Description

Location
Overview Big Bar sits on the Idaho side of the Snake River within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area — the deepest canyon in North America — and is the only airstrip within the recreation area. The strip rests on a sandbar along the river, hemmed in by towering canyon walls. Unlike the rim-top strips on the Oregon side, which can remain snow-covered well into June, canyon-floor strips like Big Bar are typically accessible year-round. Directly across the river on the Oregon side sits the historic Temperance Creek Ranch.

Camping & Recreation
Undeveloped camping sites are available along the river, though there are no developed camping facilities or tiedowns on site. A 3.5-mile hike downriver leads to the USFS Kirkwood Museum Complex. Visitors can enjoy excellent hiking, wildlife viewing, and fishing for steelhead, sturgeon, and bass, or simply take in the rugged canyon scenery. Just across the Snake River, Temperance Creek Ranch offers lodging and meals through Hells Canyon Packers.

Notes & Warnings
The runway is short at 1,471 feet and demands high skill levels and an appropriate aircraft. The grass and dirt surface is in generally good condition by backcountry standards, but pilots should walk the strip before landing — old construction debris including nails, wire, and wood has been reported on or near the runway over the years. A windsock is positioned approximately midfield on the east side of the runway. Canyon flying techniques are essential, as the narrow gorge limits approach options and requires careful speed management and turning awareness.

History
Big Bar was once a hay field before transitioning into the backcountry airstrip it is today. The site carries echoes of earlier ranching and homesteading life in the canyon, evidenced by remnants of old structures and scattered hardware still found on the property. Over the years, the Idaho Aviation Association, the Recreational Aviation Foundation, and the Oregon Pilots Association have partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to keep the strip viable. Each fall, volunteers fly in to assemble a seasonal outhouse and perform runway maintenance, then return each spring to remove the outhouse before the summer river recreation season begins — a unique arrangement that reflects the strip's dual role as a backcountry aviation destination and a gateway into one of the American West's most spectacular wild places.