SoCal Backcountry Airstrips Guide SoCal Backcountry Airstrips Guide

Spring 2017 v1.0 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 visit: www.kernvalleyairport.com/

socal-backcountry-airstrips-guide-contact-form.html
NOTES: Privately owned ghost town with care- BALLARAT GHOST TOWN NOTES: Private ranch strip, gorgeous approach. CARVERS CUT
taker who tells stories and sells you soda. Land Watch for China Lake jet traffic screaming up the 4mi northeast of the town of Johnsondale, CA
on road, taxi into town. Main SW-NE road is the canyon, might even be below ya! Wind predomi-
usual landing area; always give way to ground LAT/LONG: 36.046/-117.226 nately comes up the valley from the lake. Land LAT/LONG: 36.006/-118.490
traffic. downhill, takeoff downhill.
BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY
FUN THINGS TO DO: See the remaining ghost DIFFICULTY: FUN THINGS TO DO: Cabin to stay in, firepits, DIFFICULTY:
town buildings, graveyard, jail. Barker Ranch tent camping platforms. Natural rock waterslides
DIMENSIONS: See diagram DIMENSIONS: 1400 x 50
(Charles Manson) is nearby and worth flying a short 5 minute hike from cabin/parking area.
over. ELEVATION: 1060 MSL Hike to famous Seven Teacups waterfalls from ELEVATION: 4500 MSL
there.
STATUS: Relaxed attitude about airplanes from
locals. Use discretion if busy. PATTERN ALTITUDE: None STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required. PATTERN ALTITUDE: 5500 MSL.

CONTACT: None CONTACT: Anthony 919-457-2855

FREQ: None FREQ: 122.8
WEBSITE: None WEBSITE: None
RUNWAY: See diagram RUNWAY S: Surface: dirt. Gradient: 4%
MAPS LINK: FACEBOOK: (private group) downhill. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
www.facebook.com/groups/CarversCut/ structions: mountains surrounding area.
WIND INDICATOR: Flag by the main build-
ing. MAPS LINK: Google RUNWAY N: Surface: dirt. Gradient: 4%
uphill. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
structions: mountains surround area.

WIND INDICATOR: southwest end of strip

 CHICKEN STRIP

NOTES: Land uphill, takeoff downhill. CHICKEN STRIP NOTES: Smooth and as hard as concrete CINDER CONE
Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park, (unless wet). Watch out for occasional ruts from
FUN THINGS TO DO: Hot springs are very popu- CA cars driving on lake when its wet. Do not land
lar with pilots and naked hippies. LAT/LONG: 35.982/-117.899
when wet! Stay west of power lines to avoid R-
LAT/LONG: 36.806/-117.781 2505
STATUS: Open to public by National Park Ser- BACKCOUNTRY
vice. Maintained by RAF and caretaker. BACKCOUNTRY DIFFICULTY:
FUN THINGS TO DO: Easy hike down to Fossil
DIFFICULTY:
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755 for strip Falls rock formations.
DIMENSIONS: 2100 x 50
status update. DIMENSIONS: 1500x50 STATUS: BLM land, no prior permission re-
WEBSITE: quired. ELEVATION: 3320 MSL
ELEVATION: 1345 MSL
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/Chicken- CONTACT: None. PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3900 MSL.
Strip-165327670225574/ PATTERN ALTITUDE: ?? MSL.
WEBSITE: None.
MAPS LINK: Google FREQ: None
FREQ: 122.8 MAPS LINK: Google
RUNWAY N: Surface: hard pan. Gradient:
RUNWAY ??: Surface: gravel. Gradient: ??. None. Standard traffic pattern: R. Obstruc-
Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc- tions: None.
tions: ??.
RUNWAY S: Surface: hard pan. Gradient:
RUNWAY ??: Surface: gravel. Gradient: ??. None. Standard traffic pattern: L. Obstruc-
Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc- tions: None.
tions: ??.
WIND INDICATOR: about midfield
WIND INDICATOR: ??
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/
DARWIN NOTES: Airstrip sits in a bowl with a box canyon GOLER HEIGHTS
Southwest of Panamint Springs to the east. Recommend landing and taking off to
the west, winds permitting. Runway surface is
LAT/LONG: 36.263/-117.598 lakebed, do not land if wet. Watch for OHV activ- LAT/LONG: 35.427/-117.732
ity; OHVrs, campers, and prospectors hang out
BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY: here; especially on weekends. Sinkholes at mid- DIFFICULTY:
field; only western portion of runway usable.
DIMENSIONS: 2200 x 60 DIMENSIONS: 1800 x 50
FUN THINGS TO DO: Interesting old cabin at
ELEVATION: 4721 MSL west end of lake. ELEVATION: 2470 MSL
STATUS: BLM owned, RAF maintained. No per-
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 5300 MSL. mission required. PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3300 MSL.

