Highest Point: 9,050 ft. Love Idaho? With no other choice, the crew prepped for an emergency landing. Nine Mile Falls, WA. Stick as close to the shore as possible where the lake is most shallow. The shortest route is to wade across Loon Creek on the north shore and bushwhack about 0.8 miles along the shore to the bomber. Upon your arrival to Loon Lake, you’ll have two options to find the downed bomber, both require some serious effort and getting wet. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. The bomber site is in the middle.. We rode out via the Chinook Campground trail to the Warren Wagon road. With no communication, the chances for safe landing began to decrease. It's the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy all of Idaho's grandeur before making the trip back. In 2007, a forest fire destroyed the trail. You can visit the bomber on the southeast side of the lake via a short (~1 mile) spur trail. But if you want to see the bomber, it’s decision time at the lake. Upon your arrival to Loon Lake, you’ll have two options to find the downed bomber, both require some serious effort and getting wet. The hike is approximately 10 miles round-trip. The trail is long and eats up most of the day, but how often do you get to see a real piece of history tied to an amazing story of survival? Mount Spokane State Park Nine Mile Falls, WA. Continue south along #081 to the junction of trail #084. The bottom of the lake is sandy and slimy so going barefoot is not recommended. Trail #080 follows the Secesh River south towards Loon Creek. Located in the 122,100 acre Debar Mountain Wild Forest in the northeastern Adirondacks along the old NY 99, now known as County Route 26. Trailhead: Chinook Campground Nine Mile Falls, WA. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Where the trail meets Loon Creek, leave the trail to follow the creek north to Loon Lake. The plane is incredibly preserved considering it’s been sitting out and exposed to the elements for the better portion of a century. As you look across the crystal clear water you see North and South Loon Mountains looming in the distance. Although this adds a few extra pounds to your pack you will save a tremendous amount of effort trying to get to the crash site. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot decided to attempt a landing in Boise. The pilot took a chance and nosed the plane down. All 8 men survived the accident and the bitter cold. Centennial Trail State Park. The supposed clearing was not what it appeared, in fact, it was frozen Loon Lake. Hike to Loon Lake, bomber … The outlet side of Loon Lake. Loon Lake itself is a stunning destination. To keep it interesting, we made our trip a loop, walking in along the Secesh River Trail and out the Loon Lake Trail. Forge the creek to get to the left side of the lake and look for the brief outline of a trail. Equipped with only one shotgun for protection from bears and wolves and only a few chocolate rations to survive on, they hiked 14 days through snow as deep as 10 feet in certain places. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona. The pilot swung the plane around and attempted to contact ground control, getting nothing but static in response. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: The plane was called a B-23 Dragon Bomber. The snow pounded the plane and the crew began to get anxious. For more information on the crew, the crash and the rescue check out this free book written by Richard H Holm  Jr. Beginning at the Chinook Campground, head over the bridge and follow the Secesh river before beginning a series of switchbacks. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. The three mile trail follows logging roads and the old steep trail to the fire tower. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Length: 10 miles This trail sees little maintenance, is prone to down trees, and is more technically demanding. To make matters worse ice began to form on the plane slowing the maneuverability of this giant patrol aircraft. The weekend of Oct 25-26, a large contingent from Troop 100 hiked in to Loon Lake north of McCall in Idaho. A few downed trees on the way out from Ruby Meadows campground. A six-mile hike with a pack is no small chore for a child. You can trudge through the mud and forest debris but you must move very carefully. You can proceed to the right side of the lake but there is no trail. The B-23 Dragon bomber crashed there in 1943. Left Fork Forge the creek to get to the left side of the lake and look for the brief outline of a trail. A wildfire burned much of this area a few years ago so while the shade is not as dense as it once was, the area is recovering nicely. The plane was returning to McChord Field in Tacoma, Washington from a training mission in Nevada when it flew into a heavy snow storm near Pendleton, Oregon. As the men began to pack their chutes, the pilot found a clearing in the clouds and spotted what looked like an open field and their only chance of landing the aircraft with minimum damage. The elevation at the trailhead is nearly the same as at the lake, but to get from one point to the other across ridges and drainages requires a lot of accumulated gain and loss. The plane slapped against the frozen ice and skidded its way across the surface slamming into the surrounding trees, shearing off its wings and coming to a sudden stop. The bomber hit the far shore, sawing off 20-inch trees for about 100 yards. Riverside State Park. All the crew survived with only a few broken bones and lacerations. Please note that this trail does not start at the road north of Chinook Campgound as shown on most maps, that section has been vacated. Map: Download KMZ File Elevation Gain: 3355 ft Many people do this loop as a long day hike, but there are plenty of spots to camp near the lake that make it a great overnight trip. 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 hike to Loon Lake near McCall, Idaho, features a World War II-era bomber crash site. + 0. bombin4x (Aug 1, 2020 at 19:29) Trail in good condition. This was one of my favorite alpine lakes we have been to this year. This trail runs 1.75 miles south along the west side of Loon Lake. If all you did was hike there, you’d be pleased. You will Hike into a downed B-23 Dragon Bomber with 2 trails lead in from the campground. Bring a pair shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Thank you! The order was given to prepare parachutes and be ready to jump. 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. We had 13 scouts, and 8 scouters on the trip. Nearest Major City: McCall, ID Note: If you’re feeling adventurous, check out the B-23 “Dragon Bomber” crash site (GPS Co-ordinates: 45.1589, -115.8413) on the south side of the lake. Where the trail meets Loon Creek, leave the trail to follow the creek north to Loon Lake. One of the trails follows the Secesh River with Prime camping spots, one on the near side of the lake, the other on the far side near the bomber with really Good fishing. Most of the logs are burnt and brittle and will collapse under too much weight. Andes Hike. The only injuries were a broken leg and a severely cut hand. 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