The 5 Best Places to Fly a Drone in Salt Lake City (2024)

In this article, we’ve scouted out the best places to fly a drone in Salt Lake City, Utah.

If you live in (or are traveling to) Salt Lake City, please use this page as a resource to better understand not just where to fly, but also where it’s legal and illegal to fly a drone. We provide guidance on regulations to help you stay compliant with both federal and local rules.

A Sectional Chart of the airspace surrounding Salt Lake City, UT. Source: VFR Map

Salt Lake City Drone Laws — Recreational vs. Commercial

The first thing to understand about flying a drone in Salt Lake City (or any city for that matter) is that under federal FAA regulations, you are either operating recreationally or commercially.

• Recreational drone pilots fall under the FAA’s recreational flyer rules, which are laid out here. Make sure your aircraft is registered and you complete The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which are both required by the FAA.
• Commercial drone pilots fall under the FAA’s Part 107 regulations, which require passing a multiple-choice test and becoming an FAA-certified drone pilot. More information on the drone certification process over here.

Drone operators are no longer required to independently contact air traffic control when flying within five miles of an airport. Instead, both recreational and commercial flyers can use the automated LAANC system to request airspace authorization to fly in controlled airspace around and above many airports. If you’re operating in Class B, C, D, or E controlled airspace, you’ll need to request airspace authorization. You may do this through LAANC or through FAADroneZone in areas where LAANC is not available.

When we list locations below, we’ll share whether they sit in controlled or uncontrolled airspace.

Get up-to-date airspace information, including temporary flight restrictions, using free apps like Aloft , Autopylot , or B4UFLY .

Interested in becoming an FAA-certified drone pilot so you can operate under the Part 107 regulations and make money flying your drone? Check out our industry-leading, online training course over at Drone Pilot Ground School.

So those are the federal rules.

But what about local Salt Lake City drone laws?

Here’s a guide we put together for drone laws in Utah. Make sure to consult that to see if there are any local drone ordinances you should follow in Salt Lake City. When in doubt, use good judgment and follow the FAA’s guidelines.

State Park Information:

In order to protect peoples’ privacy and enjoyment, along with the well being of Utah’s abundant wildlife, the following guidelines and regulations are in place (these are for Antelope Island State Park only. For other areas, please contact those parks directly).

Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel. If we missed something, or if you have further questions, please send an email to support[at]horizonap[dot]com, and we’ll do our best to help you out.

Where to Fly a Drone in Salt Lake City

Alrighty—without further ado, here are our top picks for the best places to fly a drone in the Salt Lake City area. We selected these locations based on airspace restrictions, accessibility, and attractions. You’ll find that most of the locations we’ve chosen are located in uncontrolled, Class G airspace where you don’t need to request permission to fly. Additionally, we made sure to highlight any locations with designated sUAS/remote aircraft fields.

1 — Memory Grove Park

300 N Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

• Airspace Class: Class B — Controlled
• Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=40.778174&long=-111.886765

Memory Grove Park is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and consists of open green spaces, monuments, and pathways along the creek. The park sits adjacent to the State Capitol Building providing an incredible backdrop with its Neoclassical revival design and the mountains off in the distance. Drone pilots will enjoy the historical architecture found throughout the park and the surrounding area.

Source: Jkinsocial

2 — Liberty Park

600 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

• Airspace Class: Class G —  Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=40.747105&long=-111.875653

Liberty Park is the second-largest park in Salt Lake City, Utah at 80 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The pond located on the property offers a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance that reflects off the surface of the water on a clear day. The numerous wide-open spaces make this an ideal location to fly a drone to capture the scenic views. The historic Chase Home Museum sits at the center of the park offering another unique point-of-interest for drone pilots.

Source: Kris 

3 — Little Mountain Summit

588 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=40.768407&long=-111.703755

Little Mountain Summit is located in the Emigration Canyon east of Salt Lake City, Utah. This location features phenomenal views of the Little Dell Reservoir and the Mountain Dell Reservoir. The contrast between the vivid blue water and the surrounding mountainscape would look incredible in any drone footage.

4 — Antelope Island State Park

4528 W 1700 S, Syracuse, UT 84075

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=40.959860&long=-112.231046

Antelope Island State Park is located on the Great Salt Lake in Syracuse, Utah. The island offers unparalleled views of the lake which is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. For those looking for an even better vantage point, Frary Peak offers one of the best views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, including nearby Fremont Island. The diverse wildlife population which includes roaming buffalo and antelope that really add a unique element. This cinematic location looks like something right out of a movie and would be appreciated by any drone pilot.

Source: mo1229

5 — Kessler Peak

Utah 84006

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=40.658933&long=-112.195608

Kessler Peak is located within the Big Cottonwood Canyon and stands at an astounding 10,403 feet. The entire hike to the summit is 5.5 miles, the good news is that trail is not very challenging which makes this great for drone pilots who are carrying their gear. It provides an extraordinary view of Great Salt Lake, the Salt Lake Valley, and the surrounding mountains.