MAPS LINK: Google CONTACT:

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.
FREQ: 122.75
WEBSITE:
RUNWAY W: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient:
MAPS LINK: Google 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

 HOLLAND CAMP

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:
HOLLAND CAMP NOTES: Primarily used as a gliderport. Only KELSO VALLEY AIRPORT (CN37)
inner portion of Rwy 16-34 usable. Left pattern all
runways. VFR charts show the runways paved
LAT/LONG: 35.460/-117.794 but they are indeed dirt. LAT/LONG: 35.384/-118.219
BACKCOUNTRY FUN THINGS TO DO: BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULTY:
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
DIMENSIONS: 1100 x 50 DIMENSIONS: 2000 x 50
CONTACT: Phillipe Athuil 310-963-2589

WEBSITE: ELEVATION: 3300 MSL WEBSITE: ELEVATION: 4074 MSL

MAPS LINK: Google PATTERN ALTITUDE: Pilots Discretion MAPS LINK: Google PATTERN ALTITUDE: 4800 MSL.

FREQ: 122.75 FREQ: 122.9

RUNWAY S: Surface: rough/soft dirt. Gradi- RUNWAY 16: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient:
ent: Undulating. Standard traffic pattern: L. None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
Obstructions: Sloping terrain leading to structions: None.
touchdown point.
RUNWAY 34: Surface: soft dirt. Gradient:
RUNWAY N: Surface: rough/soft dirt. Gradi- None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
ent: Undulating. Standard traffic pattern: R. structions: None.
Obstructions: None.
WIND INDICATOR: Wind Tetrahedron at mid
WIND INDICATOR: None field (unreliable)
 KERN VALLEY AIRPORT (L05) PORTER RANCH (68CN)

Fun left pattern to Rwy 17

through the mini-canyon

NOTES: Wind predominately favors Runway 17, KERN VALLEY AIRPORT (L05) NOTES: Closed. AF/D phone # doesnt work. PORTER RANCH (68CN)
typical pattern is right hand. For fun, try the mini- 3mi SSE of Kernville, California 10mi NW of Kennedy Meadows, California
FUN THINGS TO DO: Kennedy Meadows gen-
canyon approach from the left (inset). If you do
LAT/LONG: 35.729/ -118.419 eral store. LAT/LONG: 36.023/ -118.096
this, avoid flying over the trailer park and make
several announcements of your non-standard STATUS: PRIVATE, closed
BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY
approach. Aircraft on the ground will not hear DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULTY:
your announcements when you do not have line CONTACT: Kennedy Meadows General Store:
of sight. DIMENSIONS: 3500 x 50 559-850-5647 DIMENSIONS: 3500 x 50

FUN THINGS TO DO: Airplane camp at adjacent A/FD: M.E. Fox, 616 Allen Street, Ridgecrest,
ELEVATION: 2614 MSL CA, 93555, Phone: 619-375-8267 ELEVATION: 6800 MSL
airport campground ($15/plane/night), 5 min walk
to Kern River for fishing and swimming, airport WEBSITE: www.airnav.com/airport/68CN
PATTERN ALTITUDE: 3500 MSL. PATTERN ALTITUDE: ?? MSL.
caf (open 7-3 everyday) has fantastic omelets
and burgers, crew car available with pre-request MAPS LINK: Google
FREQ: 122.8 FREQ: ??
to airport manager, river rafting companies will
pick you up from airport (Sierra South 760-376-
RUNWAY 17: Surface: asphalt. Gradient: RUNWAY 9: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??.
3746), just minutes to amazing hiking/mountain 0.2% downhill. Standard traffic pattern: Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions:
biking/hot springs/rock climbing/fishing/rafting/ right. Obstructions: 10 ft. trees, 375 ft. from left
kayaking, home of Annual Kern Valley Airport runway, 100 ft. right of centerline, 17:1 slope
Backcountry Fly-In every year in May. to clear. RUNWAY 27: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??.
Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions:
STATUS: PUBLIC RUNWAY 35: Surface: asphalt. Gradient: mountain, 1320 from runway, 500
0.2% uphill. Standard traffic pattern: left.
CONTACT: Airport: 760-376-2852 Manager: Rick Obstructions: None, low approach over
WIND INDICATOR: ??
Lach 661-345-7755 lake.

WEBSITE: 1) www.kernvalleyairport.com 2)
WIND INDICATOR: north, middle, south end
www.airnav.com/airport/L05 of runway
MAPS LINK: Google
 MONANCHE MEADOWS PANAMINT SPRINGS RESORT

