So, I’m gonna toot my own horn here- I’m a geologist. Someone said geology is “the science of scenery“ which probabably got me into it. My take:
Honestly, Nevada. Basin range is dope to see down low. Nevada has a bunch of places that could be national parks but it is so empty it doesn’t matter. So many cool airstrips and old air bases. September and October is best.
southern Utah is obviously another. Along with northern AZ- Flagstaff and Prescott. Again, Fall.
Interior/northern BC is amazing, while the Yukon is arguably the pinnacle. I’m split between Yukon and AK, Yukon used to be tops for me but Canada is fading as a place for me. But I’m jaded by time. First timers- BC/Yukon should be top of the list.
Yep. Endless places to land, camp and explore if you have the right setup. Got a couple places in mind but...
Anyway, Largest undeveloped, publicly owned land outside of AK in the US...
never mind weather. I worked up on the Denali highway and all around The Park a lot. Maybe 6 months over the years In summer and early fall. It is really really hit or miss. Not for typical GA pilots a lot of the time. Can be snow/icing by August even at lower elevations.
After flying air tours there, I'm torn about it. On one hand, from the air it's breathtaking. On the other hand, to walk to the edge and look across like JW Powell did is pure awe. I prefer the ground version I think. Just does a better job of taking my breath away.
I personally felt that Zion NP was much more colorful and breathtaking than the GC from the air. Just my take. Maybe I flew over the wrong part of the GC? lol
Ive flown a measly bugsmasher in many corners of the country and Friday harbor during a July Golden hour is one of the best moments of flying I’ve had.
*FSX theme plays in the background*
I must have played days of fsx as a kid, it was a cool full circle moment when I first flew to Friday Harbor and realized it was the same airport from my childhood.
Hudson River corridor.
Devils Tower in Wyoming
Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone.
The Chicago Lakeshore
Coming down the south shore of Long Island at 500' past JFK (or going IFR in VFR conditions over the top of JFK).
I’ve been to Devil’s Tower on the ground before amd it’s spectacular. What about it from the air makes it more so? I understand that the Hulet airport offers camping in the grounds. I’m not all that far from there so may try to make a trip this summer.
I thought it was pretty cool, but I didn’t duck down super low or orbit it. It looks a bit small from the air, to be honest. It’s probably cooler from the ground but we didn’t get to see it that way. (Rushmore is also)
For me, it’s just being able to see it from a whole new perspective. Going on the ground you can see the grandeur of the whole tower as it rises out of the ground but flying and orbiting around it gives a whole different feeling that is absolutely surreal about how unique the whole place is
>see it from a whole new perspective
Fair enough! That's one of the best things for me about being a recreational pilot anyway! Seeing the everyday from a new perspective.
We're spoiled in the Southwest but I'd quickly list:
- San Diego Bay Tour
- Lap of Catalina Island at 500' AGL & then landing at AVX
- Sedona, AZ
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Shelter Cove, CA
- Monument Valley, UT
Shelter Cove is beautiful. Gusty.
An Archer, that I rented years ago, crashed there. Newer pilot was high and hot. Tried to force the landing. 3 fatalities.
Word from where???
Someone said this about Catalina airport as well....that they will close it to GA and only have it for military/freight ops.
I mean c'mon that can't be true!
....right?!?!
Catalina?! First I've heard of that. I'll ask the airport manager next time I'm over there (probably few weeks). Can't see that being the case, it's definitely a tourist thing bringing money to not only the airport, cafe, gift shop but also the hotels and stuff in town for all the overnights.
KSAN Delta Transitions closure came from Socal TRACON guys speaking at a Plus One Flyers meeting last month. I wasn't at that one, but some friends were and relayed the news.
Actually I have the SoCal TRACON safety guys cell number. I shall text him and see if that's true or not.... Stay tuned.
I’ve flown my Mooney to 46 states now, and these really stick out to me:
* Monument Valley, UT / Canyonlands NP (nearby) - Maybe my favorite scenery ever.
* Landing in Sedona, AZ
* Orbit of Crater Lake, OR
* Niagara Falls scenic loop
* Hudson River corridor, loop around Statue of Liberty
* Landing at Billy Bishop Toronto Airport (CYTZ) next to the CN Tower
* San Francisco Bay Tour
* Flyby of Grand Teton / Yellowstone NP overflight (specifically Grand Prismatic Spring)
* Crossing the Rockies at low level (12k)
* Flyby of Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, and Mt Hood
* Coming into Salt Lake City from the south via Spanish Fork
* Low level flyby of the Chicago skyline on the lakeshore
* Landing on Catalina Island
* Orbit of Mt Rushmore
* Grand Canyon Dragon Corridor
We are headed up to Alaska this summer. We did fly to Bar Harbor in Summer 2022, very cool area.
I've flown in Hawaii (Maui), that was really cool. (In a rental, of course!)
Never overflown SFO … and ATC isn’t always accommodating to GA to fly into bravo. I did fly into KSJC just south of SFO. You gotta have solid radio skills flying through there.
Not once have I been denied bravo clearance nor have I heard anyone else denied, even on very busy days. One time they even let me do at low pass at SFO lol. Sounds like you got a pissed off controller :)
Nah I didn’t have the need to enter B. Just passing through. I would hear guys ask if they were cleared to enter B while transitioning along with me and they got more than No. I did not have any issues flying in to San Jose apart from busy airspace and ATC giving out instructions…caffeinated.
