Can I fly a drone at Redwood National and State Parks?
Coastal redwoods on the Northern California coast — the tallest trees on Earth. Mixed NPS / California state park management complicates the rules.
Why drone pilots want to shoot here
Tall Trees Grove. Lady Bird Johnson Grove. Fern Canyon. Coastal redwoods at fog-ground elevation.
Where you CAN fly nearby
Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.
Six Rivers National Forest (CA)
Adjacent USFS land. Drones allowed in non-Wilderness areas.
California State Parks within the unit (with permit)
Some state-managed sections may permit drones with permit; verify per-section rules — the unit is a complex NPS / state mix.
FAQ — Redwood National and State Parks
Can I fly drones in the Redwoods?
NPS-managed sections: no. State park sections (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek): may permit with state park permit, but verify per-park.
What about the Avenue of the Giants?
Avenue of the Giants is in Humboldt Redwoods State Park (not NPS). State park drone permit available.
How do I tell which section I'm in?
The unit is a complex mix. Visitor centers can clarify; the boundary mapping matters because rules differ.
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.