i'm planning a trip to estes park colorado this summer. there is a small grass strip near there, but i can't find it on google earth.
looking for info on this strip. is is private? what are the coordinates. any one been into this strip???

thanks

kelly rosser
south lake tahoe
1954 180

Kelly,

I've spent many summers in and around Estes Park, both as a kid and as a Park Ranger. During that entire time there were no strips, public or private, in the immediate area. However, there are places on Devils Gulch and Dry Gulch roads which I've eyeballed as potential landing sites - landing on the road where the fences are low and far from the road surface. Personally, I wouldn't try this without making a face to face visit with the locals.

What looks like gently rolling meadows probably won't be. I've traversed many meadows in those areas and found them to be full of badger holes, hidden boulders, swales, etc. It would be very easy to wreck your plane in what looks like a totally safe place.

Back in the 20s and 30s there was a N/S strip on the land now occupied by the EP Golf Course. I don't think you'd be able to land there, either.

You can fly into Granby on the other side of the Park, or into Boulder, Longmont, or Loveland. These would be MUCH safer options.

Eric

thanks for the info. i saw this video & thought this strip was close to estes park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS5BHo4LM_I

kelly rosser
south lake tahoe

Looks like one at 40 16 105 28

The one in the video is at 40 15.5 105 27

You're right, Kelly: the strip in the video is close to Estes Park. I'm not familiar with it, nor do I know the first one listed in Buzzlatka's post. Both look like fun, and since they're almost perpendicular to one another you'd have some options if winds were difficult. If you go there be sure to take videos and give us a PIREP.

Kelly, thanks for bringing this strip to our attention. If you get more info please post.

Bill Murrish
Colorado Springs

Tahoe, bmurrish et. al., I know exACTly where this airstrip is, have met the owner and BOTH of my friends are friends with him. That said, I've not been invited there (yet) so want to be respectful of this nifty airstrip. It IS marked on my charts and in my head, though. And there's another N-S strip in the drainage just west of the ridge.. Bill, with your new-found Skywagon steet-cred you should be able to network into this one purty easy.

But it's still a fair fetch from Estes Park. And not near any significant roads. Longmont (best choice) or Fort Love much better options. Just ask Steve Johnson, the noted Supercub feller.

Thanks. cubscout