Siskiyou County Airport (SIY) — Montague, California

Siskiyou County Airport, designated with the FAA identifier SIY and located just outside Montague, California in the Scott Valley region of northern Siskiyou County, serves as the primary general aviation gateway for one of California's most rugged and scenic rural counties. Situated at an elevation of approximately 2,142 feet above mean sea level, the airport sits in a high-desert valley flanked by the Klamath Mountains to the west and the Cascades to the east, with Mount Shasta's volcanic cone dominating the southeastern horizon year-round.

The airport's single paved runway — Runway 12/30, measuring approximately 6,605 feet in length — is capable of accommodating a wide range of general aviation aircraft, corporate jets, and light cargo operations. This runway length distinguishes Siskiyou County Airport from many rural facilities in the region, making it suitable for twin-engine turboprops and smaller business jets that serve mining operations, timber companies, ranching enterprises, and government agencies active throughout the county.

Montague itself is a small agricultural community of roughly 1,400 residents, but the airport's catchment area extends across all of Siskiyou County — a vast jurisdiction covering more than 6,300 square miles with a total population of approximately 44,000. The county seat of Yreka lies about 12 miles to the north, and the airport effectively serves the entire Scott Valley corridor, including communities like Fort Jones, Etna, and Greenview that would otherwise require lengthy drives to reach commercial air service at Medford-Jackson County Airport (MFR) across the Oregon state line or Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) to the south.

The facility is owned and operated by Siskiyou County and is classified as a National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airport, qualifying it for federal Airport Improvement Program funding. This designation reflects the airport's essential role in regional connectivity — in a county where winter snowfall can close mountain passes and isolate communities for days at a time, reliable air access is not a convenience but a genuine public safety resource.

Fuel services at Siskiyou County Airport include 100LL aviation gasoline and Jet-A, supporting the full spectrum of piston and turbine aircraft operations. The airport features a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) providing ground handling, tie-downs, hangar rentals, and pilot amenities. Instrument approaches, including a GPS/RNAV approach to Runway 30, allow operations in reduced visibility conditions that are common during the winter months when marine layer intrusions and valley fog can settle over the Scott Valley floor.

The surrounding landscape makes Siskiyou County Airport a popular staging point for outdoor recreation across a remarkably diverse natural environment. Pilots fly in to access Mount Shasta for climbing and skiing, the Marble Mountain Wilderness for backpacking, the Klamath River for world-class steelhead and salmon fishing, and the Scott Valley itself for hunting, horseback riding, and agritourism. The airport also supports agricultural aviation operations across the valley's hay, grain, and cattle operations.

Law enforcement, wildfire suppression coordination, and emergency medical operations all depend on the airport's infrastructure. During fire season — which in Siskiyou County can run from May through November — the facility serves as a coordination hub for air tankers and helicopters working fires in the Klamath National Forest and surrounding public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.

For pilots planning arrivals, Siskiyou County Airport's high-elevation, mountain-valley setting demands attention to density altitude considerations, particularly during summer months when temperatures in the valley can reach the upper 90s°F. Pilots should review current NOTAMs and obtain weather briefings accounting for rapidly changing mountain meteorology, including afternoon convective activity over the surrounding peaks during monsoon-influenced summer patterns.

Siskiyou County Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Montague, California.

Name Siskiyou County Airport
Address North Hangar Road, Montague CA 96064 Map
Phone (530) 842-8295
Website
Hours

Map of Siskiyou County Airport

Airports in near by County


Airports near Montague

Frequently Asked Questions — Siskiyou County Airport (SIY), Montague, CA

Siskiyou County Airport carries the FAA identifier SIY and is located in Montague, California at an elevation of approximately 2,142 feet MSL. The primary runway is Runway 12/30, with a paved length of approximately 6,605 feet — long enough to accommodate corporate turboprops and smaller business jets in addition to standard general aviation piston aircraft. Instrument approaches including a GPS/RNAV procedure serve Runway 30, enabling operations in marginal weather conditions common to the Scott Valley.

Yes, Siskiyou County Airport offers both 100LL aviation gasoline and Jet-A fuel, supporting piston and turbine aircraft alike. The on-site Fixed Base Operator provides ground handling services, aircraft tie-downs, hangar rental space, and basic pilot amenities. Given the airport's remote location — the nearest major commercial airport is Medford-Jackson County Airport (MFR) in Oregon, roughly 60 miles north — pilots are advised to plan fuel stops accordingly and confirm FBO hours of operation before arrival, particularly during early morning or evening flights.

Siskiyou County Airport's elevation of approximately 2,142 feet MSL, combined with summer temperatures frequently reaching the mid-to-upper 90s°F in the Scott Valley, creates significant density altitude conditions that materially reduce aircraft performance. Pilots should calculate density altitude carefully and apply appropriate weight restrictions before departure. Additionally, the airport's mountain-valley environment produces rapidly changing weather, including afternoon convective thunderstorms during summer, valley fog and low ceilings in winter, and strong mechanical turbulence near the surrounding ridgelines. A thorough weather briefing from 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight is strongly recommended prior to any flight into or out of SIY.

SIY is an outstanding fly-in base for northern California's premier outdoor recreation. Mount Shasta (14,179 ft) is visible from the pattern and accessible within an hour's drive for climbing, skiing at Mount Shasta Ski Park, and scenic touring. The Marble Mountain Wilderness to the west offers remote backpacking and fishing. The Klamath River and its Scott Valley tributaries are world-renowned for wild steelhead and Chinook salmon fishing. The Scott Valley floor supports hunting for deer, pheasant, and waterfowl during respective seasons. Pilots also fly in for the region's agritourism, including visits to local ranches and the annual Montague Potato Festival.

Given Siskiyou County's vast, largely roadless terrain, Siskiyou County Airport plays a critical role in emergency response across the region. During wildfire season — which can extend from May through November in this fire-prone county — SIY serves as a coordination and staging hub for air tankers, single-engine air tankers (SEATs), and firefighting helicopters working fires in the Klamath National Forest and surrounding BLM lands. Air ambulance and law enforcement aviation also regularly use the facility to reach communities throughout the 6,300-square-mile county. In winter, when mountain passes on Highway 3 and other routes can close due to snow and ice, the airport provides emergency medical evacuation capability for the isolated Scott Valley communities.

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