Lower Loon Creek
C53 · Challis, ID · Non-towered · Print kneeboard · Open on the map
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Weather
METAR observed
TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night2026-09-19 · night begins 08:12 PM
| Event | Local (MDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 06:53 AM | 12:53Z |
| Sunrise | 07:23 AM | 13:23Z |
| Sunset | 07:43 PM | 01:43Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 08:12 PM | 02:12Z |
Plan a flight from C53
Winds aloft NOAA forecast · 3,000 to 53,000 ft
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Full reports: nearest reporting station
Advisories
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Airspace hazards · Checking SIGMETs and G-AIRMETs…
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Runways
RWY 16LEFT traffic
- Heading
- 160° mag · 177° true
- Dimensions
- 1,200 × 25 ft
- TPA
- 5,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- TURF-DIRT
- CTAF
- 122.9
Enter the left downwind (heading 340°) on the 45° at 5,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).
More details — RWY 16
- Threshold elev
- 4,084 ft
- Approach obstacle
- Tree, 50 ft, 160 ft from threshold, 90 ft R of centerline — 3:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 1,200 ft |
Prefer one flat page? Full runway details for C53 → · New to pattern entries? The 45° entry, explained → · Teaching here? Print the C53 kneeboard →
Comms & NavAids
Communication frequencies
Taxi & takeoff
Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).
Nearby navigation aids
LKT 113.50
| NavAid | Type | Freq · ch | Range | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LKT · Salmon | VOR/DME | 113.50 · 82X | High | r235° / 33.3 NM |
Prefer one flat list? All C53 frequencies →
Charts & procedures
Airport info
Airport information
- FAA LID
- C53
- Coordinates
- 44.8087, -114.8087
- Elevation
- 4,200 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 17E
- Sectional chart
- GREAT FALLS
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- No
- ARTCC
- SALT LAKE CITY (ZLC)
- Flight service (FSS)
- BOISE · 122.6 · 1-800-WX-BRIEF
- NOTAM facility
- BOI
- Attendance
- UNATNDD
- Segmented circle
- No
- Wind indicator
- yes
- Activated
- 1992/11
- Distance from city
- 30 SW
Night operations
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 122.9 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are under Sun & FAA night in the Weather section.
Services fuel · repairs · oxygen · attendance
- Bottled oxygen
- NONE
- Bulk oxygen
- NONE
- Airframe service
- NONE
- Powerplant service
- NONE
- Parking
- tiedowns
Ownership & management 2 contacts
Remarks FAA · 8 notes
General
- 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.
Nearby airports
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Also nearby: 0U3 Mahoney Creek USFS (6 NM) · D47 Cougar Ranch (6 NM) · ID8 Marble Creek (8 NM) · 2U8 Thomas Creek (10 NM) · 12ID Flying B Ranch Landing Strip (private) (10 NM) · U54 Bernard USFS (11 NM)
About C53
Lower Loon Creek (C53) is an airport in Challis, ID, at 4,200 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 1,200 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for C53, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does C53 have a control tower?
No. Lower Loon Creek is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM in the Comms & NavAids section.
What is the longest runway at C53?
Lower Loon Creek has 1 runway; the longest is 1,200 ft. See the Runways section for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is C53?
Lower Loon Creek is in Challis, ID, at an elevation of 4,200 ft MSL. Coordinates: 44.8087, -114.8087.
More about C53
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open C53 in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.