Hey everyone,

It is that time of year when my wife and I start planning our summer wish list and I am hoping you all can help me out. This year, we are talking about doing a Northwest Circle trip and I'm looking for cool airports/strips to fly to. Basically, we'll depart from Norther UT, fly straight over to the coast, up the coast to SEA, would like to visit the San Juan Islands, then will come east along the border towards Winthrop, WA, then over to Cavanaugh Bay, Meadow Creek in MT, and finally to JC for the fly-in. We are looking at about a week, with the last couple of days being at JC.

All the flying I've done in OR is 121 stuff, the same for SEA. I spent part of a summer in Winthrop flying smokejumpers for the FS, but that is my only exposure to that area. We'll be wanting to camp for most of it, so any info on airports paved or non-paved that allow it would be great. If there are any places with a shower, that would be good to know too. Along the coast, we'd love to find some place cool to check out. We won't have bikes or anything, so walking will be the mode of transportation unless there is a courtesy car available. Might rent one if there is worth the cost. We will be traveling with our 2 year old son.

Thanks in advance. I've seen some pics of some of the strips Zane and some of the rest of you guys frequent up in the Northwest. Hope to check some out.

GSP

GSP,
MMV, is a good stop if you are into museums (home of the spruce goose) and has a nice camping area with showers.
PFC, is a great spot on the coast for a walk on the beach and lunch.
TMK, a little further North also has a museum in an old blimp hanger. Not much else to do there without a car.
A short trip East up the Columbia River Gorge to 4S2 is another museum and lunch on the end of the runway. Flying up the Gorge at 800 MSL up close to the bluff is one of my favorite trips.
If it were me I would spend a few days at the San Juan Islands, awesome area!
If you are looking for more back country type strips here is a listing for Oregon State owned strips http://www.oregon.gov/Aviation/warning.shtml

Oregon grassy strips, first 4 are state airports:

Powers
McKenzie Bridge
Wakonda
Lakeside
Sandy River

For camping near the beach, Nehalem Bay (3S7) is really nice. There are 5 or so nice camp sites you can taxi to just south of the regular parking area. The Strip itself is paved, but when you're camping there, you're in a nice wooded area. The camp sites have Picnic tables and fire rings. Easy walk to the beach, and to Manzanita, which is a nice little town with restaurants and cafe's.

Prosser (S40) is a pretty good stop for some gas and a night if it makes sense. East side of the Cascades (usually VFR, but sometimes windy). Easy walking distance to a motel, restaurants and several wineries. Great restaurant in town (15-20 min walk is Picazo Seven-17. Airport has a camping area, pilot lounge with working computer, good bathrooms and showers.

FWIW

Grassstrippilot wrote:......would like to visit the San Juan Islands, then will come east along the border towards Winthrop, WA, then over to Cavanaugh Bay.....

I have heard recently from several different sources that DHS is very interested in any aircraft flying over the north cascades, basically between Hwy 20 (the North Cascades Scenic Highway) and the canadian border. And that they will intercept via jet and/or Blackhawk any "suspicious" aircraft that they think are up to aerial mischief in that area. I guess they are worried about dope smugglers or whatever, don't think anybody is airlifting any terrorists in thataway but who knows? Anyway, you might call & ask Flight Service about it and if they suggest it maybe file a flight plan and/or attempt to get flight following.

Eric

On San Juan Island are two airports, Friday Harbor, which has all the amenities, and Roche Harbor, which is unattended. I particularly like Roche Harbor because it is a ten minute walk to the Harbor and is usually a quiet and quite beautiful place to fly. On Orcas Island is East Sound Airport, about a ten minute walk into the village of East Sound. I don't think camping is available at any of these airports, but I don't really know.

You mention your familiarity with Winthrop. You may already know about Twisp, about 5 miles south, which is a friendly place with courtesy car and, I'd imagine, is friendly to campers. There are no amenities on the field and it is unattended. (Call ahead to arrange the courtesy car.) South of Twisp is Stehekin, which is a terrific backcountry strip. A very nice campground, situated nicely on the riverbank, is about 1/4 mile from the strip. Wheeled carts are available to carry your stuff from the strip to the campground. Courtesy bicycles are also available. It's about 6 miles to the nearest civilization, the Stehekin Bakery, whose baked goods are reason enough to fly into this beautiful area. If you want more detailed information, feel free to PM me.

