The weather looks good for next weekend, so I think I'll be heading down to the border of Utah and Arizona. Anyone know of any spots that would be cool to check out from the air or fly to? Also looking for places to camp. Thanks

lazflyn wrote:The weather looks good for next weekend, so I think I'll be heading down to the border of Utah and Arizona. Anyone know of any spots that would be cool to check out from the air or fly to? Also looking for places to camp. Thanks

Thirty miles east of Colorado City is Craig Ranch airstrip -look near Mt. Turnbull on maps . Another is Grand Gulch . Camping at Pierce Ferry.Old North rim Grand Canyon airport is cool.

Tuweep is fantastic but I think it is still closed.

And a question about that. When I was there before it closed, we walked arround a lot and there are plenty of places to land other than the stip. Is that OK

Tim

I looked for Craigs Ranch on Google Earth, but can't find it. Found Mt. Turnbull though. Where is the Old North Rim Grand Canyon airport? Tuweep is a stop, for sure. Thanks

qmdv wrote:Tuweep is fantastic but I think it is still closed.

And a question about that. When I was there before it closed, we walked arround a lot and there are plenty of places to land other than the stip. Is that OK

Tim

Yeah but the next canyon over (Whitmore) has the Bar 10 Ranch strip. It has better views of the Grand Canyon IMHO but the strip is now paved

They have great food and lodging if desired. Very nice people.

lazflyn wrote:I looked for Craigs Ranch on Google Earth, but can't find it. Found Mt. Turnbull though. Where is the Old North Rim Grand Canyon airport? Tuweep is a stop, for sure. Thanks

I know Google earth is ok but try the Terra server.com -go to area and tap in
Terrian or USCG maps. I'd guess only 15-20 % of the unpaved backcountry
airstrips are shown on any map. While flying along I spot a strip not listed on maps- I hit waypoint and mark. Bar ten is a commercial operation with Dude ranch -makes a really good stop .Fly the Grand Canyon with a map. Dozens of little airstrips in and around the canyon,most strips are only for emergencies only . For camping I'd go to Pierce ferry(L25) or Grand Gulch west or Valle(there's a KOA right across road from airport) east.

Isn't there some kind of aviation museum down there somewhere, maybe at Valle? Seems like I read about one that is about old-time local flying history.

Eric

qmdv wrote:And a question about that. When I was there before it closed, we walked arround a lot and there are plenty of places to land other than the stip. Is that OK

Tim

Tuweep is in and surrounded by Grand Canyon National Park. Outside of that is the Grand Canyon - Parashant National Monument. Need I say more?

hotrod150 wrote:Isn't there some kind of aviation museum down there somewhere, maybe at Valle? Seems like I read about one that is about old-time local flying history.

Eric

Great Museum at airport. Hanger full of old airplanes .Old Connie out side ,
Lots of old restored cars.

Thanks guys for the tips. I wasn't even looking at Valle. Never even heard of it until you brought it up. I'd like to check out the Connie. That would be cool for me..... But wait! They have Fred's Diner right there off from the field at Bedrock City. How cool is that!!!? This should be more fun that I thought it'd be. Fred Flinstone's my hero.

Looks like we will be camping at Grand Gulch and Pierce Ferry. Anyone ever been to an airstrip called Tassi (9.5 miles NNE of Pierce)? On Google it shows there is some spring or springs nearby. I might go check it out (not necessarily for the springs, just because it's there).

Thanks for your help in planning this trip.

One more thing: Any good UFO stories to keep me up at night out there in the desert?

lazflyn wrote:Thanks guys for the tips. I wasn't even looking at Valle. Never even heard of it until you brought it up. I'd like to check out the Connie. That would be cool for me..... But wait! They have Fred's Diner right there off from the field at Bedrock City. How cool is that!!!? This should be more fun that I thought it'd be. Fred Flinstone's my hero.

Looks like we will be camping at Grand Gulch and Pierce Ferry. Anyone ever been to an airstrip called Tassi (9.5 miles NNE of Pierce)? On Google it shows there is some spring or springs nearby. I might go check it out (not necessarily for the springs, just because it's there).

Thanks for your help in planning this trip.

One more thing: Any good UFO stories to keep me up at night out there in the desert?

Stay off of Tassi -it's in the Grand Canyon national park and all the canyon runners will scream at the park service pilot ,Bruce Lennon. Tassi is in the
west end of the Grand Canyon river bottom- right north of L-25 about 2 miles. Another strip is south west of L-25 - is Jokers Mine -just west of the Colorado river. AZ50 (Triangle airpark) is cool place with Rosies Bar accross
the highway. Send me a e-mail direct at [email protected] and I've
got a list of airstrips from Calif. to Colorado . I hope you can fly in and out of 300-500 ft. clearings at or near 5000 MSL. safely . send that email with something like airstrips in subject line. God rest his soul Mark Hawkins blazed the trail in the "Arizona Strip" the area from the Grand Canyon north
and near by.

N 36° 23.24, W 112° 7.795

I found it!! Okay, okay. It's not a big deal, but I hadn't heard of an old airstrip on the north rim so it was fun to find it. I guess I just had to look at the right map. This trip is sounding more and more fun. Lots to see so little time.

How far east do you fancy going?

I was planning on flying around Lake Powell/Grand Canyon area, so mostly central to western areas was the plan.

lazflyn wrote:I was planning on flying around Lake Powell/Grand Canyon area, so mostly central to western areas was the plan.

Nokai Dome is nice, no water though. Used go there quite a bit on ATV and 4x4, only been in there once in a plane, a while ago as a passenger in a 206, seemed tame enough (for Utah.) Quite a view. I know there are folks on this board who have landed there, seen it talked about in other threads.

Thanks for that report on Nokai Dome. I landed there last year on my first trip to So. Utah (among many other strips). In fact, that was my 3rd (ever in my life) off airport landing. The second was... can't say (I didn't know it was closed at the time). But, Shortfielder (Gary) was there at Nokai to watch me cras... I mean land. He and his friends let me join them for lunch up on top. You're right, it's got a wonderful view. I was planning on camping there, but ended up not due to weather coming in. It was a little unnerving (at the time) landing uphill on the tippy top of a mountain. Piece of cake now, but at the time it was intimidating. I'll probably land that while I'm down in that area. It's a great place.

lazflyn wrote: I landed there last year on my first trip to So. Utah (among many other strips).

Oh Should have suspected as much...

What is that ( ) supposed to mean? I didn't mean anything by it so... Hope I didn't offend you.

Anyway, looks like I'll be heading for that museum in Valle, AZ. Then camp at Grand Gulch. I just got a new Grand Canyon map since I'll be by that airspace and want to stay out of the no, no's.

Thanks for everyone's help.

lazflyn wrote:What is that ( ) supposed to mean? I didn't mean anything by it so... Hope I didn't offend you.

Naw. It was like unknowingly telling a San Francisco native to be sure to see the Golden Gate Bridge