Can I fly a drone at Yellowstone National Park?
The world's first national park and a wildlife photographer's dream — bison, wolves, bears, elk in their natural element. All under the NPS drone ban.
Why drone pilots want to shoot here
Old Faithful eruption. Grand Prismatic Spring colors. Lamar Valley wildlife. Yellowstone Falls. Mammoth Hot Springs terraces.
Where you CAN fly nearby
Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.
Custer Gallatin National Forest (MT, WY)
Surrounds the park on the north and east. USFS land permits drones in non-Wilderness areas.
Bridger-Teton National Forest (WY)
South and east of Yellowstone. Drones allowed with USFS rules.
Caribou-Targhee National Forest (ID)
West side. Permits drones in non-Wilderness; offers Tetons-adjacent views.
FAQ — Yellowstone National Park
Can I fly drones at Old Faithful?
No. Old Faithful and the entire Yellowstone caldera are under the NPS-wide drone ban. Wildlife disturbance enforcement is particularly aggressive here.
What about the wolf packs in Lamar Valley?
Drone flight banned. Wildlife harassment with drones triggers additional federal penalties beyond the NPS rule.
Can I fly outside the park boundary?
Yes — adjacent USFS land permits drones in non-Wilderness areas. Verify boundaries carefully; the park is large and wraps around several USFS units.
How is Yellowstone different from other parks?
Wildlife density makes drone disturbance enforcement particularly aggressive. The geothermal features (Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful) draw heavy visitor traffic — drone operators near them attract immediate ranger attention.
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.