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On June 27th, 1965, United States Air Force Major Currie and 1st Lieutenant Darby veered from their flight path in a Lockheed Martin T-33 trainer jet and crashed into the mountainside in the Arapahoe National Forest. Both crew members lost their lives. Much of the plane is scattered about the mountainside, serving as a memorial for them. This offroad trail takes you within walking distance of the somber scene also known as "The Bunce School Road Plane Crash." Close to Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, Colorado, this more difficult 4WD trail is popular to run in combination with Bunce School Road, Ironclads, and Middle St. Vrain.
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Start a 7-day Free TrialFR 203 to the T-33 Plane Crash is comprised of dirt and rock with several obstacles, many of which cannot be bypassed. The majority of this trail is tight, with few places to pass opposing vehicles, so always look as far ahead as possible for someone coming towards you. This is an out-and-back trail 1.8 miles in length and is often run with Bunce School Road and Ironclads. This is a great trail for beginners to start expanding into more technical trails.
T-33 begins at Waypoint 2 of Park Creek. Follow the narrow trail labeled Forest Service Road 203 uphill.
Stay left and slightly uphill to head north, following the sign for 203.
It is not long before the rock ledges appear. There are multiple lines to choose from here, with easy 2wd lines up to ledges reaching 2 feet tall.
The trail gets a bit rougher here and continues this way for much of the second part. You can pick and choose your lines until the next non-optional obstacle.
You can approach the obstacle from the right or left. Coming down is more tricky for stock vehicles where a rear bumper tap can happen. When descending, if your vehicle does not have much downward front axle travel or is not lifted, stay left. It is common to see vehicles have their rear passenger tire in the air on the descent.
There are two choices here. Either tackle the off-camber line to the left, which is slowly being filled in with rocks, or turn right and then quickly left, causing your passenger side to climb onto a rock and tipping the driver's side into a tree.
Follow the trail to the right, heading north. The trail to the left dead-ends.
Optional easy line to the left or hard line to the right. Although this isn't a difficult obstacle, vehicles with low-hanging differentials may tag the point of the center rock. On the return trip, this rock is at great placement for a driver's side pumpkin.
There is room for 5 or 6 rigs to park here. The hiking trail to the wreckage is well-marked. A short 5-minute walk will take you to the bulk of the wreckage that is still complete with painted markings. Pieces are scattered throughout the area. This is a memorial location where two people have died, so please leave the wreckage as you found it.
There are only one or two less-than-ideal dispersed camping locations along this trail. Most people camp along the popular Bunce School Road. Nearby Camp Dick has 41 designated fee sites and vault toilets.
Take Highway 72 (Peak-2-Peak Highway) north. In approximately 18 miles, you will reach Camp Dick on your left. Turn into Camp Dick and follow the paved road back until you reach Bunce School Road, which will be on your right. Turn right and follow the trail for approximately 1 mile until you reach Park Creek Trail on your left. The trailhead is at Park Creek Trail - Waypoint 2.
To get to the T-33 Plane Crash trail, you must run a small portion of Bunce School Road and Park Creek Trail.
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