THE DIRT ON BIG CREEK
Idaho’s Big Creek state airport, U60 in the Payette National Forest attracts a large number of recreational pilots. Some camp in the adjacent campground, and some enjoy an overnight stay and breakfast at Idaho Aviation Foundation’s welcoming Big Creek Lodge.
The condition of the Big Creek tie-down area needed improvements and Idaho’s Aeronautics Division was struggling to find the volume of dirt to make solid repairs, estimated at eighty dump truck loads. RAF Idaho Liaison Bruce “Sparky” Parker wanted to help and contacted Idaho Aeronautics’ Director Dan Conner, who was able to commit to the hauling, but locating that volume of material was the problem. Parker got to work looking for a source for the required dirt. “Trying to help, I searched for dirt for them for probably six months,” Parker said. He advertised in the McCall Star-News and the McCall airport manager called him and told Parker she had “all the dirt we could possibly want.”
Conner anticipates it will require 20 trucks of dirt at a time, with four different trips, to improve and level the tie-down area.
Idaho Aeronautics will also use equipment to carve off high spots in the runway.
Aeronautics hopes to keep the airport open throughout the project. Folks may have to park on the north end for a time, which would mean a bit of a walk to Big Creek Lodge, southwest of the runway. Conner is hoping for a September 8 project start.
Pilots planning a visit should check the Airfield Guide. Additionally, Idaho Aviation Association has webcams facing north/south accessible here.
Submitted August 29, 2025
We love backcountry flying in ID; wife/I park camper in Cascade for a month and fly & some biking every year then on to COE area. We’re retired. But, I assume I’m not the first person to question the cost of transporting dirt from McCall to Big Creek. Probably a 12 hr round trip per truck making the dirt cost approx $1000+ per load. Don’t get me wrong, I love Big Creek and we stop at least twice while visiting ID for lunch or breakfast- it’s a special place. Anytime a fellow pilot/friend flys with us we take them to Big Creek=beautiful.