Can I fly a drone at Petrified Forest National Park?
Painted Desert badlands and 200-million-year-old petrified wood across northeastern Arizona. NPS drone ban applies.
Why drone pilots want to shoot here
Painted Desert overlooks. Crystal Forest. Long Logs trail. Blue Mesa. The Tepees.
Where you CAN fly nearby
Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.
BLM land surrounding the park
Vast Painted Desert extends beyond park boundaries onto BLM land. Drone-permitted with rules.
Holbrook area Class G
Outside park boundary; drone-friendly subject to general rules.
FAQ — Petrified Forest National Park
Can I fly drones in the Painted Desert section?
The Painted Desert section is part of Petrified Forest NP. Drone ban applies. Adjacent BLM-managed Painted Desert areas outside the park permit drones.
Where can I shoot petrified wood with a drone?
Petrified wood occurs across the broader Painted Desert region, much of it on BLM land where drone use is permitted.
Is the park well-patrolled?
Yes — small staff but the park's small footprint makes drone violations easy to detect.
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.