Lake Mathews Airport: Private Aviation Near Riverside's Largest Reservoir
Lake Mathews Airport is a private-use facility nestled in the rolling hills of western Riverside County, situated near Metropolitan Water District's Lake Mathews reservoir—a critical water storage facility supplying the greater Los Angeles region. The airport serves the agricultural and equestrian estates that characterize this transitional zone between Riverside's urban sprawl and the rural Temescal Valley corridor. Pilots flying into this area navigate the complex Class C and D airspace interactions between March Air Reserve Base to the north and Corona Municipal Airport to the west.
The Lake Mathews area represents the classic Inland Empire pattern of large private airstrips associated with ranch properties, a tradition stretching back to the region's citrus agriculture era. These private strips enable estate owners, agricultural managers, and aviation enthusiasts to maintain flight access to properties that would otherwise require lengthy ground commutes from Riverside or Corona. Caltrans Division of Aeronautics tracks private-use airports throughout Riverside County as part of the California Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning system.
Is Lake Mathews Airport open to the public?
Lake Mathews Airport is a private-use facility and is not open for public transient operations without prior permission from the airport owner.
What is Lake Mathews Airport near in Riverside County?
The airport is located near Metropolitan Water District's Lake Mathews reservoir in western Riverside County, approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Riverside.
What is the nearest public airport to Lake Mathews?
The nearest public general aviation airports are Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) to the northwest and Riverside Municipal Airport (RAL) to the northeast, both within 15 miles.
How does the Lake Mathews area airspace work?
The area sits beneath the intersection of March Air Reserve Base's Class D airspace and the Mode C veil of Ontario International Airport, requiring pilots to coordinate carefully with SoCal Approach and March tower as appropriate.
Lake Mathews Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Riverside, California.
| Name | Lake Mathews Airport |
| Address | 12252 Blackburn Road, Riverside CA 92503 Map |
| Phone | (951) 359-4458 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Lake Mathews Airport
Airports in near by County
Airports near Riverside
Lake Mathews Airport and Western Riverside's Private Airstrip Heritage
Private airports in western Riverside County like Lake Mathews Airport reflect the region's strong aviation culture among rural landowners and ranchers who value direct air access to their properties. The Temescal Valley and Lake Mathews areas were developed partly as agricultural and equestrian retreats accessible by light aircraft, and many ranches in this corridor maintain FAA-registered private airstrips on their property. These facilities form an informal network of private aviation assets throughout the Inland Empire.
The proximity of Lake Mathews to major Southern California water infrastructure means the area is subject to MWD security overflight restrictions and periodic TFRs. Pilots intending to operate near the reservoir should consult current NOTAMs and be prepared to deviate from direct routing to maintain appropriate distances from the protected water facility. For area navigation, March ARB's ASOS and the Riverside VOR/DME provide reliable positional reference for pilots operating throughout this section of Riverside County.