Lake Hood traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Lake Hood (LHD · PALH) is 679 ft MSL · 600 AGL as published by the FAA, and 32 is charted right traffic. · Open on the map

All of Lake Hood — 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 14LEFT traffic

Heading: 140° mag · 153° true
Dimensions: 2,200 × 75 ft
TPA: 679 ft MSL · 600 AGL · charted
Surface: GRVL-DIRT
CTAF: 126.8

More details — RWY 14

Threshold elev: 75 ft
Approach obstacle: Tree, 68 ft, 936 ft from threshold, 285 ft L of centerline — 13:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
TDZ elevation: 79 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med.

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

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
E	Left traffic	090° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
W	Left traffic	270° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
14	Left traffic	140° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
32	Right traffic	320° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
N	Left traffic	000° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
S	Left traffic	180° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
SE	Left traffic	135° mag	679 ft MSL · 600 AGL
NW	Left traffic	315° mag	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 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.

Watch the right traffic ends here: 32. A right pattern at a field where the other end is left is the single most common place to end up pointing at opposing traffic. 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, which is 679 ft MSL on the altimeter with the field at 79 ft.

Does PALH have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 32. Every other end at Lake Hood is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at PALH?

Lake Hood 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.

Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.