Fair warning to any drone pilots thinking of heading to Banff National Park in Alberta Canada’s Rocky Mountains, if you bring your drone to the park and fly it, you are breaking the law and may be faced with law enforcement action and fines of up to $25,000.

Park Canada isn’t playing when it comes to enforcing their drone prohibition in Banff designed to help protect wildlife, those operating emergency helicopters and preserve the natural soundscape for everyone to enjoy. In January Park Wardens in Lake Louise seized a drone, the controller and storage card, and charged an operator with violating Section 2(4) of the National Parks of Canada Air Access Regulations which prohibits take-offs or landings of an aircraft in a park after responding to reports of an illegal flight. Ultimately the guilty party pled guilty and was ordered by the Court to pay a $2000 penalty. 

While you might think that pulling a micro-drone out of your pocket for a low hovering selfie in Banff might be permissable, park officials are quick to point out that are no “micro-execptions” and even drones weighing under 250 gram are illegal to fly.

Banff National Park

“The launching, landing, or use of any unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is prohibited in Banff National Park except with written authorization from the Superintendent. A UAV is any powered device capable of sustained flight, which is controlled remotely or is self-operating, and does not carry passengers. This includes but is not limited to air or balloon drones, microdrones, aeroplanes, quadcopters, rotorcraft or similar devices.”

Word to the wise, if you plan on taking a trip to Banff National Park, leave your drone at home or you may well end up facing some pretty hefty consequences.

Key Drone Rules in Banff National Park:

  • No Recreational Flying: You cannot fly for fun, photography, or videography within the park boundaries.
  • Permit Required: Only commercial operators with a specialized restricted activity permit from Parks Canada are allowed to operate, typically for, “natural or cultural resource management and protection, public safety, or, “law enforcement” purposes,.
  • No “Micro” Exceptions: Even small drones weighing less than 250 gram are illegal to fly for recreation.
  • No Flying from Outside: You cannot take off or land outside the park and fly inside; the restriction covers the airspace within the boundary.
  • Outside the Park: Drones can be operated on public (Crown) lands outside the national park, provided you follow Transport Canada regulations. 

Tim Konrad is the founder and publisher of Unofficial Networks, a leading platform for skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor adventure. With over 20 years in the ski industry, Tim’s global ski explorations...