Ranger Creek State, WA

Location Overview
Ranger Creek sits deep in the White River Valley near Greenwater, Washington, close to Mount Rainier, surrounded by sheer cliffs and towering ridges. The airport is located along State Highway 410, with Crystal Mountain Resort just a few miles to the southeast.

Camping & Recreation
The camping area surrounds the functioning airstrip, creating a unique experience where visitors can occasionally watch small aircraft take off and land. The campground features roughly 40 sites spread along a long narrow loop around the airstrip, with some walk-in sites available. The campsite features picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. There is no potable water available, so campers should bring their own or be prepared to purify water from nearby sources. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Nearby hiking trails lead to Suntop Lookout, the Crest Trail, and Mount Rainier National Park. Only a few hundred feet south of the airport is the glacial White River, and deer and elk are commonly seen on the airfield and in the surrounding forest.

Notes & Warnings
There are trees in both approaches, and turbulence and downdrafts are common over the river on the approach to runway 33. The camping areas are busy in summer and during hunting seasons, and the runway does get encroached on by pedestrians. Animals are common on the runway in early morning and late evening. Overflight to check runway conditions, look for obstructions, and to make people on the ground aware of your presence is essential. The airport is closed from October 1 to June 1 due to winter conditions such as snowpack and lack of maintenance. Pilots should check NOTAMs for the actual spring opening date. During the closure period, use is limited to emergency services with prior permission required.

History
There are varying accounts of how the airstrip came into existence. One account holds that when the U.S. went to war with Japan in the 1940s, and with great fear that air bases would be hit, Ranger Creek was built as an evacuation site for warplanes. Another version suggests it may have served as a training field for Army Rangers and Air Force pilots preparing for war in Europe — and there is likely some truth to both. The airport's history stretches back even further to President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps era, and it has continued to serve through Korean War-era activities as well. More recently, the airport has become known for its role in setting state altitude records and significant cross-country flights by gliders using the lee wave formed off Mount Rainier. Today, it is operated under permit from the Forest Service and maintained through a partnership between the Recreational Aviation Foundation, the Green River Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association, and WSDOT Aviation.