Thank you so much for the posts. Lots of good information. I can already see that I need more time than I had planned. I might have to conjur up more time off that month. I'll do some looking and let you know if I have any questions.

GSP

hotrod150 wrote:

Grassstrippilot wrote:......would like to visit the San Juan Islands, then will come east along the border towards Winthrop, WA, then over to Cavanaugh Bay.....

I have heard recently from several different sources that DHS is very interested in any aircraft flying over the north cascades, basically between Hwy 20 (the North Cascades Scenic Highway) and the canadian border. And that they will intercept via jet and/or Blackhawk any "suspicious" aircraft that they think are up to aerial mischief in that area. I guess they are worried about dope smugglers or whatever, don't think anybody is airlifting any terrorists in thataway but who knows? Anyway, you might call & ask Flight Service about it and if they suggest it maybe file a flight plan and/or attempt to get flight following.

Eric

Yeah I had thought about this. I will do all I can to avoid attracting their attention, but at the same time I won't shy away from flying where I can legally fly. It's a pain to even have to think about it. In reality, we probably won't be that close to the border for most of time coming across.

When I was flying Jumpers out of Winthrop, we were looking fires and frequently S-Turned over the border searching the very northern most part of the country. Bet they would have a fit about that now.

Grassstrippilot wrote:Hey everyone,

It is that time of year when my wife and I start planning our summer wish list and I am hoping you all can help me out. This year, we are talking about doing a Northwest Circle trip and I'm looking for cool airports/strips to fly to. Basically, we'll depart from Norther UT, fly straight over to the coast, up the coast to SEA, would like to visit the San Juan Islands, then will come east along the border towards Winthrop, WA, then over to Cavanaugh Bay, Meadow Creek in MT, and finally to JC for the fly-in. We are looking at about a week, with the last couple of days being at JC.

All the flying I've done in OR is 121 stuff, the same for SEA. I spent part of a summer in Winthrop flying smokejumpers for the FS, but that is my only exposure to that area. We'll be wanting to camp for most of it, so any info on airports paved or non-paved that allow it would be great. If there are any places
with a shower, that would be good to know too. Along the coast, we'd love to find some place cool to check out. We won't have bikes or anything, so walking will be the mode of transportation unless there is a courtesy car available. Might rent one if there is worth the cost. We will be traveling with our 2 year old son.

Thanks in advance. I've seen some pics of some of the strips Zane and some of the rest of you guys frequent up in the Northwest. Hope to check some out.

GSP

If you get that far east..Polson MT. Camp on the south end of the ramp, two courtesy vehicles, shower, self service fuel, airport is right next to the Flathead river, couple of good places in town to eat next to Flathead Lake.
We stopped there on our way to ID last June.
HC

Schafer Meadows (8U2) is about 15 miles NE of Meadow Creek. If you're looking for more fun places to go you may want to consider it as well.

You might stop at Sandpoint, Idaho. Big paved strip that might not be interesting, but the town is a short cab ride away and interesting. The lake is beautiful.

If you're ever flying the central WA coast you can land at Copalis Beach (S16). Copalis may be the only designated beach airport in the lower 48. If your there around this time of year you can get your limit of razor clams in short order. I was there yesterday and we limited in abt half an hour, some of the best clamming anywhere.

Don't plan on being able to dig razor clams unless you're lucky enough to pass through when the beach is open for clam-digging. It seems like these openings are on kind of a hit-or-miss basis.
Noxon Montana has at least one good place to eat, it's about 50 east of Sandpoint on the Clark Fork River. You can land on the railroad grade next to town, look for the windsock on top of the neighboring tavern.

