U81

VFR

COLD MEADOWS USFS

COLD MEADOWS GUARD STATION · IDAHO

Elev
7,030'
Longest RWY
4,550'16/34
Tower
None
Status
Uncontrolled
Now--Z· METAR00:56Z
© Esri
Runways rendered from FAA survey · not for navExpand →
Before you fly into U81
Conditions
VFR
Good for visual flying
Airport
Non-towered
Self-announce on CTAF
Pattern alt
8,030'
MSL · field 7,030' + 1,000 AGL
Favored RWY
RWY 34
H/W +6 · X/W 6 kt R

METAR & TAF U81

U81 does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: KSMN (LEMHI COUNTY) · 46.1 NM away. Conditions at U81 may differ.

METAR · KSMN

Observed 00:56Z

KSMN 280056Z AUTO 04008KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP135 T01061072
Wind
040° @ 8 kt
Visibility
10 SM
Temp / Dew
11°C / -7°C
Altimeter
29.91 inHg
Clouds
CLR
Density alt
8,250 ft
Ceiling
Unlimited
Rules
VFR

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city
0 NM NW
VFR sectional
GREAT FALLS
ARTCC
ZLC · SALT LAKE CITY
NOTAM facility
BOI (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name
KRASSEL DISTRICT RANGER
Address
500 NORTH MISSION ST., MC CALL ID 83638

Flight service · Hours

FSS BOI
BOISE1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance
  • Unattended

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway
040° · 8 kt
RWY 34
340°M
Head/Tail
+6 kt
Crosswind
6 kt R

Pattern entry · RWY 34

LEFT TRAFFIC
CrosswindCrosswindDownwindDownwindBaseBaseFinalFinal45° entry45° entryRWY 34 · 340° · LEFT TRAFFICPattern 8,030 ft MSL
RunwayHeading (°M)LengthSurfaceTraffic
16/34Favored160° / 340°4,550 ftTURF-DIRTStandard L

Runway end performance

EndTORATODAASDALDAVGSIApproach lightsObstruction
1635', trees, 0' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 0
34130', hill, 450' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 3

Declared distances in feet. TORA = takeoff run available, TODA = takeoff distance, ASDA = accelerate-stop, LDA = landing distance.

Airport sketch

Runways drawn to scale from FAA survey coordinates, rendered over live satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

© Esri

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement
U81 · CHART_SUPP
Can’t preview this PDF inline. Open it →

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel
Not available
Oxygen (bottled)
Not available
Oxygen (bulk)
Not available
Airframe repair
Not available
Power plant repair
Not available

Ramp & ground

Transient storage
  • Tie-down
Landing fee
No fee published
Wind indicator
Yes
Segmented circle
Yes

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

  • There are rubber water bar strips on the runway.Show FAA
  • For clearance delivery contact Salt Lake ARTCC at 801-320-2568.Show FAA
  • No winter maintenance is provided.Show FAA
  • Runway may be soft in early spring.Show FAA
  • No telephone is available at the airport.Show FAA
  • Very high density altitude factor occurs during summer months.Show FAA
  • Rodent activity is present on and in the vicinity of the airport.Show FAA
  • Big game animals and livestock are on and in the vicinity of the runway.Show FAA
  • The United States Forest Service recommends a left turnout down Cotton Wood Creek after departing runway 16.Show FAA

Runway surface & condition

  • 16/34When wind conditions permit, land runway 34 and depart runway 16.Show FAA
  • 16/34Runway 16/34 first 500 feet of runway 34 is very rough.Show FAA

Approach & departure obstructions

  • 16Runway 16 has unpainted rock boundary markers.Show FAA
  • 16A wall of 35 feet or taller trees is located at zero feet on the centerline of runway 16.Show FAA
  • 16Runway 16 has 35-foot trees at 10 feet on the centerline and 30-foot trees at 5 feet 50 feet left of the centerline.Show FAA
  • 34There is a 125 foot timbered ridge at 350 feet and 200 feet left of runway 34.Show FAA

Other notes

  • Established prior to 31 December 1958.Show FAA
  • 16/34Only 20 feet center portion of runway length is dirt and used for takeoff and landing.Show FAA

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · U81

Answer card
ICAO
U81
Name
COLD MEADOWS USFS
Location
COLD MEADOWS GUARD STATION, IDAHO
Elevation
7,030 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude
8,030 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower
Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways
1
Longest runway
16/34 · 4,550 ft
Published ILS approaches
0
Published frequencies
1
Magnetic variation
17°
Current flight rules
VFR
Current wind
040° at 8 kt
Favored runway now
RWY 34

COLD MEADOWS USFS (U81) sits at the Cold Meadows Guard Station in Idaho. Field elevation is 7,030 ft MSL. The airport has one runway. Runway 16/34 is 4,550 ft long with a turf-dirt surface. The airport is not towered. CTAF is 122.9. No ILS approaches are published here.

Pattern altitude is not published. Use 1,000 ft AGL as the standard light-piston reference unless the current FAA Chart Supplement says otherwise. That puts the pattern at about 8,030 ft MSL. The field has no on-field FBOs listed. No fuel provider is confirmed on the field. Plan accordingly before you go.

This is a high-elevation backcountry strip. Summer density altitude can be a real factor. The published remarks also call out no winter maintenance. The runway may be soft in early spring. Runway 16 has trees close to the centerline near the departure end. The first 500 ft of runway 34 is very rough. The Forest Service also recommends a left turnout down Cotton Wood Creek after departing runway 16. Expect a strip that rewards a careful performance check, a conservative go-around plan and good short-field technique.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pattern altitude at U81?
Pattern altitude is not published. Use 1,000 ft AGL as the standard light-piston reference unless the current FAA Chart Supplement says otherwise. That is about 8,030 ft MSL at this field elevation.
Does COLD MEADOWS USFS have a tower?
No. U81 is non-towered. Use CTAF 122.9 for local traffic calls and coordinate with other aircraft in the pattern.
Is there an ILS at U81?
No ILS approaches are published for U81. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for the latest approach information before you go.
What is the longest runway at COLD MEADOWS USFS?
Runway 16/34 is the only runway. It is 4,550 ft long with a turf-dirt surface. The runway is short enough that density altitude and surface condition matter a lot here.
What should I know about runway 16 at U81?
Runway 16 has trees close to the centerline near the departure end. The Forest Service recommends a left turnout down Cotton Wood Creek after departure. Verify current conditions before using it.
What should I know about runway 34 at U81?
The first 500 ft of runway 34 is very rough. The runway also has rubber water bar strips. Check the surface carefully before landing or departing.
Are there any FBOs on the field at U81?
No on-field FBOs are listed. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival, or call the field on CTAF for current fuel or service availability.
What operational issues matter most at COLD MEADOWS USFS?
This is a high-elevation strip with very high summer density altitude. There is no winter maintenance. The runway may be soft in early spring. Plan performance conservatively and verify current field conditions before departure.

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