Recreational Aviation Foundation Reopens High Rock Airfield
The 1,700-foot turf airstrip in western Maryland is again open to backcountry aviators after a land donation from the estate of Bob Armstrong.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Air Travel
The Recreational Aviation Foundation reopened High Rock Airfield, a 1,700-foot turf airstrip along the North Branch of the Potomac River, to backcountry aviators. The field was created out of former farmland and was donated to the foundation by the estate of Bob Armstrong.
Why it matters
The reopening restores a backcountry landing site for recreational pilots in western Maryland, a use the airstrip was built to serve. Volunteers worked to license the field with the FAA and the State of Maryland before it could return to service.
High Rock Airfield is a 1,700-foot turf airstrip sitting approximately 85 nautical miles northwest of Washington, D.C., alongside a 1,000-foot overlook from which it takes its name. The source material does not specify operating hours, landing fees, or how many aircraft the field can handle.
The players
Recreational Aviation Foundation
The Recreational Aviation Foundation is a national nonprofit that advocates for and maintains public-access backcountry airstrips for recreational pilots.
Bob Armstrong
Bob Armstrong was a vintage aircraft enthusiast whose estate donated High Rock Airfield after his death in 2024.
The details
The airstrip was carved from former farmland along the North Branch of the Potomac River. Bob Armstrong and his father, Lt. Col. Harold Armstrong, once based multiple vintage aircraft on the property before the estate donated it to the Recreational Aviation Foundation.
Timeline
2024: Bob Armstrong died, and his estate later donated High Rock Airfield to the foundation.
November 4, 2026: The Recreational Aviation Foundation reopened High Rock Airfield to backcountry aviators.
Backcountry Access
The reopening extends the Recreational Aviation Foundation's network of public-access backcountry airstrips, adding a donated Maryland field to sites the foundation maintains for recreational pilots. It reflects the foundation's model of relying on land donations and FAA and state licensing to keep small private airstrips available for public use.
Recreational pilots planning a trip to High Rock Airfield should confirm access rules with the Recreational Aviation Foundation before flying in, since the field is a licensed 1,700-foot turf strip rather than a staffed airport. Pilots should also check the field's status and requirements well ahead of departure.
The takeaway
High Rock Airfield shows how donated private land can be licensed and returned to public recreational use. Pilots interested in backcountry flying can follow the Recreational Aviation Foundation's efforts to keep similar airstrips open.
Further reading
For more on flying into small fields, see Air Travel coverage across the state of Maryland.
Source note: This article includes information reported by General Aviation News.
