Challis, Idaho · field elev 4,200 ft
Density Altitude at Lower Loon Creek (C53)
From a field elevation of 4,200 ft, a typical July afternoon at Lower Loon Creek (86 °F) raises density altitude to about 6,831 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.0 | 2,936 ft | 34.1 | 3,557 ft |
| February | 29.2 | 3,225 ft | 40.4 | 3,979 ft |
| March | 37.4 | 3,779 ft | 49.8 | 4,597 ft |
| April | 44.0 | 4,217 ft | 57.3 | 5,079 ft ▲ |
| May | 52.4 | 4,765 ft | 66.6 | 5,666 ft ▲ |
| June | 59.5 | 5,219 ft | 75.0 | 6,185 ft ▲ |
| July | 67.1 | 5,697 ft | 85.7 | 6,831 ft ▲ |
| August | 65.6 | 5,603 ft | 85.0 | 6,790 ft ▲ |
| September | 57.5 | 5,092 ft | 75.9 | 6,240 ft ▲ |
| October | 45.8 | 4,336 ft | 60.7 | 5,295 ft ▲ |
| November | 33.1 | 3,490 ft | 43.0 | 4,152 ft |
| December | 24.2 | 2,881 ft | 33.3 | 3,503 ft |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for C53
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 4,200 ft — the air behaves like 6,849 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 4,202 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Idaho fields
- 0U3 — Mahoney Creek Usfs
Mahoney Creek · elev 4,618 ft
- D47 — Cougar Ranch
Challis · elev 4,277 ft
- ID8 — Marble Creek
Challis · elev 4,685 ft
- 2U8 — Thomas Creek
Stanley · elev 4,415 ft
- U54 — Bernard Usfs
Bernard · elev 3,626 ft
- S81 — Indian Creek Usfs
Indian Creek · elev 4,718 ft
- U72 — Upper Loon Creek Usfs
Challis · elev 5,500 ft
- 85U — Soldier Bar Usfs
Soldier Bar · elev 4,190 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at C53 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Lower Loon Creek reaches roughly 6,831 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at C53 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 2,881 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 5,697 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 4,200 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Lower Loon Creek?
4,200 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is C53 (FAA), in Challis, Idaho.