Airstrip Info
| Frequency | 122.90 |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 4461 ft |
| Lat/Long |
39.0188, -110.4504 39° 1.128' , -110° 27.024' |
| Runway 11/29 |
1900 ft
x 40 ft
Dirt Rwy 29 Uphill 0.3% |
| Ownership | BLM WSA |
Amenities
Weather
See more at the National Weather Center
Information updated January 27, 2025 @ 4:21pm
Description: Mexican Mountain's runway is oriented west/east alongside the San Rafael River inside the Mexican Mountain Wilderness Study Area. Due to the sensitive nature of the location, pilots are requested to adhere to the UBCP's Code of Conduct to help us maintain our strong working agreements with the BLM. Reminder to all pilots this airstrip exists within a Wilderness Area. Motorized or wheeled conveyances are not to be used on the airstrip or surrounding areas.
Please read wilderness Leave no Trace practices for Mexican Mountain. The use of WAG bags is encouraged.
Runway: 1900 ft long x 40 ft wide dirt runway in great condition. Slopes uphill slightly to the west. First 500' from the east is more soft than the rest of the runway and has a "dark spot" that appears wet throughout the year.
Approach Considerations: Tall trees (30+ ft) on both sides of the runway present a hazard when landing to the east (downhill). Typically land to the west and depart to the east. Tall trees alongside the runway as well, mostly down the western half.
Amenities: Campgrounds and fire rings (please use already established camping/parking areas and fire rings).
Windsock: Yes, located east of the runway.
An 18 mile loop featuring spectacular views of the Mexican Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA). You'll want a GPS and track to help navigate route finding, including locating down climbs that will be required.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/utah/san-rafael-river
Historical marker for Sheriff Azariah Tuttle, Jr. From the plaque: Azariah Tuttle, Jr., sheriff of Emery County, brought the law down on notorious Texan outlaw Joe Walker and other outlaws--the likes of Butch Casidy, Elza Lay, John Montis, and C.L. Gunplay Maxwell"
Several large rocks with petroglyphs are a short 5-min walk down the trail that begins at the airstrip windsock. Please do not touch or deface the petroglyphs so they can be preserved for future generations of pilots.
The history of the Mexican Mountain airstrip is vaguely written in books, yet thrives in the memories of those who've adventured deep into the San Rafael Swell.
Mexican Mountain area has a rich and colorful history. Archeological sites indicate we are not the first to visit. The Horse Thief Pass Trail was used not only by the ancients, but also around the turn of the last century to transport stolen horses through "The Swell" and to points south. It was here, along the "Mexican Bend" of the San Rafael River, that Butch Cassidy, Elzy Lay, and George Walker exchanged their tired mounts for a fresh set of getaway horses during the famous Castle Gate payroll holdup of April 1897.1
The Mexican Mountain backcountry airstrip was constructed in 1975 by Wainoco Inc. for access to drill a test well to 4.060 feet but failed to discover any petroleum (Application for Permit to Drill, Deepen, or Plug Back, June 16. 1975). From this application came the following note: “Location of Airstrip. An airstrip will be constructed in the NE/4 of Section 2 and NW/4 of Section 1 by widening the proposed access road." The permit to drill was approved July 22, 1975, and later in October 24th of the same year, the well was found dry and eventually capped. Shortly thereafter, backcountry recreational pilots have regularly used this airstrip.2
The airstrip was again designated an airstrip and recognized by the USGS on the 1983 edition of the USGS Mexican Mountain 1:24000 map. You can download a PDF of this map by clicking here.
In 2013, after succesfully petitioning the BLM for the necessary permits, the UBCP was granted the opportunity to restore the airstrip to its orignial dimensions. Through many seasons of above-average rainfall, vegetative overgrowth on the landing surface began to impact the safety of aircraft operations. This permit allowed the use of mule-drawn equipment that not only honored the sensitive nature of wilderness lands, but utlized their decades of experience in completing the necessary safety improvements responsibly. Since then, the airstrip has continued to exist in a safe working condition through the use of vounteers completing casual use maintenance.
In 2024, a group of UBCP Members got together and made the necessary repairs to the Mexican Mountain airstrip after some flood damage left the landing surface unsafe. While the UBCP has filed the necessary permits to once again utilize the expertise of wilderness trail crews (again with decades of experience working with the BLM, USFS, among others), a group of volunteers utilizing nothing more than hand tools restored the airstrip back to a safe working condition. You can read more about this effort by clicking here.
1 abridged from the original interpretive sign posted at the Mexican Mountain Airstrip by the UBCP.
2 abridged from the June 2013 Environmetal Assessment for the Mexican Mountain Airstrip by the Bureau of Land Management