Piute Canyon

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Airstrip Info

Frequency	122.90
Elevation	4952 ft
Lat/Long	37.6495, -110.2989 37° 38.97' , -110° 17.934'
Runway 6/24	1541 ft x 40 ft Soft dirt Rwy 6 Uphill 3.2%
Ownership	BLM

Weather

See more at the National Weather Center

Backcountry airstrips are inherently dangerous. It is the sole responsibility of the Pilot in Command to ascertain airstrip conditions prior to use. Be certain to consider environmental, aircraft, and personal factors when determining suitability. Use of the airstrips is at the sole discretion of the Pilot in Command. Fly safe!

Information updated January 4, 2025 @ 2:47pm

Description: A seriously remote airstrip located in the Red Canyon area, this place begs to be explored. At one point a Piper Warrior can be seen landing here on YouTube, but the strip is becoming more a part of the landscape now. Remnants of old mining activity are still strewn about the airstrip with piles of concrete rubble and other miscellaneous oddities. Camping here would put you in the heart of Dark Sky territory and you may loose the ability to discern constellations. Multiple deep washes and slots surround the airstrip and you could easily evade capture if you were a wanted character in the Wild West!

Runway: Not completely off limits to smaller tires, but shrubs and grass cover the runway making it more rough than it appears. The runway slopes uphill to the east but is very difficult to detect.

Approach: No obstructions on either approach, but located in a canyon area the winds here can be unforgiving. Descending below the canyon rim, the swirling winds and turbulence may force a discontinued approach. The best chance of the successful approach and landing likely would be accomplished in the morning hours.

Parking: A flat area located just off the runway to the east provides a flat grassy area for camping. No cell phone coverage.

Ben Crowder visited 3 months ago in a FX3 CarbonCub with 31" tires

Smaller erosion down the strip not very noticeable to big tires.

3 Likes , 0 Comments

Gary Hilley checked in 7 months ago

0 Likes , 0 Comments

Marc Lassaux visited 8 months ago in a ICP Savannah S with 21 tires

Overflew Piute in a flight with others who did land it. I did not land this time around but will be back. Overflight visual on runway looked a bit rough but better more towards the center. This would be a good one to work on.

1 Like , 0 Comments

Josh Kelson checked in 1 year ago

1 Like , 0 Comments

Regan Richmond visited 2 years ago in a C-150/150 with 8.00 tires

Definite soft field landing with a few very small erosion areas towards the NE end. Small grass and brush on and near runway for most of the length of it. Turning around requires some momentum and wide radius to avoid getting stuck (I learned first hand that doing different resulted in having to get unstuck).

2 Likes , 0 Comments

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An area chock-full of historical events, such as the 1884 Fight at Solider Crossing, the Piute Canyon airstrip is yet another one of Utah's backcountry airstrips that likely stemmed from the uranium boom of the 1950s. Having only been recognized as a road by the USGS on the 1980s Hite Crossing, UT 1:100000 topographic map (which you can view by clicking here), decades prior the area was noted for a nearby mine that likely was the impetus of the creation of the airstrip.

While some online sources says the airstrip has since been decomissioned due to the lack of use, the airstrip regularly sees visitors who wish to take a part in some of the darkest skies in southern Utah. The remoteness of the airstrip provides ample opportunities for adventurers and explorers to travel back in time, partaking of the many remnants of earlier lives once thriving in this area. Structures of old stone homes and historic trails interwoven through nearby Wingate Mesa give the airstrip a great puropose as a trailhead through this scenic area.