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    Succor Creek, OR

    A remote, unofficial backcountry grass/dirt strip tucked into the high-desert canyon country of Succor Creek in far eastern Oregon.

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    Description

    Location Overview
    The airstrip sits on BLM-managed public land in Malheur County, in the rugged, arid canyon country a few miles north of Succor Creek State Natural Area, near the Oregon-Idaho border southwest of the town of Nampa. The surrounding terrain is classic Owyhee-country high desert: deep, rocky canyons cut by Succor Creek, exposed volcanic tuff formations in shades of rust and ochre, and sagebrush steppe stretching for miles with almost no development in sight. It's an isolated pocket of the state, reached in practice mostly by rough unpaved roads or by air, with the nearest towns (Jordan Valley, Homedale, Adrian) each a considerable drive away.  Also known as the Board Corral Gulch airstrip.

    Camping & Recreation
    There's no formal campground at the strip itself, but Succor Creek State Natural Area a short distance to the south offers primitive, first-come campsites on both sides of the creek — a handful on the west bank and a larger cluster of walk-in sites on the east bank — along with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic areas. There's no potable water or cell service anywhere in the vicinity, so visitors need to be self-sufficient. Recreation in the area centers on rockhounding (the canyon is well known among thunder-egg and agate collectors, with modest daily collection limits allowed), hiking through the narrow gorge and its striking rock formations, wildlife watching, and general high-desert exploring; Lake Owyhee and its reservoir recreation are also within reach for those touring the wider region.

    Notes & Warnings
    This is not a charted, maintained public-use airport — it's the kind of unofficial backcountry strip that gets passed along by word of mouth among bush pilots, and its condition, length, and usability can change from season to season or simply be unclear. Pilots should treat it as an off-airport-style landing: expect a narrow, unimproved dirt or gravel surface, possible ruts, brush encroachment, or wildlife on the runway, and no services, fuel, or ground support of any kind. Density altitude, gusty canyon winds, and terrain-driven turbulence are common concerns in this kind of eastern Oregon canyon country, and a low pass to check the surface before committing to land is standard practice at strips like this. Given the remoteness, no cell coverage, and lack of water, proper survival gear and a flight plan or check-in with someone are strongly advised.

    History
    The broader Succor Creek area takes its name from early travelers in the Snake River Basin, with "Succor" likely a corruption of the Spanish "socorro" (help or aid), reflecting how the creek's fresh water once gave relief to people crossing this harsh, dry country. The state natural area nearby was assembled between the late 1960s through federal land grants and private purchase, formalizing public access to a canyon that had long drawn ranchers, rockhounds, and prospectors. The airstrip itself has no well-documented official history — it appears to be one of dozens of informal, unregistered backcountry strips scattered across eastern Oregon's BLM lands, the kind pilots have used for decades for hunting, fishing, ranch access, or simply reaching some of the state's most remote scenery, but which rarely show up in any formal aviation record.

    Details
    • Elevation

      3274

    • CTAF

      122.9

    Location

    43.516918, -117.140590

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    Categories
    • Off-Airport
    Tags
    • Desert
    Region
    • Northwest Mountain
    Ownership
    • Public
    Author
    shortfield

    Land here, before you land out there!

    mood_bad
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      No go around uphill strip.
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