Can I fly a drone at Great Sand Dunes National Park?
The tallest sand dunes in North America (up to 750 ft) at 8,000 ft elevation in southern Colorado. Backed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. NPS drone ban applies.
Why drone pilots want to shoot here
The dune field at sunrise. Star Dune. Mountain backdrop. Medano Creek flows seasonally at the dune base.
Where you CAN fly nearby
Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.
Rio Grande National Forest (CO)
Adjacent USFS land. Drones allowed in non-Wilderness areas.
BLM holdings in the San Luis Valley
Drone-permitted with conservation rules.
FAQ — Great Sand Dunes National Park
Can I fly drones at Great Sand Dunes?
No. NPS drone ban applies across the entire dune field and surrounding park land.
What about Medano Creek?
Medano Creek is in the park. Drone ban applies during spring/early-summer flow.
Where can I shoot dunes legally?
Adjacent BLM holdings have smaller dune areas. Other US dune areas are mostly NPS-managed (Death Valley, White Sands, Indiana Dunes — all banned). Outside-NPS dune areas are limited.
Other national parks
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.