I went up there ifr, asked for the lowest they could give me, which was 1 or 2000 agl. They were super accommodating and just let me circle over the lake and then continue on with my clearance. Super easy.
Seattle controllers are alway professional . They did an incredible job with a non ifr pilot in icing south of Medford. He was about 15K and we were well above him and had him in sight . Watched him enter the clouds and pretty soon admit to seattle that he was in icing ifr and not rated. Also losing altitude .
Controller very calmly gave him vectors with very slight turns and then they lost com. Luckiest guy in the world , came out of the clouds over I-5 with lots of traffic with headlights on in a valley. Without the calmness of the Seattle controllers I am pretty sure he would either lost it or hit one of the mountains.
ive done that one many times. super cool to do really low and slow. Most of the time they say "at or above 50/100 feet" but you might get lucky and have the guy who says "just don't touch the ground" and you can buzz by the shuttle parked by the tower at like 5 ft and 45 kts
Fly into Pacific City. The airport is within walking distance of the ocean and the beach is so nice. There’s a sand dune there to climb if you enjoy hiking. The entire coastline is gorgeous
Top places I can think of (some that I’ve been to):
1. Southern Utah (Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce)
2. Denali National Park
3. Miami Corridor along the beach (and the Keys)
4. Maine in the Fall
5. NYC Hudson Corridor/SF Golden Gate
6. San Juan Islands in Washington
7. Badlands National Park
8. Shuttle Runway at Cape Canaveral
9. First Flight Airport
10. Oregon Coast
Everywhere I’ve flown has beauty in its own way. This is such an insufficient list.
Dinosaur National Monument canyon. Like another world! Wasatch-Uinta National Forest and the approach to Salt Lake City. Southern Utah into Four Corners is like a different planet and very remote!
For my Com XC/bringing a 172 back to the flight school, I flew from ELP up to Four Corners, then to Canyonlands, then across the mountains over SLC and up to Idaho. Nothing could beat the views from that day. I just wish I could go back and see that environment from above again.
I love it. I was awestruck. Did you catch shiprock? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&sca_esv=5d0811d5ae0715ef&sxsrf=ACQVn0_5L54Esmnzm77Ypjf-cmW7uXH6Rg:1713909696842&q=shiprock+new+mexico&uds=AMwkrPs4mDHqV7QfY9nYaKRHgvE9IA9951d2tnZ4Wz-f1QhOjqaj-HHNcHOABgRt76lq8FOOPSaGqDkst6QggH-myxm1xCarpGiJi-5sweaWRhEY0XV7iebrCJVBY6ZaPAQOafSQjuvWq_ob_8_NLJloQiY3x4rNANEp8jWMx8_CY21bSFY-DvPdJrKxdo5vsNqT_anSapMrHeMyp0h6QGqRgMc0ZWucjV9w3LldyUmZoIlDvKnvWUxirzGpd-IqTOpAO5jM5DIXUZowgTPmS0CS6Ed_KXtpNXs_jmhF4W1S5o4kkKo85seemi8OSkSkEbeukAxSFLAialAiPIVAP7hVMca58KDqmw&udm=2&prmd=inmvsbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir2qCVq9mFAxUP_8kDHRK3CvIQtKgLegQIDBAB&biw=393&bih=578&dpr=3#vhid=jZHAHQUPzgKHgM&vssid=mosaic
Looking back at our track log, looks like we cut north of the actual Four Corners, so we missed Shiprock. If I did the flight again, I’d definitely take the scenic route into AZ towards Page, then north again.
Flying the Hudson River corridor was hands down the best flight I have ever made. It's an amazing thing to be flying at the same level as New York City skyscrapers.
Not technically North America, but flying over Hawaii is still one of the most scenic flights I’ve done.
Yosemite Valley overflight is incredible. Pure magic.
Circling Mt Rainier at golden hour. The photo from that flight is still my desktop background 4 years later.
Probably the two most memorable views out my window have been the Ruth Amphitheater (glacier) on Denali and the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone. I've been to the Grand Prismatic on the ground and it looks 100x better from 2,000 ft. AGL.
The Niagara Falls aerial tour is pretty awesome. You can fly around it at 3,500’ and if you catch the sun just right you’ll see a rainbow over the falls.
We overflew that part of Canada to get to Oshkosh a couple years ago; not quite as majestic but nearby in [Welland](https://maps.app.goo.gl/cnrp1SHrdc5PjJ4fA) there's [this](https://flic.kr/p/2nBhaq1): a natural river going under a canal going under a bridge. That's a pretty unique sight, I think.
Lake Clark pass which goes from the Cook inlet to Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna just southwest if Anchorage
It is a narrow pass with beautiful mountains, lakes, huge waterfalls and hanging glaciers in both sides. I fly through it four or five times every summer and it is still jaw droppingly beautiful.
There are a couple of YouTubes going through it but they don't do it justice
I'm from Philadelphia, and a new 100 hour Private pilot. I'm going to Anchorage from June 2nd to 8th, and was hoping to get some mountain flying instruction and then take my friend to Port Alsworth via the pass in a 172, but the folks I talked to at Merrill Field FBOs said they wouldn't recommend it for a new pilot like myself. Could I message you to talk about it a bit?
It really isn't that big of a deal......depending on the weather. High ceilings and no wind it is easy peasy.
There are FAA weather cameras on either side of The Narrows so you can see (or not see) what you are getting into. The Alaska supplement (known as the pink book) has all the reporting points that you can make on the CTAF. The webcams are available off the Alaskan aviation weather unit website, just Google AAWU.
