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 info@kernvalleyairport.com

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??