C53 Lower Loon Creek Airport

Before you fly into C53

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

5,200'

MSL · field 4,200' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

RWY 34

H/W +2 · X/W 10 kt L

METAR & TAF C53

C53 does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: KLLJ (CHALLIS) · 30.5 NM away. Conditions at C53 may differ.

METAR · KLLJ

Observed 03:55Z

KLLJ 120355Z AUTO 28010KT 10SM CLR 18/M06 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP130 T01831056

Wind: 280° @ 10 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 18°C / -6°C
Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Clouds: CLR
Density alt: 5,419 ft
Ceiling: Unlimited
Rules: VFR

C53 does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: KSMN (LEMHI COUNTY) · 43.7 NM away. Conditions at C53 may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 12 00:00Z–13 00:00Z

TAF KSMN 112320Z 1200/1224 36006KT P6SM SKC FM122100 36012G20KT P6SM SCT090

BASEVFR

12 00:00Z–12 21:00Z

Wind: 360° at 6 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Clear
Weather: None forecast

00Z

03Z

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

21Z

00Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city: 30 NM SW
VFR sectional: GREAT FALLS
ARTCC: ZLC · SALT LAKE CITY
NOTAM facility: BOI (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: TOM CURET
Phone: 208-756-2271
Address: PO BOX 25, BOISE ID 83707

Flight service · Hours

FSS BOI: BOISE1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: Unattended

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

280° · 10 kt

See full METAR & TAF

RWY 34

340°M

Head/Tail

+2 kt

Crosswind

10 kt L

Pattern entry · RWY 34

LEFT TRAFFIC

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic
16/34Favored	160° / 340°	1,200 ft	TURF-DIRT	Standard L

Runway end performance

End	TORA	TODA	ASDA	LDA	VGSI	Approach lights	Obstruction
16	—	—	—	—	—	—	50', tree, 160' from thr, 90' R of cntrln, slope 3
34	—	—	—	—	—	—	40', brush, 50' from thr, 75' R of cntrln, slope 1

Declared distances in feet. TORA = takeoff run available, TODA = takeoff distance, ASDA = accelerate-stop, LDA = landing distance.

Airport sketch

Runways drawn to scale from FAA survey coordinates, rendered over satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

Top-down satellite sketch of C53 LOWER LOON CREEK in CHALLIS, IDAHO, showing runways 16/34 drawn to scale over Esri World Imagery

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement

C53 · CHART_SUPP

Chart Supplement

C53 · CHART_SUPP

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel: Not available
Oxygen (bottled): Not available
Oxygen (bulk): Not available
Airframe repair: Not available
Power plant repair: Not available

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Tie-down
Wind indicator: Yes
Segmented circle: No

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$6.67

KSMN·Lemhi County Airport·43.7 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$6.46

KSMN·Gem Air·43.7 nm

No on-field FBO prices. See nearby fuel options below.

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$6.67atKSMNLemhi County Airport43.7 nm
Jet A$6.46atKSMNGem Air43.7 nm

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

ARPT LCTD ON A PLATEAU 50 FT TO 75 FT ABOVE THE RIVER.
RY NOT MARKED.
RECOMMEND LAND RY 16; DEPART RY 34 WHEN WIND CONDITIONS ALLOW.
NO WINTER MAINT.
STOCK AND BIG GAME ANIMALS INVOF RY.
RODENT ACTIVITY ADJACENT BOTH SIDES OF RY.
LCTD IN NARROW WINDING RIVER CANYON.
FOR CD CTC SALT LAKE ARTCC AT 801-320-2568.

Other notes

PROVIDED VFR OPS.
1 SET OF TIE DOWNS

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · C53

Answer card

ICAO: C53
Name: LOWER LOON CREEK
Location: CHALLIS, IDAHO
Elevation: 4,200 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 5,200 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 1
Longest runway: 16/34 · 1,200 ft
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 17°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 280° at 10 kt
Favored runway now: RWY 34

Lower Loon Creek is in Challis, Idaho. The field elevation is 4,200 ft MSL. It has one runway, 16/34, at 1,200 ft on turf-dirt. The airport is not towered. CTAF is 122.9. No ILS approaches are published.

Pattern altitude is not published. For light piston planning, use 1,000 ft AGL unless the current Chart Supplement says otherwise. The airport sits on a plateau 50 to 75 feet above the river. It is in a narrow winding river canyon. That makes arrival planning important, especially with terrain, wind and density altitude.

Published remarks also say runway 16 is the preferred landing runway when wind allows. Runway 34 is the preferred departure runway when wind allows. The runway is not marked. No winter maintenance is provided. Stock and big game animals are in the area. Rodent activity is present beside both sides of the runway. One set of tie-downs is available.

There are no on-field FBOs listed. Check with the airport operator or the FBO directly by phone before arrival if you need current services. For clearance delivery, contact Salt Lake ARTCC at 801-320-2568. This is a VFR field. Plan conservatively. Verify current conditions before you go.

Frequently asked questions

What is the runway at Lower Loon Creek (C53)?

C53 has one runway, 16/34. It is 1,200 ft long and surfaced turf-dirt. The runway is not marked.

What is the field elevation at C53?

The field elevation is 4,200 ft MSL. That matters here because the airport sits in a canyon. Climb performance can change fast on warm days.

Is there a tower at Lower Loon Creek?

No. C53 is not towered. Use CTAF 122.9 and standard see-and-avoid procedures.

Does C53 have any ILS approaches?

No ILS approaches are published for C53. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for the latest approach and airport data before you fly in.

What is the pattern altitude at Lower Loon Creek?

Pattern altitude is not published in the facts provided. For light piston planning, use 1,000 ft AGL unless the current Chart Supplement says otherwise.

Which runway should I use at C53?

Published remarks recommend landing runway 16 and departing runway 34 when wind conditions allow. That is the best starting point for planning. Always confirm with the wind and canyon conditions.

Are there any FBOs on the field at Lower Loon Creek?

No on-field FBOs are listed. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival, or call the FBO directly by phone if you need current service details.

Is winter maintenance provided at C53?

No winter maintenance is provided. Plan for seasonal surface issues. Verify current runway condition before you go.

C53