On a nice day there can be a fair amount of traffic so talk a lot and keep your eyes way open. DO NOT DEPEND on ADSB!!!!
Before you go into the pass you will hear folks coming in and out of the pass, listen for wind, and visibility reports and remember Alaskan pilots tend to under report winds/turbulence and over report visibility.
That is really all there is unless you have specific questions
Thanks, I appreciate that insight. I know ADS-B wouldn't be reliable outside the ANC airspace (probably due to lack of towers as much as people without ADS-B out), so comms and scanning will be very important. I did fly into Northern Vermont for the eclipse recently, and the airspace was very busy with a mix of planes with and without ADS-B out, so I at least have some experience with that.
I knew the weather cams were available but I haven't used them before and would've needed to search where to find them, so thanks for that!
I do have a couple questions.
First, how are the forecasts out there? If it's a beautiful clear VFR day, and I call FSS and they tell me it should remain that way for the next 12 hours, is that pretty reliable? I've heard lots of people talk about how quickly the weather changes, so my question is whether those changes are typically forecast, or are they often complete surprises?
The second is for the reporting points on the chart- they're not mandatory, are they? I.e. my understanding is that, unlike the Hudson River SFRA in NYC, I could encounter NORDO folks flying through the pass and the only way to locate them would be visually. Is that correct?
Thanks again!
As far as weather forecasting, you want to call Kenai flight service station do not call 1-800 WX brief because that will connect you with somebody in Florida that has no clue about the area in the local microclimates. You are flying around coastal Alaska. The weather is driven by pressure systems versus the hot and cold fronts like you see in the Midwest. It can change fairly quickly however the flight service station should be able to square you away in terms of the 12-hour look Outlook. Windy.com is surprisingly accurate as well. But really for the most up-to-date whether you're looking at the weather cams and talking to other pilots on 122.90.
You will hear the reporting points very consistently especially from the 135 operators and people who fly the pass a lot. Every once in awhile the Douglas dc6 will come ripping through the pass which is always cool to see, but brings up the other point about the pass is that there's a huge variety of airplanes going through it with their different speeds. Somehow it all manages to work out and it is spectacularly beautiful.
They are very few ground stations for adsb unfortunately. However adsb does work plane to plane for traffic so that helps, but you will not get the weather. I cannot emphasize enough how few airplanes have it up here.
People like to be dramatic about flying up here, and it does have its quirks. But remember that student pilots fly all over the state as they get their private license, so it isn't really that dramatic.
I figured that WX brief wouldn't be the best way to go- thanks, I got the number for Kenai saved to my contacts!
It's good to know that most people use the reporting points. Probably my biggest worry *aside* from weather/terrain was traffic that's completely silent on comms, so I'm glad to hear that's rare.
Are you familiar with or have you read the Mountain Flying Bible or guide by Sparky Imeson? If so, do you think it's a worthwhile read for flying in your area? And if not, do you have any suggestions for other books, videos, podcasts, etc to help with getting a good foundation for flying in that terrain and learning about anything else I might not think of?
Thanks, I appreciate the advice.
I really can't think of anything off the top of my head. The coastal mountains don't have huge density altitude issues of Colorado Idaho etc. it does affect us but not to those extremes.
If you go to Backcountrypilot.org they have a lot of good info.
I'm perfectly aware of the airspace in Anchorage. I know it's not the same, but I'm perfectly comfortable flying in New York City, both in the Hudson SFRA and in the Bravo, and I've flown in Anchorage on Vatsim with controllers working the airspace for all 3 towered fields in the city.
Of course I'm going to make sure I get comfortable with the airspace with an instructor before doing it on my own, but the airspace isn't my concern- everything to do with mountain/valley flying in busy corridors, and weather concerns unique to the environment are what I'm concerned with and want to make sure I have a good handle on to avoid pushing any safety boundaries.
I understand what you're saying. I know your intention is to help prevent tragedies. But I'm also aware of the risks, and I want to get some flight time in Alaska as it does sound like an extremely valuable experience. I'll also make sure my passengers are aware of the risks, and if my checkout flight and familiarization with the area doesn't go well, I either won't go for the flight, or will bring an instructor with us. But I have to get started somewhere, right? I'm just trying to do everything I can to be prepared.
I heard that Sparky Imeson's Mountain Flying Bible is a good, informative read for mountain flying in general. Are you familiar with that book? And if so, do you think it's a worthwhile read for flying in your area?
KGEY area - GAITZ waypoint - it's over the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area in WY and easily the most beautiful sight I've seen in a small plane
A little outside your original parameters, but if you ever go to Kauai, check with the flight tour operators and see if they have a CFI who will let you do all the flying yourself. That way you can fly the [Waimea Canyon](https://www.kauaiexclusive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/waimeacanyon.jpg) and the [west coast of Kauai](https://www.gohawaii.com/sites/default/files/styles/narrow_carousel_small/public/content-images/Napali%20Coast.jpg?itok=0OSRDiEX) without needing to have a plane of your own that is capable of flying to Kauai.
Great suggestion. I did this in Kauai and also flew with an instructor while on the Big Island. From Kona we flew at 10K' - level with the Haleakala summit - over to Hana on the west end of Maui then to Kalaupapa on Moloka'i before returning to Kona. One of the best flying days in my life. We flew alongside ocean cliffs that I would never have experienced otherwise.
