MT3.2 M annual visitors

Can I fly a drone at Glacier National Park?

No. Glacier National Park is under the National Park Service drone ban.

Operating, launching, or landing a drone on or over NPS-managed land is prohibited under 36 CFR § 1.5(f). Penalties: up to 6 months imprisonment and $5,000 fine. Adjacent USFS, BLM, or state land may permit drones — see legal alternatives below.

Montana's Crown of the Continent — alpine lakes, glaciers, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Strictly under the NPS drone ban.

Why drone pilots want to shoot here

Going-to-the-Sun Road switchbacks. Lake McDonald reflections. Many Glacier valley. Logan Pass. Hidden Lake.

Where you CAN fly nearby

Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.

  • Flathead National Forest (MT)

    Surrounds the park on the south and west. USFS rules; drones in non-Wilderness areas allowed.

  • Lewis and Clark National Forest (MT)

    East side of the divide. Drones permitted with rules.

  • Blackfeet Reservation (with tribal permission)

    Adjacent tribal land. Drone use requires explicit Blackfeet Nation permission.

FAQ — Glacier National Park

Can I fly drones at Lake McDonald?

No. Lake McDonald is inside Glacier NP.

What about Going-to-the-Sun Road?

The road runs through park land. Drone ban applies the entire length.

Can I shoot the Continental Divide views?

From outside the park boundary in Flathead or Lewis and Clark NF, yes. Wilderness areas inside those forests still ban drones.

Are wildlife restrictions different here?

Same NPS-wide ban. Wildlife disturbance with drones triggers additional federal penalties.

Other national parks

Found a legal nearby spot? Check the airspace, weather, and TFRs for the exact address.

Run an airspace check

Park boundaries can be irregular. Verify the boundary of any alternative location before flying — adjacent USFS / BLM Wilderness areas have their own drone ban under different statute. Altoa is not the FAA or NPS.