Hello Backcountry Pilots,

It has come to my attention that there are US Forest Service personnel looking to arrest pilots landing at the Sluice Creek Airstrip located on the Oregon side of the Snake River in Hells Canyon. There is also a rumor that the Forest Service has placed hidden game cameras at the airstrip in order to obtain "N" numbers.

I personally don't agree with the Forest Service that the airstrip is indeed legally closed, however they have guns and can write sizable fines. Pilots utilizing the Sluice Creek Airstrip normally leave it cleaner then when they got there. It is disconcerting that a non-elected Forest Service Official/River Manager(s) can deny access to a pre-existing airstrip. I believe it would be a good idea to avoid landings at Sluice Creek until this issue is resolved.

It appears to me, that employees within the Forest Service do not communicate with each other. The FS law enforcement individual I spoke with said that they had spotted a windsock at the Sluice Creek Airstrip. I have it from a very reputable source that other individuals with the FS in Oregon actually paid for the windsock with FS funds.

The jet-boat community obviously have a stronger lobby with the Forest Service than the local pilots. They pretty much have free rein of Hells Canyon. A flight from Lewiston, Idaho to Sluice Creek in a small airplane like mine will take about 5 to 7 gallons of av-gas. A jet-boat making the same trip will utilize about 120 gallons of fuel one way.

Sluice Creek is a gem as far as backcountry airstrips go. This area is not designated as a Wilderness or non-motorized, but merely closed by a " FS river manager" with an internal FS order or policy and not by applicable US Code. Our efforts as pilots, and US citizens is crucial in order to maintain access to this public property. Anyway just a heads up on this situation.

Happy 4th of July,

Super-Maule

I'll just use some tape to change a number or two prior to landing there and give them a puzzle to solve...

Super-Maule wrote:Hello Backcountry Pilots,

It has come to my attention that there are US Forest Service personnel looking to arrest pilots landing at the Sluice Creek Airstrip located on the Oregon side of the Snake River in Hells Canyon. There is also a rumor that the Forest Service has placed hidden game cameras at the airstrip in order to obtain "N" numbers.

I personally don't agree with the Forest Service that the airstrip is indeed legally closed, however they have guns and can write sizable fines. Pilots utilizing the Sluice Creek Airstrip normally leave it cleaner then when they got there. It is disconcerting that a non-elected Forest Service Official/River Manager(s) can deny access to a pre-existing airstrip. I believe it would be a good idea to avoid landings at Sluice Creek until this issue is resolved.

It appears to me, that employees within the Forest Service do not communicate with each other. The FS law enforcement individual I spoke with said that they had spotted a windsock at the Sluice Creek Airstrip. I have it from a very reputable source that other individuals with the FS in Oregon actually paid for the windsock with FS funds.

The jet-boat community obviously have a stronger lobby with the Forest Service than the local pilots. They pretty much have free rein of Hells Canyon. A flight from Lewiston, Idaho to Sluice Creek in a small airplane like mine will take about 5 to 7 gallons of av-gas. A jet-boat making the same trip will utilize about 120 gallons of fuel one way.

Sluice Creek is a gem as far as backcountry airstrips go. This area is not designated as a Wilderness or non-motorized, but merely closed by a " FS river manager" with an internal FS order or policy and not by applicable US Code. Our efforts as pilots, and US citizens is crucial in order to maintain access to this public property. Anyway just a heads up on this situation.

Happy 4th of July,

Super-Maule

Thanks for the heads up James. I was planning on camping there Thursday night, but elected for higher country to get away from the extreme heat. Do you know if the RAF is involved?

Thanks for the heads up James. I was planning on camping there Thursday night, but elected for higher country to get away from the extreme heat. Do you know if the RAF is involved?

I don't think the RAF is involved, however this would be a good test of the groups effectiveness. It's sad that we have to fund lobbying groups to keep these government agencies in check. The NRA, AOPA, and RAF are prime examples.

As far as this summer's heat goes, I don't blame you for finding other options. They recorded 115 Fahrenheit at the nearby Grand Rhonde River last week.

James

Super-Maule wrote:

Thanks for the heads up James. I was planning on camping there Thursday night, but elected for higher country to get away from the extreme heat. Do you know if the RAF is involved?

I don't think the RAF is involved, however this would be a good test of the groups effectiveness. It's sad that we have to fund lobbying groups to keep these government agencies in check. The NRA, AOPA, and RAF are prime examples.

As far as this summer's heat goes, I don't blame you for finding other options. They recorded 115 Fahrenheit at the nearby Grand Rhonde River last week.

James

I sent a link to this thread to the RAF. Hopefully the strip will remain open. It might be my favorite of the Hell's Canyon strips.

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Thread Bump - Does anyone know the current status?

Super-Maule wrote:Hello Backcountry Pilots,

It has come to my attention that there are US Forest Service personnel looking to arrest pilots landing at the Sluice Creek Airstrip located on the Oregon side of the Snake River in Hells Canyon. There is also a rumor that the Forest Service has placed hidden game cameras at the airstrip in order to obtain "N" numbers.

I personally don't agree with the Forest Service that the airstrip is indeed legally closed, however they have guns and can write sizable fines. Pilots utilizing the Sluice Creek Airstrip normally leave it cleaner then when they got there. It is disconcerting that a non-elected Forest Service Official/River Manager(s) can deny access to a pre-existing airstrip. I believe it would be a good idea to avoid landings at Sluice Creek until this issue is resolved.