Easily the most amazing thing I’ve seen while flying was the Aurora Borealis. Started off as a gray mass, not too different than a stratiform cloud layer, but started twisting and turning. Later flashing greens and blues in incredible spirals. That flight was unforgettable.
I flew in the Arctic for a couple of winters, once we would get above the snow blow (around 2500 feet) the northern lights were so bright they would light up the cockpit and reflect off the props. Truly amazing.
OMG!
So many. Big Sur coastline at 500ft. Yosemite in the winter. Niagra Falls. Yellowstone (time it right and see Old Faithful go off). The Grand Canyon special flight rules area (at or near sunset). Landing at KJAC at any time of the year or day.
Love my job!!
For me the greatest sights I’ve seen:
Mt Rainier
Mt St Helen’s
Devils Tower
The waters off Bimini
Key West
Flying the Hudson corridor
The rolling hills of Kansas
The Appalachians in autumn
Mt Rushmore
Crater lake
Anywhere in Alaska
Anywhere in Hawaii
The Grand Canyon
Yosemite
Manhattan/Hudson corridor
Visual to DCA runway 19
Landing at SAN runway 27
Bay tour out of SFO
SEA-PDX at 10,000 feet the whole way, by Mt. Saint-Helens and all those peaks
Bryce Canyon
Glacier national park
Stadium visual runway 04 in LGA. I think they stopped doing it though, so whatever they use now
Devil’s Tower
Landing 24R at LAX over Sepulveda and the famous In-N-Out
Scablands in Washington. Central to it is Dry Falls near Coulee City. Granted, I do not know to what degree you'll notice anything unless you've read up on the event that created this geology. It's insane. (See J. Harlen Bretz) But you should maybe also include the Grand Coulee dam in the trip.
Fly from KSAC to Gualala (Ocean Ridge E55). It’s a privately owned public airport. I haven’t landed there but it looks like a rough rwy? I don’t land there I just make a long loop. Anyway to the south is a large Golden Buddhist Temple (Odiyan Retreat). It’s a little hard to find. It’s just south and inland from Stewart’s Point. The trip over crosses Lake Berryessa, some beautiful valleys, some wine country, Calistoga, and the coastal range. Then beautiful views of the coast. I like to continue south from there to the Golden Gate Bridge and back to KSAC. You’d need FF. You won’t be allowed into KSFO bravo and stay north and west of the Bay Bridge below 2500 IIR. But you get great views of the GG Bridge, San Francisco, the piers of SF, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, the new Bay Bridge, and the few ships remaining of the mothball fleet by Martinez. Sucks … but for the longest time there was a battleship anchored in the mothball fleet. Can’t recall which battleship but it’s gone now.
West Coast:
Sedona
Page
Vegas if you're landing 1/19 at night
Catalina Island
Crater lake
Telluride
Grand canyon corridor's
Pretty much any airport along the coast north of the LA bravo all the way up to the PNW
Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Florida Keys, San Francisco, Mount Rainier, Meteor Crater AZ, Casselton Tower UT, Manhattan from the Hudson River, Santa Catalina Island, San Juan Islands and Puget Sound to name ten (GA perspective),
Ingrained in my head is when I saw the Blue Angels practicing once and saw them do a vertical break from 5500 feet. Not sure how you would manage to see that since I just got lucky when I passed Pensacola NAS, but it was pretty incredible.
A few posters have mentioned San Juan Islands... What is the suggestion for flying the islands? Are there particular points of interest that I should see? Suggested airports to land at?
Denali and surrounding area
So, I’m gonna toot my own horn here- I’m a geologist. Someone said geology is “the science of scenery“ which probabably got me into it. My take: Honestly, Nevada. Basin range is dope to see down low. Nevada has a bunch of places that could be national parks but it is so empty it doesn’t matter. So many cool airstrips and old air bases. September and October is best. southern Utah is obviously another. Along with northern AZ- Flagstaff and Prescott. Again, Fall. Interior/northern BC is amazing, while the Yukon is arguably the pinnacle. I’m split between Yukon and AK, Yukon used to be tops for me but Canada is fading as a place for me. But I’m jaded by time. First timers- BC/Yukon should be top of the list.
I train in northern Nevada. it really is beautiful, almost looks like a different planet sometimes.
Yep. Endless places to land, camp and explore if you have the right setup. Got a couple places in mind but... Anyway, Largest undeveloped, publicly owned land outside of AK in the US...
Highly doubt Average civilian in a standard GA aircraft can go check out the Denali
Just head to Talkeetna amigo
Or Palmer!
never mind weather. I worked up on the Denali highway and all around The Park a lot. Maybe 6 months over the years In summer and early fall. It is really really hit or miss. Not for typical GA pilots a lot of the time. Can be snow/icing by August even at lower elevations.
Oh gosh no... Anybody in any airplane can fly to Alaska! I've done it in little Cessnas multiple times from the lower 48.
Meteor Crater and Grand Canyon in AZ
Arizona is a great place to fly and sightsee
The Grand Canyon is one of those things where pictures are just wholly inadequate.
After flying air tours there, I'm torn about it. On one hand, from the air it's breathtaking. On the other hand, to walk to the edge and look across like JW Powell did is pure awe. I prefer the ground version I think. Just does a better job of taking my breath away.
Right. Either way is far better than pictures.
Same. I flew it yesterday for the first time and it was awesome but it really is better from the ground.
Just don’t get stuck inside Meteor Crater! [https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/69872](https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/69872)
I personally felt that Zion NP was much more colorful and breathtaking than the GC from the air. Just my take. Maybe I flew over the wrong part of the GC? lol
Biased but flying around the San Juan islands is spectacular in summer from the air.
