SoCal Backcountry Airstrips Guide
Fall 2017 v1.2
SoCal Backcountry Airstrips Guide
This guide booklet is being offered for the Kern Valley Airport
Backcountry Fly-In 2017 event. We make no representation or
authority WHATSOEVER as to the quality, safety, permission, or
legality of using any of these airstrips listed in this publication.
If you do not have permission to land at an airstrip that is not for
public use, then DO NOT LAND there unless accompanied by
someone who does. Otherwise you are trespassing.
This guide is published strictly as reading material for personal
enjoyment, not to be used as aviation reference data. For official
aviation and airfield data, consult the FAA Airport Facilities Direc-
tory.
Suggestions for edits? Please contact [email protected]
Airstrips Overview
NOTES: Privately owned ghost town with care-
taker who tells stories and sells you soda. Land
on road, taxi into town. Main SW-NE road is the
usual landing area; always give way to ground
traffic.
FUN THINGS TO DO: See the remaining ghost
town buildings, graveyard, jail. Barker Ranch
(Charles Manson) is nearby and worth flying
over.
STATUS: Relaxed attitude about airplanes from
locals. Use discretion if busy.
CONTACT: None
WEBSITE: None
MAPS LINK:
BALLARAT GHOST TOWN
LAT/LONG: 36.046/-117.226 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: See diagram
ELEVATION: 1060’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: None
FREQ: None
RUNWAY: See diagram
WIND INDICATOR: Flag by the main build-ing.
NOTES: Private ranch strip, gorgeous approach.
Watch for China Lake jet traffic screaming up the
canyon, might even be below ya’! Wind predomi-
nately comes up the valley from the lake. Small
windsock at southwestern end of strip.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Cabin to stay in, firepits,
tent camping platforms. Natural rock waterslides
a short 5 minute hike from cabin/parking area.
Hike to famous Seven Teacups waterfalls from
there.
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
CONTACT: Anthony 919-457-2855
WEBSITE: www.kernvalleyairport.com/carvers-
cut
FACEBOOK: None
MAPS LINK: Google
CARVER’S CUT 4mi northeast of the town of Johnsondale, CA
LAT/LONG: 36.006/-118.490 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1400’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 4500’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 5500’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY 20: Surface: dirt. Gradient: 4% downhill. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: mountains surrounding area. RUNWAY 02: Surface: dirt. Gradient: 4% uphill. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: mountains surround area.
WIND INDICATOR: southwest end of strip
NOTES: Land uphill, takeoff downhill.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Hot springs are very popu-
lar with pilots and naked hippies.
STATUS: Open to public by National Park Ser-
vice. Maintained by RAF and caretaker.
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755 for strip
status update.
WEBSITE:
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/Chicken-
Strip-165327670225574/
MAPS LINK: Google
CHICKEN STRIP Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park,
CA
LAT/LONG: 36.806/-117.781 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1500’x50’
ELEVATION: 1345’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY ??: Surface: gravel. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-tions: ??. RUNWAY ??: Surface: gravel. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc-tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: ??
CHICKEN STRIP
NOTES: Smooth and as hard as concrete
(unless wet). Watch out for occasional ruts from
cars driving on lake when it’s wet. Do not land
when wet! Stay west of power lines to avoid R-
2505
FUN THINGS TO DO: Easy hike down to Fossil
Falls rock formations.
STATUS: BLM land, no prior permission re-
quired.
CONTACT: None.
WEBSITE: None.
MAPS LINK: Google
CINDER CONE
LAT/LONG: 35.982/-117.899 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 2100’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 3320’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3900’ MSL.
FREQ: None
RUNWAY N: Surface: hard pan. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: R. Obstruc-tions: None. RUNWAY S: Surface: hard pan. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: L. Obstruc-tions: None.
WIND INDICATOR: about midfield
NOTES: Recommend departing downhill to
south. Power lines at north end. Challenging on
day with north winds.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Walk the town of Darwin.
Be courteous of locals; town is still very much
lived in.
STATUS: BLM land, no prior permission re-
quired.
CONTACT:
WEBSITE: www.darwindoc.com/
MAPS LINK: Google
DARWIN Southwest of Panamint Springs
LAT/LONG: 36.263/-117.598 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 2200’ x 60’
ELEVATION: 4721’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 5300’ MSL.
FREQ: None.
RUNWAY N: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: Uphill. Standard traffic pattern: R. Obstruc-tions: None. RUNWAY S: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: Downhill. Standard traffic pattern: L. Ob-structions: Power lines on final.
WIND INDICATOR: None.
NOTES: Airstrip sits in a bowl with a box canyon
to the east. Recommend landing and taking off to
the west, winds permitting. Runway surface is
lakebed, do not land if wet. Watch for OHV activ-
ity; OHV’rs, campers, and prospectors hang out
here; especially on weekends. Sinkholes at mid-
field; only western portion of runway usable.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Interesting old cabin at
west end of lake.
