Happy Canyon | Utah Back Country Pilots Association

Happy Canyon

UT97
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Airstrip Info

Frequency 122.90
Elevation 4941 ft
Lat/Long 38.1569, -110.2916
38° 9.414' , -110° 17.496'
Runway 09/27 1385 ft x 50 ft
Dirt
Rwy 9 Uphill 1.4%
Ownership SITLA (State School Lands)

Amenities

Weather

See more at the National Weather Center

Information updated March 8, 2023 @ 11:00am

Description: Strongly suggest obtaining local knowledge prior to landing for the first time. Landing strip currently leased to Utah Back Country Pilots for non-commercial use only. UBCP requests no man-made artifacts (drill bits, tools, etc.) be removed. Emergency water and runway grading tools in shack.

Runways: RWY 9 is uphill 1.38% and has displaced threshold due to overgrown brush. East end 50 feet higher. Touch down point may be difficult to determine by the first time visitor. Threshold markers should be present.

Additional runway 18/36: 845 feet long x 50 feet wide, very soft dirt. Slightly uphill to the north.

Approach Considerations: Unfamiliar pilots should positively identify the touchdown zone as the runway appears to be longer than it is. Recommend land east, depart west.

Amenities: Parking areas are at east end and very soft.

Windsock: Wind sock west of miner's shack.

Matthew Kalm
1 week ago in a RANS S-20 Raven with 26” tires

Landed rwy 9. Has the dip just a little past mid runway. Otherwise runway condition was dry. Parking area good.

0 Likes , 0 Comments


Craig Gustafson
1 month ago in a Carbon Cub EX with 31" tires

Happy Cyn. is one of the coolest backcountry strips around, and it even has a crosswind runway you could use if needed. Very cool old miner's shack still standing, stocked with a case of bottled water, charcoal, a grill, and a few quarts of common airplane oil. Would be an epic place to camp out and watch the stars!

5 Likes , 0 Comments


Robert Lees
6 months ago in a Two Taylorcraft BC12-D 65hp Stromberg no mixture. with one 600-6 and the other 800-6 tires

After my T&G at Mineral, the two of us landed at Happy Canyon for an overnight. Lovely location. Despite very few horsepower, it was a dream. Flowers were in bloom, orange, yellow, purple and cacti too. Runway good, parking area soft but only for our solid Maule tailwheels. We landed at Sandthrax after that.

1 Like , 0 Comments


Phillip Winfrey
1 year ago in a Carbon Cub with 29" tires

This place never gets old. Definitely plenty of water in the miner's shack :) That would be appreciated by anyway stranded there in the summer. Runway was in nice shape.

3 Likes , 0 Comments


Josh Kelson
1 year ago in a PA-18 SuperCub with 31 tires

A little bumpy in sections but firm surface.

2 Likes , 0 Comments


Historic Mining Camp

Added by Wendy Lessig 2 years ago

There is a historic mining shack at the Happy Canyon airstrip. It contains numerous historic relics, petrified wood, and paraphernalia from early in the last century, almost like a private museum for pilots to enjoy. There is also a cache of emergency supplies and tools for pilots to use and replenish. Use caution in and around the shack, as it is old and structurally frail. Please do not remove any of the historic relics and leave them for the next pilot to enjoy. Great airstrip for camping & stargazing.

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