Why Is There an Old Abandoned WWII Era Plane in McCall, Idaho?

Idaho is full of mysterious places that history buffs are eager to learn more about. You'll find this one on one of the most popular hikes in McCall!

You may be an avid hiker, but didn't get to do it as much as you would've liked during Summer 2022 because it was just too hot. This fall? You're planning to get out and stretch your legs a little bit. If that plan includes a trip up 55 to relax in McCall and you like hiking, set aside a day to hike the "Loon Lake Trail."

With over 500 miles of public trails, 300 lakes and 1,400 miles of streams, it's no surprise that the McCall Chamber has nicknamed their little corner of Idaho "Hiker's Paradise." The 10-13 mile round trip hike offers you the opportunity to see something that no other hikes in Idaho can, the wreckage site of an abandoned B-23 "Dragon Bomber" fighter plane.

According to the placard placed at the wreckage site, on January 29, 1943 this particular was already low on fuel while trying to handle heaving icing. It crash landed at Loon Lake. The pilot and eight airmen on board survived, but it took nearly three weeks for all of them to be rescued from the raging blizzard.

Five of them stayed in the lean-to they built at Loon Lake and survived on woodpeckers, a squirrel and chocolate rations that they had on board the plane. The other three, including one with a broken kneecap, hiked over 35 miles in waist deep snow before finally finding a phone to call McCall for help.

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So, how do you get there? According to All Trails, hikers usually start at the Chinook Campground and loop across the campground bridge to Loon Lake and come back over the CCC Bridge. There's a trail that will take you around the east side of Loon Lake to the crash site. You can see their directions, waypoints and tips from others who've done the hike HERE!