Boston Bar Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons and declining use. As a small, unpaved airstrip serving a remote community, the costs associated with maintenance (such as grading the runway and vegetation control) likely became prohibitive for the local authority or owner. With improvements to road access via the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1), the necessity for the airstrip diminished for general purposes, leading to its eventual abandonment. There is no evidence of a specific accident or military conversion leading to its closure.

The airport is abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the runway is still clearly visible as a dirt and gravel strip adjacent to the Canadian National (CN) railway line. However, it is unmaintained, overgrown with vegetation, and the surface is significantly degraded. The site is not used for any formal purpose, though it may be used informally by locals for vehicle access or storage. It is completely unsuitable for aviation use in its current condition.

Also known as North Bend Airport, it was a crucial piece of infrastructure for the isolated Fraser Canyon communities of Boston Bar and North Bend. Its primary role was to support general aviation, providing access for private pilots and recreational users. More critically, it served as a staging area for the BC Forest Service (now BC Wildfire Service) for fighting forest fires in the steep, inaccessible terrain. It was also used for emergency medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), providing a vital link to hospitals when road transport was too slow or impossible. The 2,600-foot gravel runway could accommodate a variety of light aircraft essential for these operations.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Boston Bar Airport. The significant financial investment required to restore the runway, bring the facility up to modern Transport Canada standards, and cover ongoing operational costs is not feasible for the small community it would serve. While the 2021 Lytton wildfire highlighted the vulnerability of Fraser Canyon communities, there has been no official movement to recommission this specific airstrip for emergency use.