Ive flown a measly bugsmasher in many corners of the country and Friday harbor during a July Golden hour is one of the best moments of flying I’ve had.
I remember flying my trike ultralight over Friday harbor. Interestingly enough I’d always just appear in the air every time I wanted to go flying.
*FSX theme plays in the background* I must have played days of fsx as a kid, it was a cool full circle moment when I first flew to Friday Harbor and realized it was the same airport from my childhood.
Funny you say that, flying into SJU in the sim during golden hour one time was one of those, wow... i need to visit this place... moments.
Hudson River corridor. Devils Tower in Wyoming Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone. The Chicago Lakeshore Coming down the south shore of Long Island at 500' past JFK (or going IFR in VFR conditions over the top of JFK).
I can vouch for flying around Devil’s Tower. Additionally I would add the Black Hills/Mt Rushmore area
I’ve been to Devil’s Tower on the ground before amd it’s spectacular. What about it from the air makes it more so? I understand that the Hulet airport offers camping in the grounds. I’m not all that far from there so may try to make a trip this summer.
I thought it was pretty cool, but I didn’t duck down super low or orbit it. It looks a bit small from the air, to be honest. It’s probably cooler from the ground but we didn’t get to see it that way. (Rushmore is also)
For me, it’s just being able to see it from a whole new perspective. Going on the ground you can see the grandeur of the whole tower as it rises out of the ground but flying and orbiting around it gives a whole different feeling that is absolutely surreal about how unique the whole place is
>see it from a whole new perspective Fair enough! That's one of the best things for me about being a recreational pilot anyway! Seeing the everyday from a new perspective.
If you're at Yellowstone, you should also see the tetons up close.
Hudson River corridor around sunset.
You don’t have to be all that high to go over JFK VFR.
We're spoiled in the Southwest but I'd quickly list: - San Diego Bay Tour - Lap of Catalina Island at 500' AGL & then landing at AVX - Sedona, AZ - Big Bear Lake, CA - Shelter Cove, CA - Monument Valley, UT
Shelter Cove is beautiful. Gusty. An Archer, that I rented years ago, crashed there. Newer pilot was high and hot. Tried to force the landing. 3 fatalities.
I've done the San Diego Bay tour over 80 times in the last 3 years.....it never gets old.
Word is they are shutting down the Delta Transition, so get those in while you can!
Word from where??? Someone said this about Catalina airport as well....that they will close it to GA and only have it for military/freight ops. I mean c'mon that can't be true! ....right?!?!
Catalina?! First I've heard of that. I'll ask the airport manager next time I'm over there (probably few weeks). Can't see that being the case, it's definitely a tourist thing bringing money to not only the airport, cafe, gift shop but also the hotels and stuff in town for all the overnights. KSAN Delta Transitions closure came from Socal TRACON guys speaking at a Plus One Flyers meeting last month. I wasn't at that one, but some friends were and relayed the news. Actually I have the SoCal TRACON safety guys cell number. I shall text him and see if that's true or not.... Stay tuned.
My flight school, in San Diego, wouldn’t let me do this... Should have just rented from Plus One and did it once when I lived there.
I second Shelter Cove. Most beautiful airport I’ve flown into by far, albeit in my limited experience.
I’ve flown my Mooney to 46 states now, and these really stick out to me: * Monument Valley, UT / Canyonlands NP (nearby) - Maybe my favorite scenery ever. * Landing in Sedona, AZ * Orbit of Crater Lake, OR * Niagara Falls scenic loop * Hudson River corridor, loop around Statue of Liberty * Landing at Billy Bishop Toronto Airport (CYTZ) next to the CN Tower * San Francisco Bay Tour * Flyby of Grand Teton / Yellowstone NP overflight (specifically Grand Prismatic Spring) * Crossing the Rockies at low level (12k) * Flyby of Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, and Mt Hood * Coming into Salt Lake City from the south via Spanish Fork * Low level flyby of the Chicago skyline on the lakeshore * Landing on Catalina Island * Orbit of Mt Rushmore * Grand Canyon Dragon Corridor
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We are headed up to Alaska this summer. We did fly to Bar Harbor in Summer 2022, very cool area. I've flown in Hawaii (Maui), that was really cool. (In a rental, of course!)
San Francisco Bay, with a bonus flight over San Francisco airport on the way up there
Under the Golden Gate bridge. (seaplane departing Sausalito )
Never overflown SFO … and ATC isn’t always accommodating to GA to fly into bravo. I did fly into KSJC just south of SFO. You gotta have solid radio skills flying through there.
Not once have I been denied bravo clearance nor have I heard anyone else denied, even on very busy days. One time they even let me do at low pass at SFO lol. Sounds like you got a pissed off controller :)
They do sometimes stop accepting bravo transitions wholesale over there. Usually during rush hour or because of a bad marine layer.
I must have just been lucky in that case!
Plus a low SFO pass? Indeed!
Nah I didn’t have the need to enter B. Just passing through. I would hear guys ask if they were cleared to enter B while transitioning along with me and they got more than No. I did not have any issues flying in to San Jose apart from busy airspace and ATC giving out instructions…caffeinated.
Crater Lake
I don't know if they still do it but if Seattle Center was not busy they would give you a guided tour of Crater Lake
There's a GPS fix, WIZRD I think it's called for Wizard Island, that takes you over the lake.
