Upper Loon Creek USFS

U72 · Challis, ID · Non-towered · Print kneeboard · Open on the map

Elevation
5,500 ft MSL
Longest runway
2,500 ft 04/22
Runway
1
Mag var
17E

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Weather

METAR observed

No weather station at U72. Nearby reporting stations: KLLJ (26 NM), KSMN (51 NM), KMYL (57 NM).

TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night2026-09-18 · night begins 08:14 PM
EventLocal (MDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
06:52 AM12:52Z
Sunrise07:21 AM13:21Z
Sunset07:45 PM01:45Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
08:14 PM02:14Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
08:14 PM → 06:52 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
08:45 PM → 06:21 AM

Plan a flight from U72

Winds aloft NOAA forecast · 3,000 to 53,000 ft

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Full reports: nearest reporting station

Advisories

NOTAMs · Loading NOTAMs…

Pilot reports · Loading PIREPs…

Airspace hazards · Checking SIGMETs and G-AIRMETs…

Temporary flight restrictions · Checking for TFRs…

Runways

5,000 ftNMNxw 130°downwind 040°base 310°final 220°45° entry2204

RWY 22LEFT traffic

Heading
220° mag · 237° true
Dimensions
2,500 × 75 ft
TPA
6,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
TURF-DIRT
CTAF
122.9

Enter the left downwind (heading 040°) on the 45° at 6,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).

More details — RWY 22
Approach obstacle
Trees, 65 ft, 175 ft from threshold, 150 ft R of centerline — 2:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface

Condition: Good.

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: schematic (headings + lengths)

ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Prefer one flat page? Full runway details for U72 → · New to pattern entries? The 45° entry, explained → · Teaching here? Print the U72 kneeboard →

Comms & NavAids

Communication frequencies

Taxi & takeoff

CTAF
122.9

Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).

Prefer one flat list? All U72 frequencies →

Charts & procedures

Airport

VFR sectional →

Airport info

Airport information

FAA LID
U72
Coordinates
44.5916, -114.8231
Elevation
5,500 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
Yes
Wind indicator
yes
Activated
1958/07
Distance from city
26 NW

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
Owner
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
324 25TH ST, OGDEN, UT
208-625-5511
Manager
MIDDLE FORK DIST RANGER
P.O. BOX 750 HIGHWAY 93, CHALLIS, ID
208-879-4101
Remarks FAA · 8 notes

General

  • RECOMMENDED FOR EXPERIENCED MOUNTAIN PILOTS ONLY.
  • TREES AND HIGH TRRN ON BOTH ENDS OF RWY 04/22, REQUIRES A STEEP APCH.
  • NO WINTER MAINTENANCE.
  • RWY 04/22 NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL OBSTNS ON APCH TO BOTH RWY ENDS.
  • FOR CD CTC SALT LAKE ARTCC AT 801-320-2568.

Runways

  • RCMD LAND RWY 22; TKOF RWY 04 WHEN WIND CONDS PMT.
  • 04/22 EDGES & THRS MARKED WITH WHITE ROCKS.

Obstructions

  • 90+ FT TREE LCTD IN CLOSE PROX. TO THE LEFT OF RWY END 04.

Nearby airports

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Also nearby: D47 Cougar Ranch (10 NM) · 0U3 Mahoney Creek USFS (10 NM) · 2U8 Thomas Creek (11 NM) · ID8 Marble Creek (13 NM) · C53 Lower Loon Creek (13 NM) · S81 Indian Creek USFS (16 NM)

About U72

Upper Loon Creek USFS (U72) is an airport in Challis, ID, at 5,500 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 2,500 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for U72, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does U72 have a control tower?

No. Upper Loon Creek USFS is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM in the Comms & NavAids section.

What is the longest runway at U72?

Upper Loon Creek USFS has 1 runway; the longest is 2,500 ft. See the Runways section for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is U72?

Upper Loon Creek USFS is in Challis, ID, at an elevation of 5,500 ft MSL. Coordinates: 44.5916, -114.8231.

More about U72

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 U72 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.

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