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.
Went down to Happy Canyon for an expedition to the Dirty Devil. About an 11 mile hike one way. While at the airstrip I rehabilitated about 50 feet of runway right at the west end. If someone goes down there and remembers to bring some orange or white paint...hit those cones on the end with a good spray! Also, please be aware of postholing...turning your aircraft on 1 tire. It makes a big hole that can set up and get firm. I fixed before we left. Runway is in good condition, same as always!
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.
It's an 11 mile hike down to the Dirty Devil where there is a slot canyon with some pretty incredible views along the way. There are NO springs on the way, so water must be carried, making sure you have enough for down and back. You could pull water from the Dirty Devil for the way back, using Alum to filter the silt out first before a water purifier. We split the trip up into two days and stayed 1 night on the trail. A good amount of hiking, but doable. Slot canyon can have water in it so be prepared with extra shoes, pretty muddy. We went end of April and no water above the thigh that year.