KLLJ Challis Airport | Idaho Airport Guide

Before you fly into KLLJ

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

6,075.9'

MSL · field 5,075.9' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

RWY 17

H/W +2 · X/W 2 kt R

METAR & TAF KLLJ

Current METAR

Observed 07:55Z

KLLJ 120755Z AUTO 23003KT 10SM CLR 10/M05 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP149 T01001050 $

Wind: 230° @ 3 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 10°C / -5°C
Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Clouds: CLR
Density alt: 5,483 ft
Ceiling: Unlimited
Rules: VFR

KLLJ does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: KSMN (LEMHI COUNTY) · 38.8 NM away. Conditions at KLLJ may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 12 06:00Z–13 06:00Z

TAF KSMN 120520Z 1206/1306 VRB03KT P6SM SKC FM122100 36012G20KT P6SM SCT090

BASEVFR

12 06:00Z–12 21:00Z

Wind: Variable at 3 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Clear
Weather: None forecast

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

21Z

00Z

03Z

06Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

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: 1 NM NE
VFR sectional: GREAT FALLS
ARTCC: ZLC · SALT LAKE CITY
NOTAM facility: LLJ (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: CAMERON DAVIS
Phone: (208) 833-4617
Address: PO BOX 587, CHALLIS ID 83226

Flight service · Hours

FSS BOI: BOISE1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: MON-FRI · 0700-1700

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

230° · 3 kt

See full METAR & TAF

RWY 17

168°M

Head/Tail

+2 kt

Crosswind

2 kt R

Pattern entry · RWY 17

LEFT TRAFFIC

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic
17/35Favored	168° / 348°	4,601 ft	ASPH	Standard L

Runway end performance

End	TORA	TODA	ASDA	LDA	VGSI	Approach lights	Obstruction
17	—	—	—	—	PAPI 2-box left(4°)	—	—
35	—	—	—	—	—	—	40', pline, 1450' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 31

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 satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

Top-down satellite sketch of KLLJ CHALLIS in CHALLIS, IDAHO, showing runways 17/35 drawn to scale over Esri World Imagery

Approaches & charts

RNAV (GPS)-A

KLLJ · IAP

RNAV (GPS)-A

KLLJ · IAP

Services on the field

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

Fuel & services

Fuel: 100A
Oxygen (bottled): Not available
Airframe repair: Major
Power plant repair: Major
Other services: CHTR,INSTR

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Tie-down
Landing fee: No fee published
Customs: Not available
Lighting schedule: SS-SR
Beacon schedule: SS-SR
Beacon: White / Green (civil land)(WG)
Wind indicator: Lighted
Segmented circle: Yes

Fuel & FBOs

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

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$6.67

KSMN·Lemhi County Airport·38.8 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$6.46

KSMN·Gem Air·38.8 nm

FBO	100LL	Jet A	Amenities
Middle Fork Aviation 122.800(208) 879-5728 WebsiteIndependent12d ago	$6.70	—	—

Middle Fork Aviation
122.800(208) 879-5728
—
100LL
$6.70
Jet A
—

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$6.67atKSMNLemhi County Airport38.8 nmsave $0.03
Jet A$6.46atKSMNGem Air38.8 nm

Airport notes

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

General notes

BE ALERT HELICOPTER OPNS ADJACENT SOUTHEAST END OF ARPT.
ASOS WX STN ON ARPT.
ARPT LCTD IN HIGH MTN VALLEY.
DEER ON & INVOF ARPT.
RWY 17/35 RECOMMEND LAND RWY 17; TKOF RWY 35 WHEN WND CONDITIONS PERMIT.
FOR CD CTC SALT LAKE ARTCC AT 801-320-2568.

Approach & departure obstructions

17RWY 17 PAPI UNUSBL BYD 7 DEGS RIGHT & LEFT OF CNTRLN: RWY 17 PAPI UNUSBL BYD 2.5 NM FM THR DUE TO TRRN.

Other notes

ESTABD PRIOR TO 1959.

VFR map & nearby airports

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

Key facts · KLLJ

Answer card

ICAO: KLLJ
Name: CHALLIS
Location: CHALLIS, IDAHO
Elevation: 5,075.9 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 6,075.9 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 1
Longest runway: 17/35 · 4,601 ft
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 2
Magnetic variation: 12°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 230° at 3 kt
Favored runway now: RWY 17

Challis Airport sits in Challis, Idaho in a high mountain valley. Field elevation is 5,075.9 ft MSL. The airport has one runway, 17/35, which is 4,601 ft long with an asphalt surface. No tower is published. CTAF and UNICOM are both 122.8.

No ILS approaches are published for KLLJ. Pattern altitude is not published, so use the standard 1,000 ft AGL for light piston operations unless current published data says otherwise. Middle Fork Aviation is on the field. It carries 100LL and Jet A. Call them at (208) 879-5728 for current service details.

The Chart Supplement remarks matter here. Deer are on and near the airport. Helicopter traffic can be active near the southeast end. The airport also has an automated weather station on site. Runway 17 is the recommended landing runway when wind permits. Runway 35 is the recommended departure runway when wind permits. Runway 17 PAPI has limits near the edges of centerline. It also becomes unusable beyond 2.5 NM from the threshold because of terrain. That terrain note is worth a close read before a first arrival. Clearance delivery is handled through Salt Lake ARTCC at 801-320-2568.

Frequently asked questions

What is the field elevation at KLLJ?

KLLJ sits at 5,075.9 ft MSL. That elevation matters for takeoff roll, climb performance and density altitude planning.

What is the longest runway at Challis Airport?

The airport has one runway. Runway 17/35 is 4,601 ft long with an asphalt surface.

Is there an ILS at KLLJ?

No ILS approaches are published for KLLJ. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement and current approach data before you go.

What is the pattern altitude at KLLJ?

Pattern altitude is not published. Use the standard 1,000 ft AGL for light piston operations unless current published data says otherwise.

Which FBO is on the field at Challis Airport?

Middle Fork Aviation is the on-field FBO. It carries 100LL and Jet A. Call (208) 879-5728 for current service details.

What should I know about runway use at KLLJ?

The published remark recommends landing runway 17 when wind permits. It also recommends departing runway 35 when wind permits. That is the best starting point for a local brief.

Are there terrain or wildlife concerns at KLLJ?

Yes. The airport is in a high mountain valley. Deer are on and near the airport. Runway 17 PAPI is also unusable beyond 2.5 NM from the threshold because of terrain.

How do I get clearance delivery for KLLJ?

The published remark says to contact Salt Lake ARTCC at 801-320-2568 for clearance delivery. Use the current Chart Supplement for the latest published guidance before departure.

KLLJ