White Mountain National Forest Drone Policy

Users of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly referred to as drones, must follow policies set forth by White Mountain National Forest.

The landing of drones is prohibited in:

1. Forest Protection Areas
2. Alpine Zones
3. Alpine Ski Areas
4. Wilderness Areas

See below for specific lists.

Also, users of drones must follow safety precautions set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration, such as:

1. Keep your drone within your line of sight, or within the visual line-of-sight of a visual observer who is co-located and in direct communication with you.
2. Never fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people.
3. Never fly near emergencies such as any type of accident response, law enforcement activities, firefighting, or hurricane recovery efforts.

Full FAA regulations are available at www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/

AREAS RESTRICTING THE LANDING OF UA (DRONES)

Areas prohibiting the landing of drones on the White Mountain National Forest are FOREST PROTECTION AREAS (FPA) which are areas within ¼ mile of identified features and are listed below in numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. 

Restricted areas also include ALPINE SKI AREAS, listed in number 7, and ALPINE ZONES, listed in number 3.

1.     ALL TRAILHEADS ON THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

2.     ALL CAMPGROUNDS, PICNIC AREAS, HUTS, SHELTERS, CABINS, DEVELOPED TENT SITES, AND DAY USE RECREATION AREAS.

3.     ALPINE ZONES – Presidential Range, Franconia Ridge, Kinsman Ridge, Moat Mountain Range, Baldface Range, and the Mt Chocorua Summit Forest Protection Area.

4.     ROADS



• Base Station Road (State Road 173) from its Jct. with NH RT302 to the Cog Railway Station
• Bear Notch Road (FR 26)
• Beebe River RR Grade (FR 400) from FR 98 West to Forest Boundary
• Breezy Point Road (FR 186) from the Forest boundary to its intersection with the Carriage Road Trail
• Gale River North and South Gale River Road (FR 25 and FR 92)
• Haystack Road (FR 402) from its Jct with NH 3 to North Twin Trailhead
• Jefferson Notch Road (SR 220) from the Base Station Road (FR 173) to Caps Ridge Trailhead
• Kiah Pond Road (FR 418) from its Jct with FR 98 to the end of the road
• Lower Hall Pond Road (FR 417) from its Jct with FR 98 to the end of the road
• Mad River Road (NH 49)
• NH 302
• NH 16
• North and South Gale River Road (FR 25 & FR 92)
• Old Cherry Mtn Road (FR 14) from its Jct with NH 302 to its Jct with NH 115
• Passaconaway Road – from the South Moat Trailhead to the Kancamagus Highway
• Pinkham B Road (SR 207)
• Rocky Branch Road (FR 27)
• RT 112 (Kancamagus Hwy)
• Stillings Road
• Sandwich Notch Road (FR 98)
• Sawyer River Road (FR 34)
• Stinson Lake Road (FR 410) where it crosses Brown Brook, ¼ mile from the crossing
• Tunnel Brook Road (FR 700) from the Jct with NH 112 to the end of the road
• Upper Hall Pond Road (FR 422) from its Jct with FR 98 to the end of the road
• White Ledge Road (FR 369)
• Wild River Road (FR 12)
• Zealand Road (FR 16)

5.     TRAILS

• Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
• Appalachian Trail Corridor – from the summit of Mt Moosilauke to the Connecticut River
• Champney Falls Trail – from the Kancamagus Hwy to the Champney Falls
• Cedar Brook Trail - from intersection of Hancock Notch to the Junction of Hancock Loop Trail
• Falling Waters Trail
• Franconia Falls Trail
• Liberty Springs Trail
• Lower Falls Trail
• Old Bridle Path
• Valley Way Trail – from intersection with the Scar Trail to Madison Hut
• Wild River Trail – from Wild River Campground to a point 1 mile south on the Wild River Trail
• Zeta Pass – ¼ mile from the junction of Carter Moriah Trail and Carter Dome Trail

6.     WATER BODIES

• Black Pond
• Champney Falls
• Diana’s Baths
• East Pond
• Greeley Ponds
• Kiah Pond
• Long Pond
• Sabbaday Falls
• Sawyer Pond (Big and Little)
• Thoreau Falls
• Unknown Pond
• Virginia Lake (south shoreline)

7.      ALPINE SKI AREAS

• Attitash
• Loon Mountain
• Waterville Valley
• Wildcat