It appears to me, that employees within the Forest Service do not communicate with each other. The FS law enforcement individual I spoke with said that they had spotted a windsock at the Sluice Creek Airstrip. I have it from a very reputable source that other individuals with the FS in Oregon actually paid for the windsock with FS funds.

The jet-boat community obviously have a stronger lobby with the Forest Service than the local pilots. They pretty much have free rein of Hells Canyon. A flight from Lewiston, Idaho to Sluice Creek in a small airplane like mine will take about 5 to 7 gallons of av-gas. A jet-boat making the same trip will utilize about 120 gallons of fuel one way.

Sluice Creek is a gem as far as backcountry airstrips go. This area is not designated as a Wilderness or non-motorized, but merely closed by a " FS river manager" with an internal FS order or policy and not by applicable US Code. Our efforts as pilots, and US citizens is crucial in order to maintain access to this public property. Anyway just a heads up on this situation.

Happy 4th of July,

Super-Maule

I never heard a reply on my query to the RAF. I just pinged them again, and will let you know what I learn.

Perhaps a Hells Canyon run is in order to investigate the situation down there.

Scolopax wrote:Perhaps a Hells Canyon run is in order to investigate the situation down there.

That would be good, and fun too. I'm game here before too long, just not sure when yet.

blackrock wrote:

Scolopax wrote:Perhaps a Hells Canyon run is in order to investigate the situation down there.

That would be good, and fun too. I'm game here before too long, just not sure when yet.

I'm not free until about mid May. I'm going down to Baja for a few weeks come mid April. Mid May is a nice time down in H.C. not too hot yet...

I flew over a month or so ago - there is now a white X painted on the runway.

Scopolax and I inquired and received responses back from the RAF. Sluice is officially closed and still has cameras there for enforcement purposes so I wouldn't recommend landing there.

The short version of the reply is that the RAF and IAN (Idaho Airport Network, which belongs to the IAA) are engaged with the USFS managers responsible for the airstrip. Sluice Creek's woe's hearken back the time Hell's Canyon NRA was established, circa 1994. There wasn't much pilot support at the time so Sluice was not included along with Salmon and Big Bar's. However, the next time the NRA plan is updated there will hopefully be more support and it has a chance to be included then (we understand the NRA plan is about due for an update). So for the foreseeable future Sluice is closed for all but emergency use. In the mean time, we need to respect that and work through the proper channels towards getting it reopened.

BR

I recently received a call from a pilot that was issued a fine notice from the USFS after landing at Sluice Creek.

Sluice Creek airstrip is located in the Snake River Wild and Scenic River Corridor and is closed to all aircraft, except for USFS administrative and emergency use. Six other airstrips are open to public use. You can review the details at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5364489

The RAF, IAA and Wallowa Pilot's Association continue to work with USFS with the goal of eventually restoring Sluice Creek to public use. Until that time, please respect this restriction so that we can continue our positive collaboration with USFS.

Sluice Creek airstrip is now charted on the sectional. I flew over it the last weekend and the Xs were gone and there is a red chevron indicating direction of landing and the touchdown point. There is a 5 month old PIREP on Foreflight. Does anyone know if the status of Sluice Creek airstrip has changed?

Looks like it's been reactivated as of October 2022:
https://skyvector.com/airport/O68/Sluice-Creek-Airport

AKclimber wrote:Looks like it's been reactivated as of October 2022:
https://skyvector.com/airport/O68/Sluice-Creek-Airport

Interesting error on the skyvector chart, they tag Sluice Creek O68 twice.
My Avare sectional app doesn't have this error.

And I just realized that the strip about 30 miles NNW of Sluice Creek is Salmom Bar--
I always thought it was Salmon Bar.
Anyone know where that Salmom name came from?

hotrod180 wrote:

AKclimber wrote:Looks like it's been reactivated as of October 2022:
https://skyvector.com/airport/O68/Sluice-Creek-Airport

Interesting error on the skyvector chart, they tag Sluice Creek O68 twice.
My Avare sectional app doesn't have this error.

And I just realized that the strip about 30 miles NNW of Sluice Creek is Salmom Bar--
I always thought it was Salmon Bar.
Anyone know where that Salmom name came from?

I spoke with a friend from the RAF about this. He said that Sluice still has the "emergency use only" designation applied to it, similar to "The Big Creek Four". They are working with the USFS to get this changed.

"Salmom Bar" is Definitely a typo on the chart.

It is Salmon bar. It is at the confluence of the Snake and Salmon rivers.

hotrod180 wrote:

AKclimber wrote:Looks like it's been reactivated as of October 2022:
https://skyvector.com/airport/O68/Sluice-Creek-Airport

Interesting error on the skyvector chart, they tag Sluice Creek O68 twice.
My Avare sectional app doesn't have this error.

And I just realized that the strip about 30 miles NNW of Sluice Creek is Salmom Bar--
I always thought it was Salmon Bar.
Anyone know where that Salmom name came from?

The "error" only appears when the Seattle and Great Falls charts are stitched together when viewing the "world map" in skyvector, since it's at the east-west chart boundary.

AKclimber wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:

AKclimber wrote:Looks like it's been reactivated as of October 2022:
https://skyvector.com/airport/O68/Sluice-Creek-Airport

Interesting error on the skyvector chart, they tag Sluice Creek O68 twice.
My Avare sectional app doesn't have this error.

And I just realized that the strip about 30 miles NNW of Sluice Creek is Salmom Bar--
I always thought it was Salmon Bar.
Anyone know where that Salmom name came from?

The "error" only appears when the Seattle and Great Falls charts are stitched together when viewing the "world map" in skyvector, since it's at the east-west chart boundary.

The typo is also in ForeFlight.