NOTES: Never officially closed. This is a high MONANCHE MEADOWS NOTES: Land uphill to the west. Take off to the PANAMINT SPRINGS
altitude strip, check density altitude, No go- east. One way strip with no go-around, decide north of R-2505
around, talk to Nick Silicz for contact and permis- early. Nosedraggers advised to park at top of
sion to land. LAT/LONG: 36.225/-118.171 strip to avoid uphill taxi for takeoff. For everyone LAT/LONG: 36.338/-117.468
else, theres a nice parking area at east end on
FUN THINGS TO DO: BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY: north side of strip. DIFFICULTY:
STATUS: Unknown
FUN THINGS TO DO: Restaurant and motel.
DIMENSIONS: 1300 x 50 DIMENSIONS: 1800 x 50
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755 or Nick Pizza is amazing.
Silicz 661-747-2889 for status update. ELEVATION: 7900 MSL ELEVATION: 1900 MSL
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required.
WEBSITE:
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ?? MSL. CONTACT: 775-482-7680 PATTERN ALTITUDE: 2900 MSL.
MAPS LINK: Google
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
FREQ: 122.8 PanamintSprings/ (They respond to Facebook FREQ: 122.9
messages quickly)
RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. RUNWAY WEST: Surface: gravel. Gradi-
Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc- WEBSITE: www.panamintsprings.com ent: +100 Elev. Change. Standard traffic
tions: ??. pattern: Pilots Discretion. Obstructions:
MAPS LINK: Google Hwy adjacent threshold. Buildings and equip-
RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. ment adjacent runway surface. No Takeoffs.
Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc-
tions: ??. RUNWAY EAST: Surface: gravel. Gradi-
ent: -100 Elev. Change. Standard traffic
pattern: N/A. Obstructions: Turnaround is
WIND INDICATOR: ??
tight. Takeoffs Only, No Landings.

WIND INDICATOR: Flag by restaurant.

 RICKS STRIP
NOTES: Landing is uphill and on a slight slant. RICKS STRIP
Weldon, CA
FUN THINGS TO DO: Stay at Ricks guest
house, help feed the animals. LAT/LONG: 35.626/-118.266
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required. BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY:
CONTACT: Rick Lach 661-345-7755
DIMENSIONS: 1300 x 30
WEBSITE:
MAPS LINK: Google 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
SACATAR MEADOWS (91CL)
NOTES: The people at Grump Bears Retreat SACATAR MEADOWS (91CL)
says this strip was closed a while ago. Still on 3mi SE of Kennedy Meadows
the charts. A/FD contact #s dont work.
LAT/LONG: 35.989/-118.080
FUN THINGS TO DO: Grumpy Bear retreat.
BACKCOUNTRY
STATUS: PRIVATE, closed. DIFFICULTY:
CONTACT: Grumpy Bears Retreat 559-850-2327 DIMENSIONS: 3300x50
A/FD contact: KIT ALEXANDER
ELEVATION: 6427 MSL
P.O. BOX 1516
WELDON, CA 93283
Phone 805-871-0482 PATTERN ALTITUDE: ?? MSL.
WEBSITE: www.airnav.com/airport/91CL FREQ: 122.8
MAPS LINK: Google
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: ??
 SILICZ BOYZ TRONA PINNACLES

NOTES: Private ranch strip. SILICZ BOYZ NOTES: Not a real airstrip, true off-airport land- TRONA PINNACLES
Waggy Flats Meadows ing. Land along raised bluff. Smooth but made of
FUN THINGS TO DO:
many small rock, i.e. desert pavement. Try not
STATUS: PRIVATE, prior permission required. LAT/LONG: 35.664/-118.547 to cross two-track road at high speeds, its rough- LAT/LONG: 35.624/-117.376
er than airstrip.
CONTACT: Nick Silicz 661-747-2889 BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY: FUN THINGS TO DO: DIFFICULTY:
WEBSITE: None
DIMENSIONS: 1700 x 50 STATUS: BLM owned land. Dont land if too DIMENSIONS: 1800 x 50
MAPS LINK: Google many people around.
ELEVATION: 4563 MSL ELEVATION: 1780 MSL
CONTACT:
PATTERN ALTITUDE: ?? MSL. WEBSITE: PATTERN ALTITUDE: Pilot Discretion

FREQ: 122.8 MAPS LINK: Google FREQ: 122.75

RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. RUNWAY W: Surface: gravel. Gradient:
Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstructions: None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
tall trees on approach end. structions: Numerous.

RUNWAY ??: Surface: dirt. Gradient: ??. RUNWAY E: Surface: gravel. Gradient:
Standard traffic pattern: left. Obstruc- None. Standard traffic pattern: left. Ob-
tions: ??. structions: None.

WIND INDICATOR: ?? WIND INDICATOR: None

 COMING SOON

Anza Pot #1 Hoffman Pixley Canyon

Anza Pot #2 Lake Arrowhead Ramona #2

Anza Institution Lake Riverside Estates Templeton Meadows

Big Rock Lake Wohlford Tenaja Ranch

Billy Joe Landers Tunnel Meadows

Corona #2 Loma Madera Vail Lake

Ernst Field McConville Warner Springs Glider Port

Flying T Middle Aguanga Many more

Garner Ranch Pines Airpark

SUGGESTIONS??

NOTES: COMING SOON

FUN THINGS TO DO:

STATUS: LAT/LONG:

CONTACT: BACKCOUNTRY
DIFFICULTY:
WEBSITE:
DIMENSIONS:
MAPS LINK: Google
ELEVATION:

PATTERN ALTITUDE:

FREQ:

RUNWAY ??: Surface: ??. Gradient: ??.

Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-
tions: ??.

RUNWAY E: Surface: ??. Gradient: ??.

Standard traffic pattern: ??. Obstruc-
tions: ??.

WIND INDICATOR: ??