AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 42

PILOT BRIEFING
Fly-outs made possible by ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR

FLY-OUTS

Priest Lake, Idaho
Two big airstrips-and a seaplane base
B Y C R I S TA V. W O R T H Y

Crista Worthy is managing editor for Pilot Getaways magazine.
She lives in Hidden Springs, Idaho.

42 | AOPA PILOT August 2014

IF YOU GO

SPOKANE FLY-IN
AOPA's fourth fly-in of
2014 takes place in nearby
Spokane, Washington, August
16, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
at Felts Field (SFF). This historic
airport was one of the first in the
West. Aviation started here in
1910. Join AOPA at this storied
airport for a fun fly-in day, which
features expert speakers and
seminars, great food, and family
fun (www.aopa.org/fly-ins).

Cavanaugh Bay Airstrip
(D28) and Tanglewood
Seaplane Base.
Located one mile northwest of the city.
Tel. 208-443-2589
Rental cars: (www.aopa.org/

cars) 866-315-9155

COURTESY IDAHO DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS

PRIEST LAKE, THE "CROWN JEWEL OF IDAHO," is set against
the western edge of Idaho's Panhandle just 15 nautical miles
south of the Canadian border and 54 nm northeast of Spokane,
Washington. The sapphire-blue lake is surrounded by a dense
emerald forest; mountains provide a scenic backdrop. Children
play on white sand beaches or search for huckleberries as fishermen ply the lake for Dolly Varden, cutthroat, and Mackinaw
trout and Kokanee salmon. The 57-1/2-pound U.S. record
Mackinaw was caught here years ago-30-pound lunkers can
still be pulled up with deeply trolled lures. Campers enjoy long
summer evenings before curling up in their tents; other visitors
splurge at lakeside resorts. Best of all, this pristine paradise is
available to pilots with virtually any type of airplane-choose
from two big airstrips and a seaplane base.
The Cavanaugh Bay Airport (66S) sits at the south end of
Cavanaugh Bay, which extends like a thumb on the lake's east
side. Runway 15/33 is 3,100 feet of immaculate turf-a Citation
III landed here last year. Approaches are normally made over
the lake, right pattern to the uphill Runway 15. Watch for sprinklers which may be operating to one side; at 120 feet wide,
there's plenty of room. Parking and tiedowns are west of the
runway. The shady campground is for fly-in guests only, with
water, firewood, tables, hot showers, and a bunkhouse-all free.
Friendly caretaker Allen Lieske, who has been here 14 summers, has hot coffee brewed by 5:30 a.m. and three courtesy
cars that rent for $5 per day plus 30 cents a mile. The state
park, seven miles away, has a wide beach and a store. You can
rent boats, waverunners, kayaks, and canoes. On the lakeshore
off the runway's north end you'll find Cavanaugh's, with three
condos, a cabin, and a restaurant/ bar serving lunch, dinner,
and Sunday brunch.
Dr. Loel Fenwick's Tanglewood Seaplane Base (D28) welcomes visitors and is just 0.4 nm northwest of 66S and can
accommodate even large seaplanes.
The Priest Lake USFS airstrip (67S), 1 nm west of the lake, is
your best access to two upscale resorts. Runway 14/32 is 4,400
feet by 175 feet of dirt; use 122.9 for all area ops. Both resorts
offer free pick-up and beaches for floatplanes. Hill's Resort has
a championship golf course, fine dining, water sports, and lakeor forest-view lodging. The Grandview Resort has a restaurant,
cottages and suites with full kitchens, and watercraft for rent.

http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/fly-ins

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - August 2014

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