AK0.078 M annual visitors

Can I fly a drone at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?

No. Wrangell-St. Elias 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.

America's largest national park — 13.2 million acres, larger than Switzerland. Glaciers, peaks over 16,000 ft, and pure wilderness. NPS drone ban applies across all of it.

Why drone pilots want to shoot here

The Wrangell Mountains. Root Glacier. Kennicott historic mining town. McCarthy area.

Where you CAN fly nearby

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

  • Adjacent Alaska state-managed land

    Limited but available outside the park.

  • Tongass National Forest (further south, AK)

    USFS land — drones allowed in non-Wilderness areas.

FAQ — Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Can I fly drones at Wrangell-St. Elias?

No. NPS-wide ban applies across all 13.2 million acres.

What about Kennicott?

Kennicott historic district is in-holding within the park. Drone ban applies.

Where can I fly in this part of Alaska?

Adjacent state-managed land or USFS holdings. Verify boundaries carefully — Alaska's land status is complex.

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.