AK0.018 M annual visitors

Can I fly a drone at Lake Clark National Park?

No. Lake Clark 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.

Remote Alaska park accessible only by floatplane — 4 million acres of mountains, lakes, and tundra. NPS drone ban applies.

Why drone pilots want to shoot here

Lake Clark itself. Tanalian Mountain. Volcano peaks. Brown bear viewing.

Where you CAN fly nearby

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

  • Adjacent state-managed land

    Limited but available outside the park.

FAQ — Lake Clark National Park

Can I fly drones at Lake Clark?

No. NPS drone ban applies.

What about brown bear viewing flights?

Drone use near brown bears is prohibited even outside the park (federal Marine Mammal Protection Act for adjacent coastal areas, plus NPS ban inside).

Where can I fly in Alaska legally?

Adjacent state-managed lands, Tongass / Chugach National Forests, and BLM holdings — drone-permitted with rules in non-Wilderness areas.

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.