Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport (3O1) — Montague, California
Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport, identified by the FAA location identifier 3O1, serves the northern Siskiyou County region of California from its location in Montague, a small agricultural community approximately 7 miles southwest of Yreka. Situated at an elevation of 2,722 feet above mean sea level, this general aviation facility provides essential air access to one of California's most remote and mountainous regions, where the nearest commercial airport — Medford-Jackson County Airport (MFR) in Medford, Oregon — lies roughly 60 miles to the north.
The airport features a single paved runway, Runway 16/34, measuring 3,900 feet in length. This runway orientation accommodates the prevailing wind patterns of the upper Shasta Valley, where Montague sits at the confluence of agricultural flatlands and the dramatic terrain of the Klamath Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. The runway surface is asphalt, maintained for year-round operations typical of a Northern California general aviation airport at this elevation.
Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport is a publicly owned, public-use facility operated under Siskiyou County jurisdiction. The airport carries the name of local aviation pioneer Rohrer, honoring the region's early aviation history. The field supports a range of general aviation activities including private aircraft operations, agricultural aviation, flight training, and occasional charter services connecting Siskiyou County residents to the broader California aviation network.
The surrounding landscape of the Shasta Valley defines the operational environment at 3O1. Mount Shasta, rising to 14,179 feet approximately 50 miles to the south, dominates the horizon and produces significant orographic weather effects throughout the year. Pilots operating into and out of Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport must account for mountain wave turbulence, rapidly changing conditions, and the density altitude effects common at elevations above 2,700 feet — particularly during the hot summer months when temperatures in the valley can exceed 100°F and effective density altitude can rise well above 5,000 feet.
The airport serves a community with deep ties to ranching, timber, and agriculture. Montague itself is home to approximately 1,400 residents and sits within Siskiyou County, which covers over 6,300 square miles — making it one of the largest counties in California by land area. For such a geographically expansive and sparsely populated region, the airport plays a meaningful role in emergency access, medical flights, and supporting the economic activities of the valley. Agricultural operators use the field for aerial application services supporting the hay, grain, and cattle operations that define Shasta Valley's economy.
Located on Airport Road just off the I-5 corridor, the airport offers straightforward vehicle access from the interstate, which is the primary transportation artery connecting Montague and Yreka to Redding to the south and Medford to the north. Fuel availability and services at 3O1 are limited compared to larger general aviation airports, and pilots planning cross-country operations through this region should verify current NOTAMs and fuel status before departure. The Unicom frequency for Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport is 122.8 MHz, standard for uncontrolled general aviation fields of this type.
For residents of Yreka, Montague, Weed, and the surrounding communities of Siskiyou County, the airport at Montague represents a critical link to the broader world — enabling faster response for emergency medical situations, supporting law enforcement aerial operations, and providing private aircraft owners a maintained, publicly accessible facility in a region where the nearest alternative runways involve significant distance across challenging mountain terrain.