Lake Hood Seaplane Base traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD · PALH) is 679 ft MSL · 600 AGL as published by the FAA, and every runway end is standard left traffic.

All of Lake Hood Seaplane Base — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

Pattern diagram

Drawn to scale from the FAA NASR runway alignments and the per end right traffic flags — pick a runway to see its pattern. Live wind picks the favored runway when PALH reports it.

RWY ELEFT traffic

Heading: 347° mag · 000° true
Dimensions: 4,541 × 188 ft
TPA: 679 ft MSL · 600 AGL · charted
Surface: Water
CTAF: 126.8

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA charted (NASR) · layout: schematic (headings + lengths)

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
E	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
W	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
S	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
N	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
SE	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
NW	Left traffic	—	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL

Pattern altitude is published for PALH in the FAA NASR data. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at PALH

Lake Hood Seaplane Base is towered, working 126.8. Contact the tower before entering the surface area and fly the pattern you are assigned — the directions below are the charted default when no instruction is given.

All ends are left traffic, which is the FAR 91.126 default — turns to the left unless the field charts otherwise. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at PALH?

The FAA publishes a traffic pattern altitude of 600 ft AGL for Lake Hood Seaplane Base, which is 679 ft MSL on the altimeter with the field at 79 ft.

Does PALH have right traffic?

No. All 6 runway ends at Lake Hood Seaplane Base use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at PALH?

Lake Hood Seaplane Base is towered (126.8), so the pattern shown here is the charted default — but the controller's instruction overrides it. Expect straight in approaches, base entries and midfield crossings as traffic dictates.

More about PALH

Pattern direction and alignment are drawn from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle); the diagram is generated, not an FAA chart. Pattern altitude is shown as published where NASR carries one, otherwise as the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention. For planning and education only; always verify against the Chart Supplement.