Monument Valley

[GFields]

John-you launched/landed 3 mi from AZ state line on 163? Or by Forest Gump spot?
Can you launch/land near Monument Valley Airport(uncontrolled)
So confused…and don’t want any hassles
Thnx

This thread is four years old. It is doubtful you'll get a reply

 

[PaJi]

Let me be another to praise this great video! I loved the flying, the scenery, and the music. The editing was spot on. I am not as a good a pilot in doing those circles around the mittens and buttes. Hopefully I won't crash into one of them. Have been flying for 2 years.

I happen to be personally very interested because I have just canceled my trip to Monument Valley after months of planning, because of the coronavirus. I canceled a three day stay at the View Cabins and a sunset tour as well. I hope to reschedule in September if corona is subdued. I really would appreciate any tips on this forum or as a conversation or off forum as to places where I could get shots with the Mavic 2 Pro without taking off from the park. Can you contact me?

Dale
Miami

Hi Dale,
I came across this old thread on the forum. I'm heading to Monument Valley, and sites around Moab in late March. Any suggestions or advice re legal places/ways to fly? Seems like a lot of the area is restricted to drones. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
Philadelphia

 

[John Locke]

Hi Dale,
I came across this old thread on the forum. I'm heading to Monument Valley, and sites around Moab in late March. Any suggestions or advice re legal places/ways to fly? Seems like a lot of the area is restricted to drones. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
Philadelphia

The Navajo don't allow drones to be launched and retrieved on their land. If you're caught, you are under tribal law jurisdiction. You may have your drone confiscated, held hostage for $$. I never flew within the Navajo nation "park" in Arizona, I always launched and landed outside of their control, in Utah. However, I believe the whole area is actually under their control. So to fly relatively safe, I flew from the highway, over by Stagecoach monument in Utah. There are some road turnouts available in that area. I stayed in my car to control the craft, kinda hiding, as you don't want to be obvious to a passersby. On another flight I launched from the KOA campground nearby. If you're flying a Mini, that craft is pretty quiet. If you ascend to 100-150ft, you can't hear very easily. So when flying I try to stay at least that high in case I unknowingly fly over a tribe residence, so they can't hear it.
You may want to check out Valley of the Gods nearby, a very pretty area. I think drones are acceptable there (not sure).

 

[Dale D]

The Navajo don't allow drones to be launched and retrieved on their land. If you're caught, you are under tribal law jurisdiction. You may have your drone confiscated, held hostage for $$. I never flew within the Navajo nation "park" in Arizona, I always launched and landed outside of their control, in Utah. However, I believe the whole area is actually under their control. So to fly relatively safe, I flew from the highway, over by Stagecoach monument in Utah. There are some road turnouts available in that area. I stayed in my car to control the craft, kinda hiding, as you don't want to be obvious to a passersby. On another flight I launched from the KOA campground nearby. If you're flying a Mini, that craft is pretty quiet. If you ascend to 100-150ft, you can't hear very easily. So when flying I try to stay at least that high in case I unknowingly fly over a tribe residence, so they can't hear it.
You may want to check out Valley of the Gods nearby, a very pretty area. I think drones are acceptable there (not sure).

Hi John:

We has planned a great trip there but Covid canceled it. Of course Monument Valley is all Navajo land and the web site says drones are prohibited (see my attachment). I was able to secure a great motel, overlooking he monuments and really was sorry to lose that opportunity . If it is possible to fly nearby the boundaries, it would be a try. Read the 2nd to last bottom line of this attachment. I would book a private tour (Google to find guide). This way you will not waste time in scouting. My goal was to film timelapse sunrises and sunsets over the valley from my motel room. Using a DSLR and timelapse software.

Dale

 

[GrayHornet]

Great vid!!!! Nice color grading.

 

[GroovyGeek]

Thank you. Well done. My next task will be to goon Goggle Earth and find that Utah Highway north of the Tribal lands. We are planning to be in the area perhaps this fall. About how far from the launch did you have to fly for this spectacular scenery? Thanks

No need for Google Earth. The view from Forrest Gump viewpoint is THE iconic view of the American Southwest. The OP probably used one of the numerous pullouts along that road.

While I am not normally a stickler for VLOS laws, I have my own opinions about violating it over reservations.

 

[Dale D]

No need for Google Earth. The view from Forrest Gump viewpoint is THE iconic view of the American Southwest. The OP probably used one of the numerous pullouts along that road.

While I am not normally a stickler for VLOS laws, I have my own opinions about violating it over reservations.

Regrettably, I found this on Google.
I have had several close calls with various native tribe police departments. They were not pleasant. I will not discuss further than that for fear of self incrimination.

 

[GroovyGeek]

Regrettably, I found this on Google.
I have had several close calls with various native tribe police departments. They were not pleasant. I will not discuss further than that for fear of self incrimination.
View attachment 180652

AI Summaries are NEVER to be relied upon for hard information, but in this case they are correct. I initially thought that US-163 is not part of the reservation, so the video only played it loose with VLOS rules but was not an outright violation of takeoff/landing restrictions. However a map check confirms that that is not the case. The first place where drone takeoffs are allowed is Mexican Hat. If the OP is making a living with their drone they will be well served to take down the video. I know professional photographers that have run into pedantic park rangers who, in response to various permit requests, go on their websites to ensure that the photographer has not skirted any laws.

 

[Dale D]

I went back to look at the Mexican Hat location. *By the way do not miss Goosenecks but very crowed).

 

[GroovyGeek]

I went back to look at the Mexican Hat location. *By the way do not miss Goosenecks but very crowed).View attachment 180653View attachment 180653

Don't think you can fly at Goosenecks. State parks are exlcuded. However the Moki Dugway and Valley of the Gods are on BLM land... I think. If you have the right vehicle, there are a number of spur roads from UT-261 above the Moki Dugway that take you to the edge of the Valley of the Gods.

Here is a top-down view of the Moki Dugway

https://bboyanov.com/gallery/_data/i/upload/2024/01/03/20240103032435-1e73a39d-la.jpg

 

[MARK (LI)]

Hi Dale,
I came across this old thread on the forum. I'm heading to Monument Valley, and sites around Moab in late March. Any suggestions or advice re legal places/ways to fly? Seems like a lot of the area is restricted to drones. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
Philadelphia

Don't be discouraged by the regulations about flying there ....it is a spectacular area.....although the word spectacular does not adequately describe how breathtakingly beautiful it is ....which is partly why the Native Americans hold it in such high esteem ...if you have a decent DSLR or mirrorless camera you will still get fabulous photographs