Is it legal to hop over somebody's property? Do people own the (very low-altitude) "airspace" over their land?

You might want to read more of that original link:

" While permission from the adjacent upland owner is not required for use of the water or land below the ordinary high water mark, the right to use the water does not include the right to enter, cross, or use private uplands except as minimally necessary to portage around obstacles or obstructions. River users should not assume the adjacent uplands are open for any use. "

A similar issue is being litigated in Oregon right now (google Lake Oswego) and the Oregon Supreme Court has still not decided whether public trust doctrine allows access to a navigable in fact water surrounded by private and city (but essentially private) land.

/r/legaladvice Thread Parent