Central and Southern California

[Preddriver]

Does anyone know of any unimproved strips good for camping/fishing/hiking/hunting in Southern California mainly? Central California would be cool too. Just curious, I've done some research and found all the old AAF's but really looking for someone who's experienced first hand. Thanks!!

[58Skylane]

Not sure the currant status of the Lake Arrowhead Airport, but try calling them to find out. I talked to the owner a few years ago. Sounded like a great guy.
http://www.lakearrowheadairport.com/

This is a great place in the middle of the desert: http://www.baconstrip.net/. They have a great Facebook page too: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bacon-Strip/146875161995670

If your a motorsports person, I'd like to recommend the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. It's located at the Desert Center Airport which is now owned by the race track. If you plan to fly out to there on non-event days, call ahead to make sure somebody is there. Camping is allowed and they offer a free shuttle from the ramp to the paddock. If you like, make sure you meet Micky (the track owner,big tall guy). Super cool guy and last I talked to him, he's was looking into getting his PPL and looking to buy a small plane to learn in.
http://chuckwallavalleyraceway.com/

[Glidergeek]

L05 is unimproved and the Kern river runs right next to it and it has a camp ground with tie downs. There are a few drl lake beds in the south end of the Owens Valley that are plenty landable but a bit far from the river.

[58Skylane]

Oh, and don't forget to search via the "SF Airstrip Database" link that is located in the top right corner of this web page. About every airstrip in the area is on there.

[svanarts]

Would love to find one in central ca too. Most of the camping options in cencal are at regular airports. Columbia and Georgetown come to mind. There is also Gravelly Valley up west of Red Bluff. Share whatever you find, I'm interested too.

[porterjet]

I think the folks that live in Columbia and Red Bluff would take exception to being called Central Californians. There is nothing unimproved and open on the Central Coast that I am aware of. Oceano comes close but it is paved but relatively quiet. http://oceanoairport.com/airfacilities.htm

[svanarts]

Yeah, I guess it's what you define Central California as being. I always think of anything north of the line from Lake Tahoe over to the coast as being Northern California. A line east and west of Bakersfield as being the border of southern California, and anything in between being central California. SLO... hmmm... you're borderline there. I live in the center of the Central Valley so I'm CenCal even if I do take exception to it.

Glad to hear camping is still available at Oceano. I'd heard the campground had been shut down. Looks like only the showers and laundry have been shut down.

[porterjet]

SLO thinks of itself as Central, anything south of the county line is SoCal as far as we are concerned, but I think Santa Maria considers itself Central as well.
Oceano, as I understand it, had the choice of spending a bunch of money to make the outhouse and showers compliant with the disabilities act or shut them down. They shut them down. Nice walk to the beach too.

[GumpAir]

I think the folks that live in Columbia and Red Bluff would take exception to being called Central Californians.

Ha!!! Those of us from Yreka/Montague figure anything south of Redding as SOUTHERN KALIFORNIA

Gump

[svanarts]

Yeah, can't thank my dad enough for bringing us all here and then moving out of state when we all grew up. Think I'll call him and thank him again.

[OregonMaule]

L05 is unimproved and the Kern river runs right next to it and it has a camp ground with tie downs. There are a few drl lake beds in the south end of the Owens Valley that are plenty landable but a bit far from the river.

I just spent the day in Kern Valley.

There is landable sand everywhere around Lake Isabella/Kern Valley. I here you get a ticket if you get caught. Beautiful area! Friendly people!

Our own 701pilot is the AP manager. Great restaurant with really good food. I want to go back later this week.

Cheers

[58Skylane]

L05 is unimproved and the Kern river runs right next to it and it has a camp ground with tie downs. There are a few drl lake beds in the south end of the Owens Valley that are plenty landable but a bit far from the river.

I just spent the day in Kern Valley.

There is landable sand everywhere around Lake Isabella/Kern Valley. I here you get a ticket if you get caught. Beautiful area! Friendly people!

Our own 701pilot is the AP manager. Great restaurant with really good food. I want to go back later this week.

Cheers

How about going back this weekend?

[OregonMaule]

L05 is unimproved and the Kern river runs right next to it and it has a camp ground with tie downs. There are a few drl lake beds in the south end of the Owens Valley that are plenty landable but a bit far from the river.

I just spent the day in Kern Valley.

There is landable sand everywhere around Lake Isabella/Kern Valley. I here you get a ticket if you get caught. Beautiful area! Friendly people!

Our own 701pilot is the AP manager. Great restaurant with really good food. I want to go back later this week.

Cheers

How about going back this weekend?

If Dave and Russ want to fine by me.

