Last July, I skipped the 90-minute wait at Enumclaw Skydiving Center, threw my rig in the back of my truck, and drove 3 hours north to a decommissioned airstrip I'd found on a 1970s Forest Service topo map tucked in the back of a niche skydiving forum. By 10am, I was standing at 13,500 feet, 4 other advanced jumpers I'd met on a regional drop zone Discord group, no instructors, no wind sock, no gawkers taking photos of first-timers, just the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains stretching out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca below. That jump, over the Sol Duc Valley, was the best I'd done in 6 years of skydiving---and it's one of the dozens of hidden drop zones scattered across the Pacific Northwest that most advanced jumpers never hear about.
The PNW is famous for its well-regulated, staffed public drop zones, but the region's rugged terrain, decommissioned rural airstrips, and vast public and private land holdings mean there are dozens of low-traffic, high-reward hidden spots for jumpers who are tired of waiting in line, dealing with crowded airspace, and jumping the same boring routes every weekend. These aren't for new jumpers, no students, no rent-and-go tourists. They require self-sufficiency, advance scouting, written permission from landowners or land management agencies, and a minimum of 200 jumps with off-field landing experience. But for advanced jumpers who want untouched terrain, zero crowds, and views you can't get anywhere else, they're worth every bit of extra work.
None of these spots appear on public drop zone directories---you'll find them through local skydiving community word of mouth, old topo maps, or casual conversations with rural landowners at small airfields. Here are the three best I've jumped over the last 2 years, all open May through October when weather and terrain conditions are safe.
Sol Duc Valley Grass Airstrip, Olympic National Park, WA
Tucked 30 minutes inland from the popular coastal town of La Push, this 1,200-foot decommissioned Forest Service airstrip sits in the heart of the Sol Duc Valley, surrounded by 200-foot old growth Douglas firs and overlooked by the snow-capped peak of Mount Olympus. The National Park Service only approves 2 jump groups per month to use the spot, to protect the valley's old growth ecosystem and Roosevelt elk calving grounds, so you'll never run into another jump group unless you bring them yourself.
The landing zone is a flat grass strip bordered on three sides by dense forest, so you need to be comfortable with precision off-field landings---there's no room for error if you drift into the tree line. Exit altitude is 10,000 feet, lower than most public drop zones due to the tree cover, so you need to be comfortable with fast, reliable deployments (no messing around with delayed opening practices here). On a clear day, you can see the entire Olympic Mountain range, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and even the tip of Vancouver Island on the horizon before you flare.
To jump here, you'll need to submit a special use permit application to the NPS 3-4 weeks in advance, along with proof of $1M liability insurance and a copy of your jump log showing at least 200 total jumps. Pro tip: Schedule your jump before 1pm, when afternoon thermals rolling off the mountains make wind unpredictable. Bring a handheld anemometer to check wind speed at LZ level, since there's no permanent wind sock. Don't jump during elk rutting season (September-October), when elk congregate on the airstrip and pose a landing hazard.
Wallowa Lake Ranch Private Airstrip, Eastern Oregon
Most PNW skydivers never make it east of the Cascades, but the Wallowa Mountains---dubbed the "Swiss Alps of Oregon" for their jagged, snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes---are home to the most underrated jump spot in the region. This 800-foot dirt airstrip sits on a private cattle ranch at the base of the Wallowas, and the multi-generational ranch owners allow experienced jumpers to use it for free if you reach out 2 weeks in advance, no fee, just a promise to respect their land and cattle.
The LZ is a flat dirt strip bordered by wildflower meadows in summer, and the exit point sits directly over Wallowa Lake, so you can choose to land on the airstrip or do a controlled water landing in the lake if you're comfortable with that. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Idaho border, and the lack of nearby air traffic means you can run large formation jumps without coordinating with air traffic control for miles around. The wind is almost perfectly predictable here in summer, with gentle breezes blowing off the mountains in the morning and dying down completely by early afternoon.
To get access, you'll need to email the ranch owners directly with a copy of your jump log and proof of at least 200 jumps. They only allow 2 jump groups per week, so book at least a month in advance for summer dates. Pro tip: Jump before 1pm to avoid afternoon mountain thermals that can kick up without warning. Bring a portable GPS to mark the LZ, since there are no permanent markers, and stay on the airstrip and meadow edges to avoid trampling wildflowers or spooking cattle. There are no facilities within 10 miles of the airstrip, so bring extra water, snacks, and a first aid kit.
Blind Channel Ridge Clear-Cut, Sunshine Coast, BC
This is the most remote hidden spot on the list, only accessible by a 2-mile hike from the nearest logging road or a 10-minute boat ride from the small town of Powell River. It's a 300-foot gravel ridge cut into a clear-cut hillside overlooking the Georgia Strait, with zero facilities, no cell service, and no other jumpers unless you bring your own group. The informal "ownership" of the spot is held by the small Powell River skydiving club, which only allows jumpers referred by existing club members to use it, so you'll need to build a relationship with local jumpers to get access.
The exit point sits directly over open water, so you get unobstructed views of Vancouver Island, the mainland coast, and on exceptionally clear days, Mount Baker 80 miles to the south. The 500-foot drop from the ridge to the water below makes it a favorite for wingsuit jumpers and angle flyers, and the consistent off-shore wind means you'll rarely have to cancel a jump due to wind shear. You need a valid Canadian Sport Parachuting Association license to jump here, and you have to notify Transport Canada 72 hours in advance if you're bringing a group of more than 4 jumpers, since the ridge sits near a small floatplane route between Powell River and Vancouver Island.
Pro tip: Go in late May or early September, when the summer mosquito swarms have died down and the coastal fog has lifted to give you 100+ miles of visibility. Bring a satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach, since there's no cell service anywhere on the ridge, and carry all your gear in a waterproof backpack for the hike in. This spot is also perfect for certified night jumpers, as there's almost no light pollution from nearby towns.
Non-Negotiable Rules for Jumping Hidden PNW Drop Zones
These spots aren't regulated like public drop zones, so there's no staff to help you if something goes wrong, no wind sock to confirm wind speed, and no emergency services within a 45-minute drive of most locations. Follow these rules to keep yourself and the landowners who let you use their land safe:
- Always scout the LZ in person at least 24 hours before your jump, with the landowner or land management agency contact if required. Never assume a decommissioned airstrip or public land is open for jumping---many have unposted restrictions you won't find online.
- Never jump alone. Always bring at least one buddy with the same experience level and a working satellite communicator.
- Never push your limits. If the wind is out of your personal limits, if you're not feeling 100%, or if you're not comfortable with off-field landings, don't jump. There's no one to bail you out here.
- Respect the land. Pack out every scrap of trash, stay on designated paths and LZs, don't disturb wildlife, and follow all landowner rules to the letter. These spots stay open only because jumpers respect the people and ecosystems that let them use the land.
- Never share the exact GPS coordinates of these spots publicly. Most landowners and land management agencies only allow access to small groups to avoid overcrowding, erosion, and conflict with other land users.
Last month, I took a group of 6 advanced jumpers to the Wallowa Lake Ranch airstrip, ran a 12-way formation over the lake, landed every single jumper on the strip, then spent the afternoon swimming in the lake and eating burgers the ranch owners brought out for us. No waiting in line, no gawkers, no air traffic conflicts, just the mountains, the sky, and the jump we'd been planning for months. That's the magic of the hidden PNW drop zones---they're not for everyone, but for advanced jumpers who know what they're doing, they're the best kept secret in the sport.