Toketee State Airport (3S6) a 5,350-foot turf airstrip in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest, offers general aviation pilots a quiet spot for fly-in camping, with access to hiking trails, fishing, and swimming.
“The remote location provides an exceptionally dark sky for star gazing and telescope parties are held occasionally,” reports Recreational Aviation Foundation Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes. “Spring and Fall bring the potential for large herds of elk and flocks of turkeys in the morning and early evening at the airstrip.”
RAF supporters have been interested for some time in improving the primitive camping area, according to association officials.
Thanks to the efforts of RAF Oregon Ambassador Bill Ables, the U.S. Forest Service directed a portion of its 2021 federally allocated funds to initiate improvements, including the purchase of a new all-weather picnic table and RAF fire ring that were shipped to Mayes.
Several RAF supporters and members of the Oregon Pilots Association gathered at Toketee in early August 2021 to clean up the camping area and install the table and fire ring. In addition, RAF member Pete Gauthier built and donated a timber picnic table the crew helped install.
At the time the volunteers were working, the airfield was occupied by a large USFS Hot-Shot crew that had been fighting a nearby wildfire for more than eight weeks. The fire camp manager was very welcoming and stated that she was “impressed that volunteers from the pilot community took an interest in the condition of the airfield and were willing to donate their time and efforts to maintaining the facility.”
Mayes noted that further improvements to the primitive camping area are under discussion.
See RAF’s Airfield Guide for more information on Toketee airfield here.