STATUS: BLM owned, RAF maintained. No per-
mission required.
CONTACT:
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
GOLER HEIGHTS
LAT/LONG: 35.427/-117.732 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1800’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 2470’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3300’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.75
RUNWAY W: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: none. Standard traffic pattern: L. Obstruc-tions: Shrubs and BLM signs at beginning of usable runway. RUNWAY E: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: R. Obstruc-tions: Sloping terrain leading to touchdown point. Go-around options poor.
WIND INDICATOR: None
NOTES: Just up the hill from Goler Heights air-
strip. About 1100’ usable, last 300’ still has
shrubs.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Mine ruins to hike around.
Horizontal and vertical shafts.
STATUS: BLM owned. No permission required.
CONTACT:
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
HOLLAND CAMP
LAT/LONG: 35.460/-117.794 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1100’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 3300’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: Pilots Discretion
FREQ: 122.75
RUNWAY S: Surface: rough/soft dirt. Gradi-ent: Undulating. Standard traffic pattern: L. Obstructions: Sloping terrain leading to touchdown point. RUNWAY N: Surface: rough/soft dirt. Gradi-ent: Undulating. Standard traffic pattern: R. Obstructions: None.
WIND INDICATOR: None
HOLLAND CAMP
NOTES: Primarily used as a gliderport. Only
inner portion of Rwy 16-34 usable. Left pattern all
runways. VFR charts show the runways paved
but they are indeed dirt.
FUN THINGS TO DO:
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
CONTACT: Phillipe Athuil 310-963-2589
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
KELSO VALLEY AIRPORT (CN37)
LAT/LONG: 35.384/-118.219 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 2000’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 4074’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 4800’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.9
RUNWAY 16: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: None. RUNWAY 34: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: None.
WIND INDICATOR: Wind Tetrahedron at mid field (unreliable)
NOTES: Wind predominately favors Runway 17,
typical pattern is right hand. For fun, try the mini-
canyon approach from the left (inset). If you do
this, avoid flying over the trailer park and make
several announcements of your non-standard
approach. Aircraft on the ground will not hear
your announcements when you do not have line
of sight.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Airplane camp at adjacent
airport campground ($15/plane/night), 5 min walk
to Kern River for fishing and swimming, airport
café (open 7-3 everyday) has fantastic omelets
and burgers, crew car available with pre-request
to airport manager, river rafting companies will
pick you up from airport (Sierra South 760-376-
3746), just minutes to amazing hiking/mountain
biking/hot springs/rock climbing/fishing/rafting/
kayaking, home of Annual Kern Valley Airport
Backcountry Fly-In every year in May.
STATUS: PUBLIC
CONTACT: Airport: 760-376-2852 Manager: Rick
Lach 661-345-7755
WEBSITE: 1) www.kernvalleyairport.com 2)
www.airnav.com/airport/L05
MAPS LINK: Google
KERN VALLEY AIRPORT (L05) 3mi SSE of Kernville, California
LAT/LONG: 35.729/ -118.419 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 3500’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 2614’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3500’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY 17: Surface: asphalt. Gradient: 0.2% downhill. Standard traffic pattern: right. Obstructions: 10 ft. trees, 375 ft. from runway, 100 ft. right of centerline, 17:1 slope to clear. RUNWAY 35: Surface: asphalt. Gradient: 0.2% uphill. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: None, low approach over lake.
WIND INDICATOR: north, middle, south end of runway
Fun left pattern to Rwy 17
through the mini-canyon
KERN VALLEY AIRPORT (L05)
NOTES: Closed. AF/D phone # doesn’t work.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Kennedy Meadows gen-
eral store.
STATUS: PRIVATE, closed
CONTACT: Kennedy Meadows General Store:
559-850-5647
A/FD: M.E. Fox, 616 Allen Street, Ridgecrest,
CA, 93555, Phone: 619-375-8267
WEBSITE: www.airnav.com/airport/68CN
MAPS LINK: Google
PORTER RANCH (68CN) 10mi NW of Kennedy Meadows, California
LAT/LONG: 36.023/ -118.096 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 3500’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 6800’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: ??
RUNWAY 9: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: left RUNWAY 27: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: mountain, 1320’ from runway, 500’
WIND INDICATOR: ??
PORTER RANCH (68CN)
NOTES: Never officially closed. This is a high
altitude strip, check density altitude, No go-
around, talk to Nick Silicz for contact and permis-
sion to land.
FUN THINGS TO DO:
STATUS: Unknown
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755 or Nick
Silicz 661-747-2889 for status update.
