Flying a drone in Grand Teton National Park is not allowed. The National Park Service prohibits launching, landing, or operating any unmanned aircraft anywhere inside the park, and Grand Teton has no designated zones or recreational exceptions.1National Park Service. Laws and Policies – Grand Teton National Park A violation is a federal misdemeanor carrying up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail, and the FAA can add its own civil penalties on top.
Why the Ban Exists
The restriction applies across the entire National Park System. In June 2014, the NPS director issued Policy Memorandum 14-05 directing every park superintendent to prohibit drone operations using existing authority under 36 CFR 1.5.2U.S. National Park Service. Uncrewed Aircraft in the National Parks The concerns driving the policy are wildlife disturbance, visitor experience, and safety. Grand Teton holds grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and nesting raptors that are especially sensitive during breeding season, and a drone crash on a busy trail or interference with a search-and-rescue helicopter is a genuine risk.
What Counts as a Violation
The prohibition reaches broadly. “Unmanned aircraft” covers quadcopters, fixed-wing drones, FPV racing drones, and traditional model airplanes. Launching from park land, landing on park land, and operating the controls while standing on park land are all off-limits, and the rule treats commercial and recreational use the same way.1National Park Service. Laws and Policies – Grand Teton National Park
One boundary question comes up often. NPS jurisdiction ends at the park boundary, and the airspace above the park falls under FAA authority rather than NPS rules.2U.S. National Park Service. Uncrewed Aircraft in the National Parks In theory, a drone launched and landed outside the park that passes through airspace above it is not a park violation. In practice, rangers investigate flights that appear to originate from or interact with park land, and the line between “I launched from the forest next door” and “I launched from the parking lot” gets blurry fast when enforcement is involved.
Penalties for Getting Caught
A violation inside Grand Teton is a federal misdemeanor. Fines are capped at $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. ยง 3571,3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 3571 – Sentence of Fine and a judge can impose up to six months of imprisonment.2U.S. National Park Service. Uncrewed Aircraft in the National Parks Rangers may confiscate the drone and memory cards as evidence.
The FAA pursues its own enforcement separately. Under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, civil fines for unauthorized or unsafe drone operations now reach up to $75,000 per violation.4Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Proposed $341,413 in Civil Penalties Against Drone Operators The agency has proposed more than $341,000 in combined penalties against drone operators in a single publicized case. Stacking FAA enforcement on top of the park citation is where the real financial exposure sits.
Where You Can Legally Fly Near the Park
Grand Teton is surrounded by public land where recreational drone flight is generally allowed. Knowing exactly where the park ends and other agencies take over is the difference between footage and a federal citation.
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest borders Grand Teton to the east and south. The U.S. Forest Service allows recreational drone use on most National Forest System lands as long as you follow FAA rules. The important carve-out is congressionally designated Wilderness: the Forest Service treats drones as both motorized equipment and mechanical transport under Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act, so launching, landing, or operating one inside any Wilderness boundary is prohibited.5U.S. Forest Service. Recreational Use of UAS on National Forest System Lands Bridger-Teton contains several large Wilderness areas, including the Teton Wilderness directly north of the park, so check a detailed map before you fly.
Flying near active wildfires is also prohibited on Forest Service land whether or not a Temporary Flight Restriction has been formally issued. Penalties can reach $25,000.
BLM Public Land
Bureau of Land Management land in the greater Jackson Hole area generally permits recreational flights. The same Wilderness restriction applies. BLM asks that you launch at least 100 meters from wildlife and avoid harassment, which can trigger separate penalties under federal wildlife protection laws.
National Elk Refuge: Off Limits
The National Elk Refuge sits just east of the town of Jackson and borders Grand Teton. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits drone use on all national wildlife refuges due to wildlife harassment concerns.6U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Keeping Wildlife Safe from Drones Do not fly there.
FAA Rules Apply Wherever You Fly
Legal land does not mean no rules. Recreational pilots are bound by FAA requirements regardless of whose land they stand on.7Federal Aviation Administration. Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations
- Any drone weighing 250 grams (0.55 pounds) or more must be registered with the FAA. Mark the registration number on the outside of the aircraft and carry proof when you fly.
- All recreational pilots must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof of completion.
- Registered drones must broadcast Remote ID information during flight, unless you are operating in a FAA-Recognized Identification Area.
- Stay at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace. Controlled airspace near airports requires prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone.
- Keep the drone within visual line of sight at all times, or use a visual observer standing next to you in direct communication.
- Recreational rules cover personal enjoyment only. Commercial work requires a Part 107 certificate.
Jackson Hole Airport sits inside Grand Teton National Park, which creates controlled airspace over a wide area. Even flying from legal land nearby, you may need LAANC authorization depending on your distance from the airport. Check the FAA’s B4UFLY app or an airspace map before every flight.
Reporting Illegal Drone Use
If you see someone flying a drone inside Grand Teton, you can report it to the NPS Investigation Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009, by email at nps_isb@nps.gov, or through the online tip form on the NPS website.8U.S. National Park Service. Aid an Investigation or Report Something Suspicious in Any National Park You can also flag any park ranger or NPS employee directly. Call 911 if the situation poses an immediate safety risk.