It’s not often that history and hiking collide together but that is exactly what this unique hike does. Not many people are aware that this hiking trail, along with beautiful lakeside views, leads you to the site of an abandoned airplane crash that occurred over 70 years ago! The story behind the crash is a fascinating one, involving eight men enduring the harsh Idaho winter for 21 long days before finally being rescued. The hike itself is fairly easy and serves as a great day outing for the whole family. The plane is incredibly preserved considering it’s been sitting out and exposed to the elements for the better portion of a century. The bizarre sight of the wreckage is the perfect reward for a long hike and is something you have to see with your own eyes.
The trail head to Loon Lake is accessible via an easy drive from McCall, Idaho. The most common starting point is from Chinook Campground.
The hike to the abandoned war bomber is exquisite. The hike is a long one, but there’s no way you’ll get bored of the beautiful scenery surrounding you!
The hike is about 10 miles round trip, so be sure to plan out plenty of time since the trek will take up a good part of your day. This is considered a family friendly trail since it isn’t very strenuous and is excellent for beginning hikers!
Once you spot the lake itself, you’ll be in awe of its idyllic waters. It was January 1943 when a crew of eight men returning from a training session in Nevada made an emergency landing on the frozen lake, sliding across it and landing among the trees.
The plane was called a B-23 Dragon Bomber. Only 28 of these planes were manufactured since they were soon considered outdated and replaced by newer models. The B-23 was then mainly used for training purposes.
Miraculously, all eight men survived the crash. However, they were trapped in the isolated wilderness with nothing but their downed plane for shelter and almost no food. Three men were selected to make the journey to find help.
Hiking for over 40 miles in snow up to their waists, the men followed the Secesh River until they reached a ranger station where they were able to phone for help. By this time, the men had been hiking for two weeks.
All in all, the men spent 21 days stranded in the harsh cold. Extraordinarily, the entirety of the crew survived the ordeal.
Seeing the wreckage with your own eyes is simply amazing. Not only are the remains incredibly preserved but it’s crazy to think that people actually took refuge in there for close to a whole month. The atmosphere is both an impressive and somber one.
When you’re done taking in the incredible history of the wreckage, it’s nice to turn around and look out at the majestic allure of Loon Lake. It’s the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy all of Idaho’s grandeur before making the trip back.