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
MONANCHE MEADOWS
LAT/LONG: 36.225/-118.171 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1300’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 7900’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-tions: ??. RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc-tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: ??
MONANCHE MEADOWS
NOTES: Land uphill to the west. Take off to the
east. One way strip with no go-around, decide
early. Nosedraggers advised to park at top of
strip to avoid uphill taxi for takeoff. For everyone
else, there’s a nice parking area at east end on
north side of strip.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Restaurant and motel.
Pizza is amazing.
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
CONTACT: 775-482-7680
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
PanamintSprings/ (They respond to Facebook
messages quickly)
WEBSITE: www.panamintsprings.com
MAPS LINK: Google
PANAMINT SPRINGS north of R-2505
LAT/LONG: 36.338/-117.468 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1800’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 1900’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 2900’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.9
RUNWAY ‘WEST’: Surface: gravel. Gradi-ent: +100’ Elev. Change. Standard traffic pattern: Pilot’s Discretion. Obstructions: Hwy adjacent threshold. Buildings and equip-ment adjacent runway surface. No Takeoffs. RUNWAY ‘EAST’: Surface: gravel. Gradi-ent: -100’ Elev. Change. Standard traffic pattern: N/A. Obstructions: Turnaround is tight. Takeoffs Only, No Landings.
WIND INDICATOR: Flag by restaurant.
PANAMINT SPRINGS RESORT
NOTES: Landing is uphill and on a slight slant.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Stay at Rick’s guest
house, help feed the animals.
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
RICK’S STRIP Weldon, CA
LAT/LONG: 35.626/-118.266 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1300’ x 30’
ELEVATION: 2975’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-tions: ??. RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc-tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: lower end of field, tat-tered
RICK’S STRIP
NOTES: The people at Grump Bears Retreat
says this strip was closed a while ago. Still on
the charts. A/FD contact #’s don’t work.
FUN THINGS TO DO: Grumpy Bear retreat.
STATUS: PRIVATE, closed.
CONTACT: Grumpy Bears Retreat 559-850-2327
A/FD contact: KIT ALEXANDER
P.O. BOX 1516
WELDON, CA 93283
Phone 805-871-0482
WEBSITE: www.airnav.com/airport/91CL
MAPS LINK: Google
SACATAR MEADOWS (91CL) 3mi SE of Kennedy Meadows
LAT/LONG: 35.989/-118.080 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 3300’x50’
ELEVATION: 6427’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY 11: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: right. Obstruc-tions: hills/fence. RUNWAY 29: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: hills.
WIND INDICATOR: ??
SACATAR MEADOWS (91CL)
NOTES: Private ranch strip.
FUN THINGS TO DO:
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
CONTACT: Nick Silicz 661-747-2889
WEBSITE: None
MAPS LINK: Google
SILICZ BOYZ Waggy Flats Meadows
LAT/LONG: 35.664/-118.547 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1700’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 4563’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ??’ MSL.
FREQ: 122.8
RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: tall trees on approach end. RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc-tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: ??
SILICZ BOYZ
NOTES: Not a real airstrip, true ‘off-airport’ land-
ing. Land along raised bluff. Smooth but made of
many small rock, i.e. ‘desert pavement’. Try not
to cross two-track road at high speeds, it’s rough-
er than airstrip.
FUN THINGS TO DO:
STATUS: BLM owned land. Don’t land if too
many people around.
CONTACT:
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
TRONA PINNACLES
LAT/LONG: 35.624/-117.376 BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS: 1800’ x 50’
ELEVATION: 1780’ MSL
PATTERN ALTITUDE: Pilot Discretion
FREQ: 122.75
RUNWAY W: Surface: gravel. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: Numerous. RUNWAY E: Surface: gravel. Gradient: None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-structions: None.
WIND INDICATOR: None
TRONA PINNACLES
NOTES:
FUN THINGS TO DO:
STATUS:
CONTACT:
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google
COMING SOON
LAT/LONG: BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY: DIMENSIONS:
ELEVATION:
PATTERN ALTITUDE:
FREQ:
RUNWAY ??: Surface: ??. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-tions: ??. RUNWAY E: Surface: ??. Gradient: ??. Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: ??
COMING SOON
• Anza Pot #1
• Anza Pot #2
• Anza Institution
• Big Rock
• Billy Joe
• Corona #2
• Ernst Field
• Flying T
• Garner Ranch
• Hoffman
• Lake Arrowhead
• Lake Riverside Estates
• Lake Wohlford
• Landers
• Loma Madera
• McConville
• Middle Aguanga
• Pines Airpark
• Pixley Canyon
• Ramona #2
• Templeton Meadows
• Tenaja Ranch
• Tunnel Meadows
• Vail Lake
• Warner Springs Glider Port
• Many more…
SUGGESTIONS??