There are a number of hikes in Maine leading straight to the most beautiful places in the state. From views high above the treetops to those that go for miles across the Atlantic Ocean. While we love these hikes and recommend a ton of them, we also love the ones that lead to history. You won't find quintessential vistas or a cool, rickety lobster shack. Instead, you'll find a B-52 crash site in Maine that lies at the end of an easy hike. With the ability to pay homage to those who worked on behalf of America's freedom, we think you'll find that this is a trip worth taking.

Elephant Mountain can be found in Piscataquis County, east of Moosehead Lake and just six miles from Greenville.

The crash of the B-52C Stratosphere happened after the plane lost its vertical stabilizer while flying at a low altitude during turbulence.

The crew was in the midst of a training mission, officially referred to as a "Terrain Avoidance Flight."

The mission was intended to practice ways of getting through Advanced Capability Radar without being detected by Soviets during the Cold War.

These types of flights had been made successfully on the West Coast, but this was the first of it's type to use terrain-following radar on the East Coast.

The plane took off with two crews from Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts and two instructors based in New Mexico.

They were given the choice to fly over the Carolinas or Maine. Based on weather they chose Maine.

It left Westover at 12:11 p.m. on Thursday, 24 January 1963 and was scheduled to land back at Westover at 5:30 pm on the same day.

At approximately 2:30 pm the plane began the low altitude, enemy airspace simulation.

Soon after the plane experienced turbulence and the pilot attempted to fly above it, losing the vertical stabilizer in the process.

The plane nose pointed down towards the earch and the pilot ordered everyone to abandon it when he wasn't able to correct the direction.

The navigator, pilot and co-pilot all ejected themselves, but the six crew members in the lower deck didn't have time to find their way out before the plane crashed on the west side of Elephant Mountain just before 3pm.

The navigator and pilot, who were the only crew to survive the frigid night, did so using only what they had with them upon ejection.

The remains of the ill-fated flight have been left at the crash site and can be visited by following a path up the side of the mountain.

The half-mile hike is flat and smooth making the route the crash site relatively simple.

To get to the trailhead, begin in Greenville.

Head north on Lily Bay Road for just under 7 miles, where you'll make a right onto Prong Pond Road. From here head less than two mile and stay right when the road veers. In about 4 miles, stay right at the fork in the road. About 5.5 miles on, you'll come to a small parking lot on the left. The trail begins here.

The wreckage is strewn around the area, so plan to spend some time walking around to see everything.

If you visit on a holiday such as Memorial Day, July 4th or Labor Day, you're likely to see the homage paid by previous visitors.

For more Maine history, check out the oldest place you can possibly visit. This town everything you need - restaurants, bars and local shops - to keep busy all day!