Eric

Glad to hear you will visit the san Juans. Friday Harbor (FHR) and Orcas (ORS) are the two main airports with facilities. Yes, there is very good camping on Orcas. We camp there all the time, and it is a pleasant walk into town where you will find all you need. Even a nice public beach park! The camping area is on the gassy tiedown area just north of the fuel pumps next to the taxiway. You can camp next to your plane and there are showers too that you wont know about unless you ask. (their behind some hangers.) The airport manager is very nice and will help you out. Roche Harbor is a really nice place to visit , however it is a private strip with no camping and a $10 landing fee. You dont need to call in advance, just pay the fee in a box.

For plan B, visit the San Juans, and then fly up to Concrete (3W5) for the camping, at the base of the North Cascades. Concrete is a little jewel of a place that is little visited. Very quiet with lots of grass for camping. They have a very nice pilots lounge with showers, a kitchen and hide a beds if you need them. If you want peace and quiet after the San Juans, this is the place. Dont forget to visit Harold Hansen's collection of restored planes in his hangers if you stop there.

Then at Cavanaugh Bay Idaho you will find all you need. One of our favorites, they have excellent camping with showers and free coffee. A great place close to the beach and a very good eating place.

If you decide to take a look at "Stehekin State", just remember even though this strip is not very high, it is a very back woodsy airstrip. Not very long, quite rough with tree's.

Sounds like a great trip. If you are going around the end of July I might see you. Have fun!

I flew into a new place for me the other day and It might be a place that you might be interested in. It is close to Dayville, OR., and about 9 miles east of the Kimberly VOR. You can get a look at it here: Stinson Bobcat, LLC ( google it) I am sure they would let you camp there. It is called Lands Inn and is a beautiful setting. It is about 32 miles west and a little North from John Day, OR. Tom and Carol Buce are the owners He is an aircraft mechanic. Bob

GSP
You didn't say exactly when you were planning, but if its early in the summer Cavanaugh Bay may still be closed. Check with the Idaho Dept of Aeronautics. Last I heard, they were going to check the new grass in late May or early June and make a determination when to open it. Or check Notams I guess.

I camped a couple of times with some folks, one of which lived on Orcas. He said the plan, would be to land at Friday Harbor, walk to the fish market, buy fresh Dungeness, fly to Orcas and cook while camping there. Fresh water in the airplane camping area, and showers I think in one of the t-Hangars buildings. I don't know when the Dungeness season starts, but I think it ends like Sept or Oct. We haven't done it yet - maybe this year.

The IAA newsletter just said Magee is closed now too. I guess flooding brought some trash onto the strip and will have to be moved before opening.

More great info everyone. I really appreciate it.

WNF and Resky, thanks for the info on ORS and Concrete. I am up to speed on Cavanaugh Bay's situation. I guess I should have said that it would be dependent on its status. Hopefully it will be open by the end of June. The article in the Rudder Flutter sounded like they were happy with how it is coming along.

HC, thanks for the info on Polson. I'll check it out.

RJW, thanks for the info on Copalis. I remember reading about some of you guys going there. I'd love to check it out.

I'm quickly turning a week trip into a week +. Sadly, I'm sure some things will have to be bypassed. I almost decided to forego ORS due to time constraints, but now that I know there is camping there, I'm reconsidering.

Again, I appreciate all the input. I'm going to need to get more time off...and probably rob a bank.

GrassStrip:

Your "tip" jar is already overflowing, but here's a few more:

In the San Juans, the Washington Pilots Association has a cabin on Stewart Island, on the Stewart-East Airstrip. Apparently a bit rustic, but open to members. I've never been to their cabin (but the airstrip's in good shape) - but it may be worth a WPA membership and a call to the WPA.

Much further east, if you can fit it in, a visit to Ben Ryan's field right outside Glacier NP is always great. He's apparently got an arrangement through one of the Montana pilot's associations, and prior permission is required - but just meeting Mr. and Mrs. Ryan is a treat.

Best of luck!

--Tony

51E wrote:......South of Twisp is Stehekin, which is a terrific backcountry strip.....

Stehekin is west of Twisp, not south, about 25 miles worth.