can legally take to the air in Yellowstone is with a special written permit for purposes like research or emergencies, and those are seldom granted. All drone users, whether hobbyists or licensed professionals, are equally bound by these rules when on park land. The FAA’s rules still apply in the skies, but they offer no loophole around the park’s prohibition.

For drone enthusiasts, the best practice is to enjoy aerial photography outside the park boundaries, where national forests and other lands provide more freedom – always respecting wilderness restrictions and FAA safety regulations. You can capture stunning vistas of Yellowstone’s ecosystem from outside without breaking the law. And when in doubt, leave the drone at home when you venture into any national park.

By adhering to these regulations, you not only avoid hefty fines or a criminal record, but you also help Yellowstone remain the pristine sanctuary for wildlife and people that it was intended to be. The inconvenience of not flying a drone is a small price to pay to protect the park’s delicate soundscapes and animal inhabitants. In Yellowstone, the skies belong to eagles, osprey, and geothermal steam – not buzzing drones. Visitors should take in the park’s wonders with their own eyes (and perhaps a handheld camera), and save the drone flights for more appropriate venues. Following these laws ensures that Yellowstone’s peace and wild character endure for everyone to enjoy, now and for future generations.

Sources:

• National Park Service, “Uncrewed Aircraft in the National Parks” – NPS article explaining the 2014 drone ban and its rationale nps.gov nps.gov.
• Yellowstone National Park – Superintendent’s Compendium 2024, Section on Unmanned Aircraft (closure under 36 CFR 1.5) nps.gov.
• National Park Service, Yellowstone Webpage – “Drones Are Prohibited in Yellowstone” (Film & Photography Permits page, updated 2025) nps.gov.
• UAV Coach, “Drones in National Parks: What Every Drone Pilot Needs to Know” – Overview of NPS drone policy and penalties uavcoach.com uavcoach.com uavcoach.com.
• Pilot Institute, “Flying Drones in National Parks and Forests: Rules You Need to Know” – Detailed guide including exceptions, penalties, and tips for nearby flying pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com.
• Reuters (Laura Zuckerman), “Dutch tourist fined for crashing drone in Yellowstone hot spring” – News report on 2014 Grand Prismatic incident and related cases reuters.com reuters.com.
• Cowboy State Daily (Mark Heinz), “Tourist Who Buzzed Yellowstone Osprey Nest With Drone Could Get Six Months In Jail” – News on 2025 drone harassment case with NPS quotes on penalties cowboystatedaily.com cowboystatedaily.com.
• DroneXL (Haye Kesteloo), “Yellowstone Drone Flies Again Over Grand Prismatic—Possible Repeat Offender Sparks Outrage” – Article describing 2025 drone violations, NPS ban reasons, and exceptions dronexl.co dronexl.co.
• NPS, Yellowstone “Laws & Policies” page – Highlights commonly cited regulations including the drone ban citation nps.gov.
• 36 C.F.R. § 1.5 – Code of Federal Regulations provision used by NPS to enforce the closure on drone use uavcoach.com.