There’s A Hike In Washington That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Plane Crash

The Olympic National Forest’s Buckhorn Wilderness is located in the northeast portion of the park. It's quiet and remote, and it also happens to be the site of an old B-17 crash from 1952... oh, and there's an old abandoned mine you can check out as well. Let's take a closer look at The Tubal Cain plane crash, one of the most intriguing disasters in Washington:

To find the abandoned plane and mine, you'll have to find the Tubal Cain Trail.

While the entire Tubal Cain Trail is over 18 miles in length, you'll want the shorter portion of the trail which is Trail #840 near Sequim.

The trail can be a bit challenging, so make sure you're an experienced hiker (or you go with one).

The trail is about 7.2 miles round-trip.

You'll walk through a trail lined with thickets of rhododendrons, followed by a mountainside path...

... and eventually, you'll come to the remnants of the Tubal Cain Mine.

This abandoned copper mine is named after Tubal-Cain, a character mentioned in the Bible. It was active from 1902 until the early 1920s, although a huge avalanche in 1912 started its decline.

But that's not all you'll find. Soon, you'll stumble upon the wreckage of a plane crash from 1952.

In January of that year, a search-and-rescue B-17 was returning to McChord Air Force Base after assisting with a rescue mission in Canada. The plane was passing over the Olympic Mountains when it clipped a ridge and skidded down a steep, snowy slope, killing 3 of the 8 passengers onboard. The remaining five were rescued the next day after building emergency shelters to rest in overnight.

As tragic as that was, visiting the site of the crash is fascinating.

As you look around, you can't help but think of the terrific force that scattered hundreds of pounds of metal into the forest.

This hike is the perfect combination of natural beauty and history.

The trail is open all year.

Follow along on a hike to the Tubal Cain trail plane crash:

What are your thoughts on the Tubal Cain plane crash in Washington? Let us know in the comments. Hiking and history combine well on this challenging trail. And once you've checked this one off your bucket list, check out one of the most amazing hiking trails in Washington.

Up for even more adventure? Check out more of the best hiking trails in Washington on AllTrails.