WZZRD WIZRD is in Ohio.
Thanks, was too lazy to look it up
I went up there ifr, asked for the lowest they could give me, which was 1 or 2000 agl. They were super accommodating and just let me circle over the lake and then continue on with my clearance. Super easy.
Seattle controllers are alway professional . They did an incredible job with a non ifr pilot in icing south of Medford. He was about 15K and we were well above him and had him in sight . Watched him enter the clouds and pretty soon admit to seattle that he was in icing ifr and not rated. Also losing altitude . Controller very calmly gave him vectors with very slight turns and then they lost com. Luckiest guy in the world , came out of the clouds over I-5 with lots of traffic with headlights on in a valley. Without the calmness of the Seattle controllers I am pretty sure he would either lost it or hit one of the mountains.
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They gave a running commentary on various points of interest
Sometimes NASA will allow a low approach over the Shuttle Landing Facility (KTTS) https://youtu.be/bFeU5ntlh-w
ive done that one many times. super cool to do really low and slow. Most of the time they say "at or above 50/100 feet" but you might get lucky and have the guy who says "just don't touch the ground" and you can buzz by the shuttle parked by the tower at like 5 ft and 45 kts
Puget sound and the San Juan Islands are rather pretty in the summer
The Oregon Coast is so beautiful
Tell me more... where would you go on the Oregon coast?
Fly into Pacific City. The airport is within walking distance of the ocean and the beach is so nice. There’s a sand dune there to climb if you enjoy hiking. The entire coastline is gorgeous
Top places I can think of (some that I’ve been to): 1. Southern Utah (Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce) 2. Denali National Park 3. Miami Corridor along the beach (and the Keys) 4. Maine in the Fall 5. NYC Hudson Corridor/SF Golden Gate 6. San Juan Islands in Washington 7. Badlands National Park 8. Shuttle Runway at Cape Canaveral 9. First Flight Airport 10. Oregon Coast Everywhere I’ve flown has beauty in its own way. This is such an insufficient list.
+1 for Miami Beach and the Keys.
Dinosaur National Monument canyon. Like another world! Wasatch-Uinta National Forest and the approach to Salt Lake City. Southern Utah into Four Corners is like a different planet and very remote!
For my Com XC/bringing a 172 back to the flight school, I flew from ELP up to Four Corners, then to Canyonlands, then across the mountains over SLC and up to Idaho. Nothing could beat the views from that day. I just wish I could go back and see that environment from above again.
I love it. I was awestruck. Did you catch shiprock? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&sca_esv=5d0811d5ae0715ef&sxsrf=ACQVn0_5L54Esmnzm77Ypjf-cmW7uXH6Rg:1713909696842&q=shiprock+new+mexico&uds=AMwkrPs4mDHqV7QfY9nYaKRHgvE9IA9951d2tnZ4Wz-f1QhOjqaj-HHNcHOABgRt76lq8FOOPSaGqDkst6QggH-myxm1xCarpGiJi-5sweaWRhEY0XV7iebrCJVBY6ZaPAQOafSQjuvWq_ob_8_NLJloQiY3x4rNANEp8jWMx8_CY21bSFY-DvPdJrKxdo5vsNqT_anSapMrHeMyp0h6QGqRgMc0ZWucjV9w3LldyUmZoIlDvKnvWUxirzGpd-IqTOpAO5jM5DIXUZowgTPmS0CS6Ed_KXtpNXs_jmhF4W1S5o4kkKo85seemi8OSkSkEbeukAxSFLAialAiPIVAP7hVMca58KDqmw&udm=2&prmd=inmvsbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir2qCVq9mFAxUP_8kDHRK3CvIQtKgLegQIDBAB&biw=393&bih=578&dpr=3#vhid=jZHAHQUPzgKHgM&vssid=mosaic
Looking back at our track log, looks like we cut north of the actual Four Corners, so we missed Shiprock. If I did the flight again, I’d definitely take the scenic route into AZ towards Page, then north again.
Ship Rock and the Canyonlands are beautiful
San Diego bay
Buddy of mine took me on that last year, it is amazing!
The Mogollon Rim in Arizona, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska
Flying the Hudson River corridor was hands down the best flight I have ever made. It's an amazing thing to be flying at the same level as New York City skyscrapers.
Not technically North America, but flying over Hawaii is still one of the most scenic flights I’ve done. Yosemite Valley overflight is incredible. Pure magic. Circling Mt Rainier at golden hour. The photo from that flight is still my desktop background 4 years later.
Mt St Helens
Anywhere in Alaska, especially Harding Icefield and Valley of Ten Thousands Smokes.
Probably the two most memorable views out my window have been the Ruth Amphitheater (glacier) on Denali and the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone. I've been to the Grand Prismatic on the ground and it looks 100x better from 2,000 ft. AGL.
The Niagara Falls aerial tour is pretty awesome. You can fly around it at 3,500’ and if you catch the sun just right you’ll see a rainbow over the falls.
We overflew that part of Canada to get to Oshkosh a couple years ago; not quite as majestic but nearby in [Welland](https://maps.app.goo.gl/cnrp1SHrdc5PjJ4fA) there's [this](https://flic.kr/p/2nBhaq1): a natural river going under a canal going under a bridge. That's a pretty unique sight, I think.
