Best Places to Fly
Your Drone in San Francisco
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San Francisco Drone Flying
Locations Map
1. Empowerment Park
Empowerment Park is near San Francisco, located on the eastern side of the tidal lagoon, Lake Merrit, in Central Oakland. Empowerment Park is a National Historic Landmark that spans some 140 acres. It offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding areas. Drone pilots who like to film at dusk can capture the amazing necklace lights that illuminate the lake. Videographers who enjoy nature—especially birds—can film a variety of species from the several islands.
Flying around Lake Merrit, be careful as the pathways and streets around the lake can get very busy with foot and vehicle traffic. There are also many seagulls and other birds in the area that can act aggressively towards craft.
2. Blue Park, San Francisco Bay
Blue Park is part of Yerba Buena Island, which sits on the world-famous San Francisco Bay. Nearby Treasure Island has plenty of interesting things to see and do. For drone pilots, though, it’s the surrounding views that offer the most appeal. From here, you can capture spectacular footage of the encompassing bay and city skyline across the water. There’s also the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, although drones are not allowed to fly close to the latter.
3. Cesar E. Chavez Park
The 90-acre Cesar E. Chavez Park is another attractive spot for drone photographers and fun flyers. This gorgeous space encompasses the San Francisco Bay Area. You can easily see three of its bridges and the distant San Francisco skyline. Also, within the line of sight from the wide-open grassy park are Alcatraz and Angel Islands. There’s a lot to capture here. Be sure to turn up with a couple of spare batteries and plenty of storage if you plan to film
