Fall River Mills Airport (O85) — Fall River Mills, California

Fall River Mills Airport, designated by the FAA with identifier O85 and listed in airport databases as facility ID 27726, serves the community of Fall River Mills in Shasta County, California. Located in the northeastern corner of the Sacramento Valley near the confluence of the Fall River and Pit River, this general aviation airport functions as a critical transportation hub for a region where the nearest commercial service airports are hours away.

Situated at an elevation of approximately 3,360 feet above mean sea level, Fall River Mills Airport occupies a position in the Intermountain Region of California — a vast stretch of high desert and volcanic plateau that includes Lassen Volcanic National Park to the southwest and the Medicine Lake Highlands to the north. The airport serves pilots flying into this remote agricultural and recreational area, which is otherwise accessible primarily by State Route 299 and US Route 89.

The airport features a single paved runway designated 16/34, measuring approximately 3,600 feet in length. This runway length accommodates single-engine and light twin-engine piston aircraft, as well as smaller turboprops, making it suitable for the Cessna 172s, Piper PA-28s, Beechcraft Bonanzas, and similar general aviation aircraft that regularly operate in this region. The field maintains a UNICOM frequency and is operated as a public-use facility, meaning transient pilots are welcome to land, refuel, and access the surrounding community.

Fall River Mills itself is a small unincorporated community of roughly 1,500 residents in the Fall River Valley, an area known for world-class fly fishing on the Fall River — one of California's premier spring creek trout fisheries. The airport plays a direct role in supporting fishing tourism, with anglers from the Bay Area and Southern California frequently flying in during the prime season rather than enduring the four-to-five-hour drive from Sacramento. The Fall River Valley's reputation among trout anglers draws visitors annually, and O85 provides the most direct access point for those arriving by private aircraft.

Beyond recreational aviation, Fall River Mills Airport supports agricultural operations across the surrounding ranching and farming communities of Shasta and Lassen counties. Aerial application operations, livestock transport coordination, and emergency medical access are among the practical uses that a rural general aviation airport provides in a region where road distances to major medical centers — including Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, roughly 75 miles to the southwest — can represent a significant transit time in emergency situations.

The California Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics includes Fall River Mills Airport among the state's network of general aviation facilities that provide critical access to communities underserved by commercial aviation. Airports like O85 are recognized as essential infrastructure in California's rural northeast, where geographic isolation makes private and charter aviation a practical necessity rather than a luxury.

Pilots transiting through Northern California often include Fall River Mills in cross-country routes between the Oregon border and the Sacramento Valley. The airport's position makes it a reasonable fuel and rest stop for aircraft operating between Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Sacramento Executive Airport or Oakland International Airport — a route that passes over challenging mountainous terrain and benefits from intermediate stopping points. Redding Municipal Airport (RDD), approximately 75 miles west, offers more services, but O85 provides a closer option for those specifically destined for the Fall River Valley.

Facility ID 27726 is registered with the FAA's aeronautical database and appears in standard navigation software and EFB (electronic flight bag) applications used by general aviation pilots. The airport is included in ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and similar platforms, ensuring that transient pilots can access current NOTAMs, field conditions, and frequency information before arrival. The UNICOM frequency allows pilots to announce their position in the traffic pattern and coordinate with any aircraft already in the area, maintaining safety at this uncontrolled field.

Fall River Mills Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Fall River Mills, California.

Name Fall River Mills Airport
Address California 299, Fall River Mills CA 96028 Map
Phone (530) 336-9948
Website
Hours

Map of Fall River Mills Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions — Fall River Mills Airport (O85)

Fall River Mills Airport carries the FAA identifier O85 and is recorded in the FAA aeronautical database as facility ID 27726. It is located in Fall River Mills, an unincorporated community in Shasta County in northeastern California. The airport sits at approximately 3,360 feet elevation in the Fall River Valley, near the junction of State Route 299 and US Route 89, roughly 75 miles east of Redding and about 130 miles northeast of Sacramento.

O85 operates a single paved runway designated 16/34 at approximately 3,600 feet in length. This accommodates most single-engine piston aircraft (Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, Beechcraft Bonanza), light twins, and smaller turboprops operating at appropriate weight limits given the field's high-elevation density altitude considerations. Pilots should calculate density altitude carefully, particularly in summer months when temperatures rise and the already-elevated field elevation further reduces effective performance margins.

Yes — the airport is a primary access point for anglers targeting the Fall River, one of California's most celebrated spring creek trout fisheries. The river flows through private ranch land and is accessed via guided float trips and a handful of public access points, making it a destination that draws fly fishers from across the western United States. Flying into O85 instead of driving from the Bay Area or Los Angeles eliminates a four-to-five-hour road trip and places arriving anglers within a short drive of outfitters and lodging in the Fall River Valley.

The nearest commercial service airport is Redding Municipal Airport (RDD), approximately 75 miles west of Fall River Mills via SR-299. RDD offers scheduled service through United Express. For travelers arriving commercially, renting a vehicle at RDD and driving east on SR-299 through the mountains to Fall River Mills is the standard connection. Larger hubs including Sacramento International Airport (SMF) are approximately 160 miles to the southwest. For those with general aviation aircraft, flying directly into O85 avoids the entire ground transfer.

Pilots should verify current fuel availability directly with the airport operator before departure, as services at small rural general aviation airports can change seasonally. O85 has historically offered self-serve avgas (100LL), but transient pilots are strongly advised to confirm availability by checking current NOTAMs, contacting the UNICOM frequency, or checking pilot-reported information on resources such as AirNav or the AOPA airport directory prior to planning a fuel stop at this field. Having a contingency plan using Redding Municipal (RDD) or Burney's Parrot Creek Ranch Airport is recommended for longer cross-country flights.

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