Dog Creek, CA 🇨🇦 Closed Airport
CA-0016
-
3250 ft
CA-BC
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 51.626598° N, -122.255997° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: AH2 RCAF Dog Creek
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The exact closure date is not officially documented, as CA-0016 was a private aerodrome identifier, not an official Transport Canada registration. The airport was delisted from aviation databases and ceased to be recognized as an active landing strip sometime in the late 2000s or early 2010s. It is now universally listed as permanently closed.
The closure was due to private economic reasons. As a private airstrip, its operation was dependent on the owner of the land, likely the Dog Creek Ranch. The most common reasons for the closure of such private strips include the high cost of maintenance and liability insurance, a change in property ownership, or the owner no longer operating aircraft. There is no evidence to suggest it was closed due to a specific accident, environmental concern, or military conversion.
The physical runway remains clearly visible in satellite imagery, situated on a flat plateau overlooking the Fraser River. However, it is no longer maintained for aviation. The dirt/gravel surface is unkempt, with some vegetation growth, and lacks any aviation markings. The site is part of a private ranch and the former runway is now effectively an abandoned piece of land, possibly used as a farm track or for cattle grazing. It is considered permanently closed and unsafe for landing.
Dog Creek Airport was a private, unpaved airstrip that served the historic and remote ranching community of Dog Creek, located in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. Its primary function was to support general aviation operations for the local ranches. In an area with rugged terrain, the airstrip provided a vital link for transporting personnel, light cargo, and essential supplies. It would have been used by bush planes and other small aircraft capable of operating from a short, unimproved runway, significantly reducing travel time to larger centers like Williams Lake. It played a role in connecting this isolated community for business, personal travel, and potentially for emergency services like medical evacuations or supporting wildfire suppression efforts.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Dog Creek Airport. Any initiative to reopen would have to come from the private landowner and would require significant investment to bring the runway back to a safe, usable standard, as well as addressing modern liability and registration requirements. Given the lack of public or commercial demand and the availability of other airports in the wider region (e.g., Williams Lake Airport - CYWL), its reactivation is highly unlikely.
I dont have a lot of information however just found out my grandfather ran the heavy duty cat to build the strip at war time. Is there any signs of the airstrip left. I would like to bring my teen to it for family history maybe in 2018.
My father was stationed at Dog Creek upon his return from WWII as an evader, prisoner and escapee. After he married my Mom, he had to hide her on the base as no women were allowed! He tells me the men saved their beer rations, pooled them together and drank them after VE Parade in Williams Lake. He was there from late 1944 to about the fall of 1945, when he was discharged from the Air Force.
My husband and I were in the Dog Creek area today, September 1, 2105, and spoke with a First Nation local, who directed us out of town to the site, but we could find no evidence of the airport.
The aviation history of the Dog Creek, B.C. airport both before and after WW-2 is covered in a full chapter in my book "North by Northwest" which is available from the author and publisher. The book lists the history of each airport in the Okanagan, Cariboo and from Prince George west to Prince Rupert. Visit the web site creeksidepublications.ca for full information.
I was always fascinated by this forgotten piece of Caribou history. It would be cool if a group of people could be granted permission to restore the runways and use it as a recreational fly-in site for light aircraft and ultra-lites etc. Someone with good writing talents and enough info could print a small booklet on it's history and maybe use the sales to help fund restoration. Just a thought.Safe flying.
Hi there...... stumbled across this forum and was reading with interest. You wouldn't be Earl Becker - would you ?
I lived on this airport as a kid - would have been in the early to mid 50's - there was about 8 to 10 families there at that time. My father was a radio operator there, and i went to school up to grade 3 in the 1 room school.
Dave Fooks
BA Blackwell owned and operated
Hi there,
I am wondering if anyone knows of a manager or contact regarding the use of Dog Creek airport. I am a student doing a simulated prescribed burn plan for the area and I want to use the airport as our hub for fire operations.
History Dog Creek Airport, becker@ goldcity.net 250/983/3319
Ihave many pictures and much information
The field appears to use the standard triangle layout used for the BCATP.
Dog Creek is mentioned on the following websites:
http://jfchalifoux.com/bases_stations_comox_to_goose_bay.htm
http://www.militarybruce.com/
One runway looks as though it was 7000 feet long with the others at 6000 and 5500 feet. My guess is military operations during ww2
well what do you know? from satellite images it looks as though it was at one time quite substantial? Was it for the war? How long was it in operation?
I am from the Dog Creek reserve and have been looking for history on the Dog Creek airport. Other than what my grandmother has told me, I haven't found anythingon the internet - i will change that!! I plan to do something, not sure what, but I will get something on the history of this airport!