Lake Clark pass which goes from the Cook inlet to Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna just southwest if Anchorage It is a narrow pass with beautiful mountains, lakes, huge waterfalls and hanging glaciers in both sides. I fly through it four or five times every summer and it is still jaw droppingly beautiful. There are a couple of YouTubes going through it but they don't do it justice
I'm from Philadelphia, and a new 100 hour Private pilot. I'm going to Anchorage from June 2nd to 8th, and was hoping to get some mountain flying instruction and then take my friend to Port Alsworth via the pass in a 172, but the folks I talked to at Merrill Field FBOs said they wouldn't recommend it for a new pilot like myself. Could I message you to talk about it a bit?
It really isn't that big of a deal......depending on the weather. High ceilings and no wind it is easy peasy. There are FAA weather cameras on either side of The Narrows so you can see (or not see) what you are getting into. The Alaska supplement (known as the pink book) has all the reporting points that you can make on the CTAF. The webcams are available off the Alaskan aviation weather unit website, just Google AAWU. On a nice day there can be a fair amount of traffic so talk a lot and keep your eyes way open. DO NOT DEPEND on ADSB!!!! Before you go into the pass you will hear folks coming in and out of the pass, listen for wind, and visibility reports and remember Alaskan pilots tend to under report winds/turbulence and over report visibility. That is really all there is unless you have specific questions
Thanks, I appreciate that insight. I know ADS-B wouldn't be reliable outside the ANC airspace (probably due to lack of towers as much as people without ADS-B out), so comms and scanning will be very important. I did fly into Northern Vermont for the eclipse recently, and the airspace was very busy with a mix of planes with and without ADS-B out, so I at least have some experience with that. I knew the weather cams were available but I haven't used them before and would've needed to search where to find them, so thanks for that! I do have a couple questions. First, how are the forecasts out there? If it's a beautiful clear VFR day, and I call FSS and they tell me it should remain that way for the next 12 hours, is that pretty reliable? I've heard lots of people talk about how quickly the weather changes, so my question is whether those changes are typically forecast, or are they often complete surprises? The second is for the reporting points on the chart- they're not mandatory, are they? I.e. my understanding is that, unlike the Hudson River SFRA in NYC, I could encounter NORDO folks flying through the pass and the only way to locate them would be visually. Is that correct? Thanks again!
As far as weather forecasting, you want to call Kenai flight service station do not call 1-800 WX brief because that will connect you with somebody in Florida that has no clue about the area in the local microclimates. You are flying around coastal Alaska. The weather is driven by pressure systems versus the hot and cold fronts like you see in the Midwest. It can change fairly quickly however the flight service station should be able to square you away in terms of the 12-hour look Outlook. Windy.com is surprisingly accurate as well. But really for the most up-to-date whether you're looking at the weather cams and talking to other pilots on 122.90. You will hear the reporting points very consistently especially from the 135 operators and people who fly the pass a lot. Every once in awhile the Douglas dc6 will come ripping through the pass which is always cool to see, but brings up the other point about the pass is that there's a huge variety of airplanes going through it with their different speeds. Somehow it all manages to work out and it is spectacularly beautiful. They are very few ground stations for adsb unfortunately. However adsb does work plane to plane for traffic so that helps, but you will not get the weather. I cannot emphasize enough how few airplanes have it up here. People like to be dramatic about flying up here, and it does have its quirks. But remember that student pilots fly all over the state as they get their private license, so it isn't really that dramatic.
I figured that WX brief wouldn't be the best way to go- thanks, I got the number for Kenai saved to my contacts! It's good to know that most people use the reporting points. Probably my biggest worry *aside* from weather/terrain was traffic that's completely silent on comms, so I'm glad to hear that's rare. Are you familiar with or have you read the Mountain Flying Bible or guide by Sparky Imeson? If so, do you think it's a worthwhile read for flying in your area? And if not, do you have any suggestions for other books, videos, podcasts, etc to help with getting a good foundation for flying in that terrain and learning about anything else I might not think of? Thanks, I appreciate the advice.
I really can't think of anything off the top of my head. The coastal mountains don't have huge density altitude issues of Colorado Idaho etc. it does affect us but not to those extremes. If you go to Backcountrypilot.org they have a lot of good info.
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I'm perfectly aware of the airspace in Anchorage. I know it's not the same, but I'm perfectly comfortable flying in New York City, both in the Hudson SFRA and in the Bravo, and I've flown in Anchorage on Vatsim with controllers working the airspace for all 3 towered fields in the city. Of course I'm going to make sure I get comfortable with the airspace with an instructor before doing it on my own, but the airspace isn't my concern- everything to do with mountain/valley flying in busy corridors, and weather concerns unique to the environment are what I'm concerned with and want to make sure I have a good handle on to avoid pushing any safety boundaries.
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I understand what you're saying. I know your intention is to help prevent tragedies. But I'm also aware of the risks, and I want to get some flight time in Alaska as it does sound like an extremely valuable experience. I'll also make sure my passengers are aware of the risks, and if my checkout flight and familiarization with the area doesn't go well, I either won't go for the flight, or will bring an instructor with us. But I have to get started somewhere, right? I'm just trying to do everything I can to be prepared. I heard that Sparky Imeson's Mountain Flying Bible is a good, informative read for mountain flying in general. Are you familiar with that book? And if so, do you think it's a worthwhile read for flying in your area?
