Where should I go in the south west in a SQ?

Hey,

I live in Santa Cruz, CA and here are a couple places you may think are cool:

Los Trancas. It's a small strip built by the founder of Big Creek Lumber and it's on a bluff above a surf spot called Waddell just up the coast from Santa Cruz. Get's windy and may be fogged in.

Monterey Bay Academy. It's a grass strip where you can land and walk on the beach.

Columbia Airport. It's in the Sierra foothills and it has camping. I'd call Sonora fly shop (10-15 min away) for fishing info. You can also walk to a diner and old town Columbia which is a historic gold rush town.

Kern Valley Airport. Just above lake isabella outside of bakersfield. Camping and small diner on the field. I haven't fished the kern river yet, but there are lots of local guides who can give you tips

Truckee Airport. Up at lake tahoe. Lots to do along with fishing. I'd call Truckee Creek outfitters and see what they say about the fishing. Also lots of great mountain biking.

Mammoth Airport. Eastern side of sierras. Lots to do along with fishing. I'd call the trout fitter in Mammoth for the fish info. Also a lot of great mountain biking.

Have fun

Dale

Hey Dale!

Thanks for the help. I'll put those into the plan to see which ones I can hit.

I see that Monterey Bay Academy and Los Trancas are both private. Are they both pretty open to visitors or is it a best to call kind of thing?

https://www.theperennialstyle.com/2018/ ... xas-guide/

https://www.thestarlighttheatre.com/


CA wise, big bear is kinda cool, Santa Yanez has some good food in walking distance

Copalis Beach is fun for WA/OR

San Juan’s (Roache Harbor) is cool, walk to the marina for lunch, fun grass strip

San Juans have a lot of great strips Roche, Friday Harbour, Orcas. Washington grass strips are great, Tieton, Stehekin (though some close Oct1) Oregon has some great places, I like Madras, Susanville, Columbia River Cascade locks state - great museum WAAM at Hood River, Jernsted.

The one I wouldnt miss is Alvord desert. Camp at about 42.52N 118.51W (at the foot of the dirt road). Hotsprings are awesome up the dirt road, though were $20 last time I was there. Still worth it.

Las Trancas requires a briefing in order to receive permission to operate there. You can go to theraf.org and log into the airfield guide to get the link and briefing. You can get a lot of good ideas on places to go and information surfing through the airfield guide.

NineThreeKilo wrote:...... San Juan’s (Roache Harbor) is cool, walk to the marina for lunch, fun grass strip

No grass strip at Roche Harbor WA09, just a paved runway,
but seaplane base W39 is adjacent to the airport..

Electric City, Desert Aire, and Silvies Valley Ranch have golfing adjacent to the airports.

Silvies is fancy, and has a short course with goats available as caddies, as well as fishing, shooting, lodging, dining, etc. If Orvis lodges are your thing, it's closer to that than the local Par 3.

Stehekin is beautiful, and has good fishing. You can camp at a campground near the airport, or reserve a house around the area (usually a year in advance).

Red's Horse Ranch is in Eastern Oregon in the wilderness, and adjacent to Minam Lodge and Minam Airstrip. The Minam Lodge has fancy wilderness lodging and gourmet meals. Red's is free and quiet. Both are beautiful and have fishing. Both are about 20 minutes from Joseph, Oregon, the gateway to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. You can ride a tram from the South end of Wallowa Lake to the top of a ridge and see the Eagle Cap area. It's the closest thing I've seen to the Alps in the Northwest, save maybe the Enchantments.

Camping at the Orcas Island airport is first class. Showers, courtesy bikes and cars, a cool island vibe, and a bunch of small islands with airports make it possible to hop around. Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, and Lopez Island are regulars for us.

Getting reservations at the Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake Oregon is also a treat. You can fly into Mahogany Mountain across the main road, or maybe into Silver Lake State Airport and get a ride. Really darn good meals in a unique setting.

The Alvord Desert is cool as mentioned. There is a classical piano player named Hunter Noack who does an outdoor concert series all over the Northwest. At one stop, he plays on a bluff above the Alvord Desert, usually in June. Fly in, hike about a mile, and watch him play a 9' Steinway in the middle of nowhere. They give out wireless headphones, so you can wander around. He'll also invite people to lay on the stage under the piano, and get up close. Easily the least pretentious, most accessible classical concert I've been too. It's called "In A Landscape", and we've been to a number of them.

First KSBP short Uber and rent a mineral springs hot tub, think I rented one called “tubby”

Bring some drinks and the misses



https://www.sycamoresprings.com/hot-tub ... e-hot-tubs

Short hop south is a good one KSMX Santa Maria, CA

Uber 15min or so NW to Jockos and get a proper tri tip, or pretty much any cut of meat

Very very good

https://jockossteakhouse.com/



Another short hop south is KLPC

Good drop zone there with very good views to the beaches and if you want you can jump from 17.9 from their 208s

Hey,

Sorry for the late reply.

Las Trancas is managed by the RAF and taken care of by a cool guy named Jeremy Lezin.
Monterey Bay Academy is a school strip.

Another cool spot that may or may not be official open is Mercey Hot Springs. You can youtube it.

I'd suggest reaching out to both to see if you can land.

If you are heading down from Northern CA and it's a clear day, it's fun to fly down the coast under and around the SFO class B past the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping in at Half Moon Bay for lunch.

I'm also sure there are a bunch of other cool spots I'm not aware of

You guys are incredible. I'm looking up all the recommendations. This is going to be incredibly cool.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me out with this.

jcadwell wrote: Electric City, Desert Aire, and Silvies Valley Ranch have golfing adjacent to the airports. ......

If golfing is a priority, there are courses immediately adjacent to both Chehalis KCLS & Lopez Island S31.

https://www.airnav.com/airport/WA46 near La Center WA

Park your plane and walk maybe 100' to the east fork of the Lewis River. Check it out on Google satellite. Open areas for flyfishing, catch and release. Contact the Swansons for permission. Well maintained grass strip with a thru the trees approach landing to the north. Camping OK.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/66S

Cavenaugh Bay has camping/showers/wifi, best part is the restaurant a few hundred yards from the aircraft parking area. Fishing on the lake.