[Glidergeek]

I'm good Saturday, Sunday I gotta get a pour (cement) ready (forms) in front of the hangar for Monday morn. If anyone wants to have a little BBQ at my hangar Sunday afternoon we can do that too. KRIR It's all grass out front.

[58Skylane]

I'm good Saturday, Sunday I gotta get a pour (cement) ready (forms) in front of the hangar for Monday morn. If anyone wants to have a little BBQ at my hangar Sunday afternoon we can do that too. KRIR It's all grass out front.

I still have no plans this weekend. I'm wide open

[Preddriver]

[quote="58Skylane"]Not sure the currant status of the Lake Arrowhead Airport, but try calling them to find out. I talked to the owner a few years ago. Sounded like a great guy.
http://www.lakearrowheadairport.com/

58Skylane, I did recently fly-in to Lake Arrowhead. Awesome! The guy is very nice and chatted on UNICOM the whole time. He charges a one time $20 landing fee, then you can pretty much drop in whenever if you email or call him. He owns and maintains the place himself, with a cool house/cabin right there on sight and he'll let you camp.

By the way, I swear I saw a pic of your airplane at Roy's in Amboy along the side of the road. If that was you, do you have any advice for going there, or a trip report. I spoke to a man on the phone in Amboy and it was almost like the hills have eyes, makes me want to go even more...

[58Skylane]

Not sure the currant status of the Lake Arrowhead Airport, but try calling them to find out. I talked to the owner a few years ago. Sounded like a great guy.
http://www.lakearrowheadairport.com/

58Skylane, I did recently fly-in to Lake Arrowhead. Awesome! The guy is very nice and chatted on UNICOM the whole time. He charges a one time $20 landing fee, then you can pretty much drop in whenever if you email or call him. He owns and maintains the place himself, with a cool house/cabin right there on sight and he'll let you camp.

By the way, I swear I saw a pic of your airplane at Roy's in Amboy along the side of the road. If that was you, do you have any advice for going there, or a trip report. I spoke to a man on the phone in Amboy and it was almost like the hills have eyes, makes me want to go even more...

Here's a link on SF. http://www.shortfield.com/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=5&Itemid=125&snum=sf_amboy&initlat=34.56188400000&initlong=-115.74955000000
Nice place to land for a snack or drink (If the gas station/store is still open). They did have bathrooms there when Russ and I visited a couple of years ago. And some picnic tables to enjoy your lunch that you bring in. Russ (Glidergeek) has bee in there recently. So you might want to consult with him, too. Have fun and don't forget to get a picture of your plane under the Roy's sign!

[Glidergeek]

Was @ Amboy a month ago same place, no prepared food just microwave food and canned beverages. Expensive auto gas. Nice people. The Airstrip is in good shape and they have a crosswind runway. There Is an antenna probably 200' tall on the right side to the approach to the w/b runway I think it's like 260* or rwy 26 so be careful. It's not lighted nor strobed. I dropped off a wind sock the last one I put up rotted. If it's up it'll be on top of the hangar on the east end of the runway. It's wide, long and hard packed dirt/gravel.

[Preddriver]

Was @ Amboy a month ago same place, no prepared food just microwave food and canned beverages. Expensive auto gas. Nice people. The Airstrip is in good shape and they have a crosswind runway. There Is an antenna probably 200' tall on the right side to the approach to the w/b runway I think it's like 260* or rwy 26 so be careful. It's not lighted nor strobed. I dropped off a wind sock the last one I put up rotted. If it's up it'll be on top of the hangar on the east end of the runway. It's wide, long and hard packed dirt/gravel.

Thank you! I hope to get in there someday. The guy on the phone was funny i asked "What kind of stuff do you guys have out there to look at?" He said, "Well, we've got a volcano, and if you have some extra time on your hands we've got a volcano, oh yeah and be sure not to miss the volcano." I laughed and told him I look forward to flying in.

[58Skylane]

Was @ Amboy a month ago same place, no prepared food just microwave food and canned beverages. Expensive auto gas. Nice people. The Airstrip is in good shape and they have a crosswind runway. There Is an antenna probably 200' tall on the right side to the approach to the w/b runway I think it's like 260* or rwy 26 so be careful. It's not lighted nor strobed. I dropped off a wind sock the last one I put up rotted. If it's up it'll be on top of the hangar on the east end of the runway. It's wide, long and hard packed dirt/gravel.

Thank you! I hope to get in there someday. The guy on the phone was funny i asked "What kind of stuff do you guys have out there to look at?" He said, "Well, we've got a volcano, and if you have some extra time on your hands we've got a volcano, oh yeah and be sure not to miss the volcano." I laughed and told him I look forward to flying in.

You can just skim the east side of the restricted airspace to get a good look at the Amboy Volcano.


3 6 Delta at Roy's