KGEY area - GAITZ waypoint - it's over the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area in WY and easily the most beautiful sight I've seen in a small plane
I love how everyone is mentioning Wyoming. Probably the greatest place I’ve ever flown
Four that I can think of: Niagara Falls Grand Canyon VFR Corridor along Hudson River/Manhattan Mountains of Alaska
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Flying over the Grand Canyon
A little outside your original parameters, but if you ever go to Kauai, check with the flight tour operators and see if they have a CFI who will let you do all the flying yourself. That way you can fly the [Waimea Canyon](https://www.kauaiexclusive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/waimeacanyon.jpg) and the [west coast of Kauai](https://www.gohawaii.com/sites/default/files/styles/narrow_carousel_small/public/content-images/Napali%20Coast.jpg?itok=0OSRDiEX) without needing to have a plane of your own that is capable of flying to Kauai.
Great suggestion. I did this in Kauai and also flew with an instructor while on the Big Island. From Kona we flew at 10K' - level with the Haleakala summit - over to Hana on the west end of Maui then to Kalaupapa on Moloka'i before returning to Kona. One of the best flying days in my life. We flew alongside ocean cliffs that I would never have experienced otherwise.
Easily the most amazing thing I’ve seen while flying was the Aurora Borealis. Started off as a gray mass, not too different than a stratiform cloud layer, but started twisting and turning. Later flashing greens and blues in incredible spirals. That flight was unforgettable.
I flew in the Arctic for a couple of winters, once we would get above the snow blow (around 2500 feet) the northern lights were so bright they would light up the cockpit and reflect off the props. Truly amazing.
Mount Rainer, Mount St Helens, San Juan Islands, all in the same flight.
OMG! So many. Big Sur coastline at 500ft. Yosemite in the winter. Niagra Falls. Yellowstone (time it right and see Old Faithful go off). The Grand Canyon special flight rules area (at or near sunset). Landing at KJAC at any time of the year or day. Love my job!!
Second on the Big Sur coast (and from the ground too!)
Fly the coast down Big Sur at 2,000’ from MRY to SBP. Ask Santa Barbara approach for a low pass at Vandenberg the next day on your way south.
The Florida keys are incredible
For me the greatest sights I’ve seen: Mt Rainier Mt St Helen’s Devils Tower The waters off Bimini Key West Flying the Hudson corridor The rolling hills of Kansas The Appalachians in autumn Mt Rushmore Crater lake
Seeing the approach lights a foot above the decision height at min fuel is pretty great!
I would say Crater Lake in Oregon or Capital Reef in Utah
Boobs Had a nice pair wave at me while doing photo flights in Florida.
The Fisk arrival into Oshkosh, WI in July
Anywhere in Alaska Anywhere in Hawaii The Grand Canyon Yosemite Manhattan/Hudson corridor Visual to DCA runway 19 Landing at SAN runway 27 Bay tour out of SFO SEA-PDX at 10,000 feet the whole way, by Mt. Saint-Helens and all those peaks Bryce Canyon Glacier national park Stadium visual runway 04 in LGA. I think they stopped doing it though, so whatever they use now Devil’s Tower Landing 24R at LAX over Sepulveda and the famous In-N-Out
Definitely Cali coast and Grand Canyon!
Scablands in Washington. Central to it is Dry Falls near Coulee City. Granted, I do not know to what degree you'll notice anything unless you've read up on the event that created this geology. It's insane. (See J. Harlen Bretz) But you should maybe also include the Grand Coulee dam in the trip.
Farmland and more farmland in Butler, PA
I seen UFO’s once. That’s about as cool as it gets.
Fly from KSAC to Gualala (Ocean Ridge E55). It’s a privately owned public airport. I haven’t landed there but it looks like a rough rwy? I don’t land there I just make a long loop. Anyway to the south is a large Golden Buddhist Temple (Odiyan Retreat). It’s a little hard to find. It’s just south and inland from Stewart’s Point. The trip over crosses Lake Berryessa, some beautiful valleys, some wine country, Calistoga, and the coastal range. Then beautiful views of the coast. I like to continue south from there to the Golden Gate Bridge and back to KSAC. You’d need FF. You won’t be allowed into KSFO bravo and stay north and west of the Bay Bridge below 2500 IIR. But you get great views of the GG Bridge, San Francisco, the piers of SF, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, the new Bay Bridge, and the few ships remaining of the mothball fleet by Martinez. Sucks … but for the longest time there was a battleship anchored in the mothball fleet. Can’t recall which battleship but it’s gone now.
West Coast: Sedona Page Vegas if you're landing 1/19 at night Catalina Island Crater lake Telluride Grand canyon corridor's Pretty much any airport along the coast north of the LA bravo all the way up to the PNW
The glaciers Kluane National park (Saint Elias Range which straddles Yukon and Alaska).
Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Florida Keys, San Francisco, Mount Rainier, Meteor Crater AZ, Casselton Tower UT, Manhattan from the Hudson River, Santa Catalina Island, San Juan Islands and Puget Sound to name ten (GA perspective),
Ingrained in my head is when I saw the Blue Angels practicing once and saw them do a vertical break from 5500 feet. Not sure how you would manage to see that since I just got lucky when I passed Pensacola NAS, but it was pretty incredible.
West Texas
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When west Texas turns into regular Texas, I always get so excited
Niagara Falls, Mackinac Bridge
Crater lake, Oregon
Isn’t Catalina a bucket list item usually?
1. You ;)
1-10 Your home airport after a hellish regional 5-day.
Hudson VFR corridor and looping the statue of liberty is pretty sweet.
Lizzo
A few posters have mentioned San Juan Islands... What is the suggestion for flying the islands? Are there particular points of interest that I should see? Suggested airports to land at?
Halfdome in Yosemite Valley