Hubbard BLM Airstrip - Gateway, CO (9CO3)
Down in the canyon we made our way up the Dolores River. The steep canyon wall offered us 
protection from the approaching rain for a few more minutes. As we lined up for landing to the south on runway 18, we flew over the beautiful resort and our excitement grew. We parked the plane next to the hangar and waited for the great folks from the Adventure Center to pick us up in the Jeep. My wife and I were just married the day before and longed for some peace and quiet on our short well deserved honeymoon.
For a fly-in resort, this place exceeded all my expectations. The rooms were spacious and well equipped (ours even had a small hot tube), the staff was friendly and helpful, the landscape was breathtaking and the food left nothing to be desired. The resort was quiet, even on this warm August day, and we shared the entire place with only a few others. For the next 2 days are activities included hiking, flying, indulging in food, mountain biking, and relaxing. The world felt disconnected and our worries had slipped away in that short time.
The main attraction of the resort is the world famous Gateway Auto Museum. My wife is not a gear head by any means, but we gawked at the glamorous cars for hours. As you travel through decades of the automotive industry, you can’t help but appreciate a simpler time when these amazing cars turning heads. My favorites were the 1967 Shelby GT500 and 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept.
As we packed the plane, we both felt that our trip had been cut short. The area offers so much to do and we will certainly make our way back. After the wheels left the smooth, but rocky runway, we peered over at the resort, an oasis among the red rocks and sand. This is a place that every pilot should experience, so if you’re ever in the area make sure to stop by!
Runway 18/36
| Dimensions: | 2600 x 75 ft. / 792 x 23 m | ||
| Surface: | turf/dirt, in good condition | ||
| RUNWAY 18 | RUNWAY 36 | ||
| Traffic pattern: | left | left | |
| Runway end identifier lights: | no | no | |
| Obstructions: | 1537 ft. butte, 5800 ft. from runway, 4:1 slope to clear | 100 ft. canyon wall, 1000 ft. from runway, 10:1 slope to clear | |
| FAA Identifier: | 9CO3 |
| Lat/Long: | 38-40-59.9440N / 108-59-02.3910W 38-40.999067N / 108-59.039850W 38.6833178 / -108.9839975 (estimated) |
| Elevation: | 4670 ft. / 1423 m (estimated) |
| Variation: | 13E (1985) |
| From city: | 1 mile SW of GATEWAY, CO |
| Time zone: | UTC -6 (UTC -7 during Standard Time) |
| Zip code: | 81522 |
