Smiley Creek, Idaho · field elev 7,206 ft
Density Altitude at Smiley Creek (U87)
Smiley Creek is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 7,206 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (80 °F) pushes density altitude to about 10,127 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,921 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.9 | 6,123 ft | 29.5 | 6,974 ft ▲ |
| February | 21.0 | 6,403 ft | 34.9 | 7,330 ft ▲ |
| March | 28.3 | 6,894 ft | 42.5 | 7,824 ft ▲ |
| April | 34.8 | 7,324 ft | 48.6 | 8,214 ft ⚠ |
| May | 45.0 | 7,985 ft | 60.3 | 8,946 ft ⚠ |
| June | 51.6 | 8,403 ft | 68.7 | 9,458 ft ⚠ |
| July | 59.3 | 8,884 ft | 79.9 | 10,127 ft ⚠ |
| August | 58.4 | 8,828 ft | 79.7 | 10,115 ft ⚠ |
| September | 50.3 | 8,322 ft | 70.0 | 9,537 ft ⚠ |
| October | 39.7 | 7,643 ft | 55.4 | 8,642 ft ⚠ |
| November | 26.4 | 6,767 ft | 38.8 | 7,585 ft ▲ |
| December | 16.8 | 6,116 ft | 27.8 | 6,861 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 U87
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 7,206 ft — the air behaves like 10,132 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 7,208 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
- 55H — Atlanta
Atlanta · elev 5,500 ft
- 2U7 — Stanley
Stanley · elev 6,403 ft
- U45 — Graham Usfs
Atlanta · elev 5,726 ft
- 52U — Weatherby Usfs
Atlanta · elev 4,503 ft
- 0U1 — Warm Springs Creek
Lowman · elev 4,831 ft
- U61 — Twin Bridges
Ketchum · elev 6,900 ft
- KSUN — Friedman Meml
Hailey · elev 5,320 ft
- U86 — Fairfield/Frostenson Airfield
Fairfield · elev 5,058 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at U87 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Smiley Creek reaches roughly 10,127 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 U87 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 6,116 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,884 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 7,206 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Smiley Creek?
7,206 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is U87 (FAA), in Smiley Creek, Idaho.