Why Tourists Should Avoid Bringing This Popular Electronic Device Into National Parks

If I could, I would fly a drone right through Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. I can just imagine the aerial footage: I'm flying over the copper-colored desert, then descending toward that horseshoe-shaped rock formation. The stone pillars on either side get bigger and bigger; the texture becomes clearer. Beyond its pillars, I can see the bright blue sky. I fly straight into that natural doorway, and Delicate Arch disappears beyond the camera's view. Are there people around? Even better! Ant-like visitors would give a sense of scale, showing how impressive this 46-foot-tall natural wonder really is.

I've also accepted that this will probably never happen. The National Park Service banned all drone use in parks and public lands in 2014, and the regulation has remained steadfast ever since. It doesn't matter that I have a Part 107 commercial drone pilot license, a perfect record, proper registration, a decent amount of flight time, and an ever-growing list of satisfied clients; when I visit a national park, I'm expected to keep the drone at home.

If you've attempted the Part 107 test — or take drone use remotely seriously — you're probably not surprised. U.S. airspace is a head-spinning crazy-quilt of regulated and restricted zones, and the Federal Aviation Administration maintains strict rules for where, when, and how to operate a drone. Meanwhile, the NPS is no-nonsense about protecting public lands, including the air above them. Here are 12 things you didn't realize could get you banned from national parks. If carrying bear spray is a crime in California's park system (even if there are lots of, you know, bears), rangers probably don't want squadrons of unmanned aircraft zipping through redwood forests.

While I fantasize about flying a drone into the Grand Canyon, I also know why this ban is in place. Drones are a noisy and surreal presence, and they distract visitors from the natural environment. Like so many pilots, I love to send my drone into the air and capture aerial video, but I roll my eyes when other people do it. If there's one place in the world where visitors should shed their technology and live in the moment, it's a national park. Yes, the light and shadows of the Indiana Dunes would probably look breathtaking from 200 feet up, but they also look pretty stellar on the ground.

Then there are all the needless risks. Drones can collide with people and things. They can freak out wildlife; conversely, predatory birds have been known to attack drones, thinking they're edible prey. Pilots lose drones all the time, and they litter the ground and waterways; no visitor wants to see a drone melting into the mud pots of Yellowstone or stuck to the spiny leaves of a Joshua tree. The landscape may beg to be photographed from above, but NPS has to err on the side of caution. They're not alone: You should think twice about bringing this popular recording device on a cruise, as well.

In theory, a drone pilot can ask NPS for written permission to fly. If you have a good reason, NPS has the authority to make exceptions. (To sweeten the deal, you might offer to donate digital content; NPS has its own social media feeds to fill). If they decline — and you can settle for earthbound camera work – these 5 uncrowded U.S. national parks are the best to spot wildlife.