DEAD COW, NV

Location Overview
Dead Cow Lakebed sits about 30 nautical miles north of Reno/Stead Airport, roughly halfway between Pyramid Lake and Amedee AAF. The dry lake itself is an alkali flat roughly two by four miles in size, surrounded by the treeless, towering heights of the high desert Nevada landscape. The airstrip sits on private property in northwest Nevada, approximately 65 miles north of Reno.

Camping & Recreation
Whether you fly in or drive in, you can set up camp right next to the airstrip. The event features nightly bonfires, stargazing, food trucks, and backcountry flying adventures. The lakebed is best known as the home of the annual High Sierra Fly-In, where nearly 400 aircraft have dropped in, with around 70 competing in STOL drag race qualifying rounds. Pets are welcome but must remain under control at all times, and the event enforces a strict Leave No Trace policy — everything you bring in must be packed out.

Notes & Warnings
The approach end of the northeast/southwest 3,000-foot hard-dirt airstrip is marked by two rows of red flags. Pilots are expected to pull well off to the side after landing and set up camp beside their aircraft. Playa dust is a constant presence — plan on a thorough wash when you get home. A morning briefing is typically held around the campfire at 7 a.m. covering frequencies, procedures, and safety. Notably, a midair collision occurred at a past event, so situational awareness and adherence to briefing procedures is taken very seriously.

History
More than a decade ago, a small group of backcountry flying enthusiasts led by pilot and adventurer Kevin Quinn gathered on a remote Nevada lakebed for a fly-in. That first event took place on a patch of ground Quinn nicknamed "Three Shotgun Shells and a Pair of Shoes" — because that was literally all that was there when he landed. Taking advantage of the fact that northern Nevada lakebeds dry out each fall, Quinn held the event in October, and its popularity grew steadily year after year. Quinn eventually purchased the land — a lakebed that earned its now-famous name simply because there was a dead cow on it — and the event evolved into the High Sierra Fly-In, celebrated for its camaraderie, backcountry flying, stargazing, and Quinn's own invention: STOL Drag racing. In 2019, STOL Drag debuted as the first new aviation racing class in 25 years at the Reno Air Races, cementing Dead Cow's place in aviation history.