No. Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park, managed by the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department, not the National Park Service. Its permits page says drones are prohibited at all Navajo Tribal Park locations and will be confiscated if flown there, and the department's home page says drones are strictly prohibited inside tribal park lands "and across our Great Nation." Filming and photography projects need a separate tribal film or special use permit. Your FAA certificate or Part 107 license doesn't change any of that.
Who manages Monument Valley?
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the Utah and Arizona border, entirely inside the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is a sovereign tribe that controls access to its land. Federal aviation rules still apply in the air, but the tribe decides whether you can be on its land, launch a drone there or film for commercial use.
That's why the answer is different from a national park. At Grand Canyon or Arches, a federal regulation bans drones. In Monument Valley, it's tribal law and park rules, enforced by Navajo park rangers and police, and the park says drones flown there will be confiscated.
The scenic drive and Forrest Gump Point
The Valley Drive loop, the Wildcat Trail and the overlooks near the visitor center are all inside the tribal park. The famous US-163 view known as Forrest Gump Point is outside the park gates but still on Navajo Nation land. Pulling over on a busy highway shoulder to fly is also unsafe and draws attention from police. Plan on no drone there either.
What about guided tours?
Navajo guides lead jeep, horseback and photography tours into areas closed to private cars. Tour operators set their own rules within tribal policy. If aerial footage matters for a project, contact Navajo Parks and Recreation well before your trip and ask what permit applies. Don't assume a tour includes drone permission.
Where you can fly nearby
- Valley of the Gods and other BLM land near Mexican Hat: BLM land in southeast Utah is generally open to drones outside wilderness and wilderness study areas with posted limits. Parts of this area are inside Bears Ears National Monument, so check with the BLM's Monticello office first.
- Goosenecks State Park: a Utah state park with its own drone rules. Ask before you fly.
- Other Navajo sites: Antelope Canyon and Four Corners Monument are Navajo tribal parks, and Canyon de Chelly is a national monument on Navajo land, so both NPS and tribal rules apply there. Plan on no drones without permission.
FAA rules still apply wherever you fly
- Pass the free TRUST test and carry proof.
- Register drones of 250 g or more and fly with Remote ID.
- Stay at or below 400 ft above the ground.
- Check for TFRs, especially fire restrictions in summer.
Shooting Monument Valley without a drone
The view from the visitor center terrace already looks over the Mittens and Merrick Butte. A wide lens at sunrise or sunset does most of what a drone would, and a long lens compresses the buttes against the sky.
Which drone for the Four Corners trip
For legal flying on BLM land along the way, a sub-250 g drone such as the DJI Mini 5 Pro or Mini 4 Pro skips hobby registration and packs small. The DJI Neo is good for quick selfie clips at camp. Planning more stops? Read Moab, Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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