Sometimes one person tells me an airstrip is on BLM land, and another person tells me the same strip is private. Grrr...

I occasionally call a BLM office and give them a lat/long and ask them to verify the ownership. I just did that very recently, and they suggested that I use the interactive map on geocommunicator.gov and look it up for myself. I tried using it a couple of years ago, but it was so slow and buggy that I gave up on it. It's now much improved, and reasonably usable.

To use it, go to http://www.geocommunicator.gov, then click on the blue link in the middle of the page that says "Interactive Maps".

Now, double click on the map to zoom in to find the airstrip. You can switch from the street map to a topo map or a sat image at the bottom of the layer tab on the right.

Finally, check the "surface management agency" checkbox on the layer tab on the right. When it's checked, BLM land will appear yellow, and BLM Wilderness land will appear orange. (Look at the Black Rock Desert for an example of the Orange color, it's not much darker than the yellow).

I've looked up some BLM boundaries with which I was already familiar, and it seemed to be accurate in those cases.

I was able to verify that Barrel Springs airstrip (NV), Iowa Canyon Ranch airstrip (NV), the old 45 Ranch airstrip (ID), and a couple of unnamed strips were all on BLM land.

Nice find! I've always wished there was an easy to use online map where you can see what's BLM and whats not.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTMT

Look who ownes this one

Glidergeek wrote:http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTMT

Look who ownes this one

Info is a bit outdated.. ha ha.. It's been deeded to Lander County for at least 10 years or so now. Getting the deed was in the works for at least 18-20 years before that. (Govt doesn't work too fast.. ha ha)

I've been either the airport manager or on the airport board the whole damn time too.

Web site is still painful as hell to use. I looked up numerous points under BLM land control here in the front range - I don't know I can trust it.

Okay so everyone look to the North of Shelter Cove, CA while viewing as a TOPO map. There is a "landing strip" but of course nobody would know about it now otherwise! Anyway it's under the BLM land, but also the BLM conservation. It's a designated field according to the topo map! Could you land there???????

Big Flat Landing Strip?? Do a google, not much on it.

There is an interesting thing about BLM lands...sometimes the BLM doesn't know where they are or what the boundaries are out here in "middle of nowhere" Montana. The lands were composed mostly of places originally homesteaded, then surveyed by "leaps and bounds", and finally returned to the Federal Govt. The surveys look like "walk two paces from the large rock along side the road to the tree on the Roberts place". The local school district attempted to find out on how many acres they should be receiving PLT funds from the BLM. BLM could not tell us how many acres they had in our school district. The good news is that with a long history of airplane use on those lands, their travel plans are frequently the airplane-friendliest of the agencies and they have supported the Breaks airstrips in the face of formidable opposition. I personally, wouldn't put too much faith in that website; you can't report accurately what you actually don't know. R

260Driver wrote:Big Flat Landing Strip?? Do a google, not much on it.

Jeremy-

I have spoken to several about Big Flat. I hear (hear say) that if you land there the pot farmers will shoot your tires and make you walk out. They want to keep that strip to themselves so I am told.

Nice find on the map.

260Driver wrote:Big Flat Landing Strip?? Do a google, not much on it.

As I understand it, that one is private, and the owners frown upon uninvited guests dropping in.
This from a (non-pilot) surfer friend who flies in there occasionally with one of the owners.

Also be aware of sharp change in wind direction along length of the strip due to flow up or down the side canyon inland.

edit-- I hadn't heard of any agricultural issues per AKTs comment above, but it is that part of the world...

That section of coast above big flat was ok to land on when it was BLM land but is now monitored by various aerial agencies and hikers on the trail. The only strip is private and owner does not appreciate landings there. You can thank Fienstein, Pelosi et al for getting the whole area closed to aircraft tyres but not waffle soled hiking boots or sharp hoofed deer a few years ago. It is now the King Range National Conservation area.

Don't eff with a patch pirate!

aktahoe1 wrote:

260Driver wrote:Big Flat Landing Strip?? Do a google, not much on it.

Jeremy-

I have spoken to several about Big Flat. I hear (hear say) that if you land there the pot farmers will shoot your tires and make you walk out. They want to keep that strip to themselves so I am told.

Nice find on the map.

Well that sucks....wah wahhh wahhhhhh

soyAnarchisto wrote:Don't eff with a patch pirate!

aktahoe1 wrote:

260Driver wrote:Big Flat Landing Strip?? Do a google, not much on it.

Jeremy-

I have spoken to several about Big Flat. I hear (hear say) that if you land there the pot farmers will shoot your tires and make you walk out. They want to keep that strip to themselves so I am told.

Nice find on the map.

Arrrrgggh...

piperpainter wrote:Okay so everyone look to the North of Shelter Cove, CA while viewing as a TOPO map. There is a "landing strip" but of course nobody would know about it now otherwise! Anyway it's under the BLM land, but also the BLM conservation. It's a designated field according to the topo map! Could you land there???????

i've looked at that strip, looks sweet. i would fly over to see if anyone is around, if not, bag it.

There are actually two strips right next to each other. Both strips are private and the one next to the house is owned by a Bay Area lawyer who flies an older 210. There are usually small groups of surfers at the residence and I have never been given permission to land there. The other strip has been recently mowed and smoothed as compared to years past. Someone has also put up a new windsock and brightly painted "R's" on each end. I have never seen an aircraft at the strip but it sure would be nice to have as an airplane camping site.

"R's" huh? Must stand for Rob.... I'm gonna go check it out.

Centmont wrote:I personally, wouldn't put too much faith in that website; you can't report accurately what you actually don't know. R

I agree entirely. But, if you land your airplane (or worse, ball it up, or damage some crop or structure) on some private land because Goober and Gomer mistakenly told you it was BLM land, then you've got some potential liability issues since Goober and Gomer aren't legitimate authorities on BLM boundaries. However, if you look it up and the BLM's website says it's BLM land, then you have exercised due diligence to ensure that you are accessing public land. If the BLM's data is wrong then the liability for the incorrect identification is now on their shoulders.

So, is there a hard and fast rule for landing, or not, on BLM land?

I recently found a strip on the Deshutes river. Not on any chart that I can find but definitely a strip. I didn't measure it but would guess 800' to 1000' long. The BLM site shows it as being on BLM land, not conservation, wilderness or otherwise restricted. No other access to the area that I can see except by river. There is an outhouse which has a sign stating it was paid for through the Descutes river user fees. Looks like a nice place to camp. We didn't catch any fish but it was early in the year and the water was quite high.

Mr. Ed wrote:So, is there a hard and fast rule for landing, or not, on BLM land?

I recently found a strip on the Deshutes river. Not on any chart that I can find but definitely a strip. I didn't measure it but would guess 800' to 1000' long. The BLM site shows it as being on BLM land, not conservation, wilderness or otherwise restricted. No other access to the area that I can see except by river. There is an outhouse which has a sign stating it was paid for through the Descutes river user fees. Looks like a nice place to camp. We didn't catch any fish but it was early in the year and the water was quite high.

Sounds like the Bull Run strip, I've landed there. Check out shortfield.com