RAF RECEIVES BLM APPROVAL TO REHABILITATE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AIRSTRIP

California State Liaison Doug Lumgair shared some good news for California’s backcountry flying community: the RAF has received approval from the BLM Ukiah Field Office to restore the Walker Ridge Airstrip, located within the Snow Mountain National Monument.

Lumgair has been leading the effort, working closely with the BLM to develop and submit a detailed restoration plan. “This abandoned airstrip is about 60 miles West of Sacramento and 100 miles north of San Francisco, making it an accessible destination for many recreational pilots,” Lumgair explained.

The airstrip is approximately 1,800 feet long and 70 feet wide, sitting at an elevation of 2,200 feet. Once cleared, it will provide safe and environmentally responsible access to a secluded area known for its scenic ridges and recreational opportunities, including camping and mountain biking. Restoration work will be limited to the previously disturbed three-acre footprint.

Lumgair is organizing a drive-in volunteer work party for November 8, followed by a fly-in work weekend planned for the first or second weekend in December.

For more information or to join the effort, contact Doug Lumgair at dlumgair@theraf.org.

Submitted October 15, 2025