Can I fly a drone?

No. You cannot recreationally fly a drone at Sunshine Village or Sunshine Meadows. The area is within Banff National Park, where recreational drone use is prohibited.

That prohibition applies even if you are simply hoping to take scenic aerial photographs of Sunshine Meadows, Rock Isle Lake, the Standish area, or the surrounding mountains. Having a registered drone or a Canadian drone pilot certificate does not by itself give you permission to fly within the national park.

Special drone use may be authorized in limited circumstances-such as certain commercial, research, public-safety, or park-management operations-but this requires specific authorization from Parks Canada and is not an option for ordinary recreational sightseeing.

Fortunately, you can get remarkably elevated photographs without a drone. The Standish Chairlift and Standish Viewing Deck provide high perspectives over the meadows and alpine lakes that can give photographs an almost aerial appearance.

For a typical visitor, the simple rule is: leave the drone at home when visiting Sunshine Meadows and Banff National Park. Book the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish ChairliftBooking the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish Chairlift Admission includes All taxes, fees and handling charges. Banff Gondola Home