Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the timed-entry reservation that governs when you can even get in.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Rocky Mountain National Park Special Use Permits office
Cost: No NPS permit for groups of 8 or fewer meeting the EXPLORE Act conditions; location and cost-recovery fees apply to permitted shoots
Processing: Plan ahead for permitted productions
Small groups of eight or fewer using hand-carried gear in public areas, without exclusive use and without extra cost to the park, generally need no permit under the EXPLORE Act. Photography and art instruction conducted for clients has its own special-park-conditions process; check with the park.
Drone / airspace
Effectively banned: launching, landing, or operating a drone within park boundaries is prohibited
NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 directs each superintendent to close the park to drone use under 36 CFR 1.5. For airspace, Part 107, and legal flying nearby, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes for personal and editorial photography throughout the park
Standard visitor photography is welcome.
Practical notes
- Timed-entry reservations are typically required in the busy season; a photo permit does not replace park entry timing.
- Trail Ridge Road is seasonal and usually closed by snow from roughly mid-October into late spring.
- Bear Lake and Sprague Lake are the reliable sunrise reflections and fill early.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: