Limberlost Ranch Airport (27552) — Penn Valley, California

Limberlost Ranch Airport is a private general aviation facility located in Penn Valley, a rural community in Nevada County, California, situated in the western Sierra Nevada foothills at approximately 1,850 feet elevation. The airport serves the agricultural and ranching operations of the Limberlost Ranch area, providing private air access to one of the more scenic and remote corners of the northern Gold Country region.

Penn Valley sits roughly 60 miles northeast of Sacramento and about 12 miles southwest of Grass Valley, placing Limberlost Ranch Airport in an area defined by oak woodlands, rolling pastureland, and the Yuba River watershed. For ranch operators, agricultural aviators, and private pilots in Nevada County, this facility represents a critical air access point in a region where commercial service is limited to major hubs well to the south and west.

The airport's FAA identifier 27552 designates it as a private-use landing facility within the National Airway System database. Like many ranch airstrips in California's foothill counties, Limberlost Ranch Airport is not open to the public without prior permission from the facility owner, a standard condition for private-use airports that serve specific operational or agricultural purposes. Pilots intending to use the facility are required to coordinate directly with the airport operator before any landing or departure.

Nevada County's aviation landscape is anchored by Nevada County Airport (GOO) in Grass Valley, which serves as the primary general aviation reliever for the region, offering fuel, maintenance, and instrument approaches. Limberlost Ranch Airport complements this regional network by providing direct on-property access that larger county airports cannot offer for ranch and estate operations spread across the foothills terrain.

The surrounding Penn Valley area is home to Scotts Flat Reservoir and the Bear River drainage system, and the local terrain presents pilots with typical foothill operational considerations: variable wind patterns driven by diurnal heating in the valley, summer density altitude increases as temperatures climb into the 90s, and occasional Tule fog events during winter months that can rapidly reduce visibility in lower-lying portions of the valley. Pilots familiar with central California foothill flying will recognize these patterns as consistent across Nevada and Placer counties.

For those traveling by air to the broader Penn Valley and Grass Valley area, the nearest full-service general aviation airports include Nevada County Airport (GOO) in Grass Valley approximately 14 miles to the northeast, and Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) in Placer County approximately 25 miles to the southeast. Both facilities offer 100LL avgas and Jet-A, instrument approaches, and FBO services. Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC) lies roughly 60 miles to the southwest and serves as the nearest facility with commercial-adjacent services and full IFR infrastructure for the region.

Limberlost Ranch Airport reflects the broader tradition of private airstrips that have historically supported California's agricultural economy. From the Central Valley to the Sierra foothills, privately maintained strips have allowed ranchers, farmers, and land managers to move quickly across terrain that would otherwise require lengthy ground travel on winding foothill roads. Penn Valley's road network, while scenic, can make a 20-mile overland trip considerably longer in actual travel time, making an on-property airstrip a practical operational asset for any large ranch managing operations across multiple parcels.

Pilots operating in the Penn Valley corridor should consult current NOTAMs and contact facility operators before any visit to Limberlost Ranch Airport. The FAA's official airport data, accessible through the Airport Master Record for facility identifier 27552, contains the most current information on runway dimensions, surface condition, and operational restrictions. The Airport Facility Directory (A/FD) supplement for the San Francisco sectional chart area covers this portion of Nevada County and should be reviewed as part of standard preflight planning for any operation in the region.

Limberlost Ranch Airport Contact Information

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

Name Limberlost Ranch Airport
Address 19600 Toyon Drive, Penn Valley CA 95946 Map
Phone (916) 432-1616
Website
Hours

Map of Limberlost Ranch Airport


Airports near Penn Valley

Frequently Asked Questions — Limberlost Ranch Airport (27552), Penn Valley, CA

No. Limberlost Ranch Airport (FAA identifier 27552) is designated as a private-use facility in the FAA Airport Master Record. Landing or departing without prior authorization from the facility operator is not permitted. Pilots who need to access the Penn Valley area for general aviation purposes should contact Nevada County Airport (GOO) in Grass Valley or Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) in Placer County, both of which are public-use facilities with full FBO services.

Penn Valley sits at approximately 1,850 feet MSL in the western Sierra Nevada foothills of Nevada County. Pilots operating in this area should be aware of summer density altitude increases — surface temperatures frequently reach the high 80s to mid-90s Fahrenheit, pushing effective density altitude well above field elevation. Winter months can bring Tule fog to lower valley areas, and terrain-driven wind variations are common due to daily heating and cooling cycles across the oak woodland terrain. The surrounding ridgelines rise considerably higher, so familiarity with the San Francisco sectional chart for this area is essential.

The closest public-use general aviation airports to Penn Valley are Nevada County Airport (GOO) in Grass Valley, approximately 14 miles to the northeast, and Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) in Auburn, approximately 25 miles to the southeast. Both airports offer 100LL avgas, self-serve and full-serve fueling options, and instrument approaches. For commercial airline access, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is located roughly 65 miles southwest via US-50 and I-80, serving major domestic carriers with nonstop routes across the western United States.

Official airport data for Limberlost Ranch Airport is maintained by the FAA under facility identifier 27552 in the Airport Master Record database. The FAA's official Airport Data & Information Portal (ADIP) provides the most current record of runway dimensions, surface type, ownership contacts, and operational status. This airport also appears within the San Francisco sectional chart coverage area; the current edition of the Airport Facility Directory (AF/D) supplement for that sectional contains NOTAM-category reference data relevant to Nevada County private strips. Always verify NOTAM status via ForeFlight, the FAA NOTAM Search tool, or 1800wxbrief.com before any operation in the area.

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