TAYLOR FLAT, UT

Location Overview
Taylor Flat Airstrip (identifier TF9, also referenced as TF6) sits in Daggett County in the northeast corner of Utah, managed by the BLM's Vernal Field Office, with the strip located just a stone's throw from the wild and scenic Green River as it cuts through the surrounding canyons. It's situated near the small community of Dutch John. Part of the access road and airstrip lies near the Green River Wild and Scenic River corridor and the Browns Park Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Camping & Recreation
A dry camping area sits within about a quarter mile of the Green River, putting pilots within easy walking distance of the water. The remote stretch of the Green River nearby offers good access for fishing and rafting. Overall, the strip is described as a remote camping spot tucked deep in the Utah canyonlands.

Notes & Warnings
This is a backcountry dirt strip, so pilots should expect the usual unimproved-surface considerations. The original 4,300-foot runway was shortened to about 2,500 feet to avoid a sensitive environmental area, which created a displaced threshold on the east end of the runway. Large painted rocks mark the runway corners and threshold, and 16-foot painted X's alert pilots to stay clear of the sensitive area nearby. A new windsock has also been installed at the field. As with any backcountry strip, conservative personal minimums and a willingness to divert rather than press a marginal approach are advised.

History
Taylor Flat Airstrip was originally built in the 1960s and was reclaimed (closed) in the 1990s, leaving it dormant for roughly 30 years - about 28 years by some accounts. Efforts to bring it back to life began in 2023, involving the Bureau of Land Management, Daggett County, and RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig, and included a right-of-way lease application and a National Environmental Policy Act environmental assessment. The BLM opened a public scoping period on the proposal in early 2025. Restoration work culminated in a volunteer work party where RAF supporters came from Colorado with heavy equipment to fill in the ditches that had been cut across the runway, while Utah Back Country Pilots provided a new windsock and an RAF Ambassador painted the runway markings. The strip officially reopened to pilots in 2026 as part of the RAF's broader "Expanding the Map" initiative to restore backcountry airstrip access nationwide.