During World War II in 1943, a nighttime training mission went wrong resulting in five young men losing their lives. The B25 Bomber crash site is now a memorial site which honors the brave young men who were involved in the crash. You can still find much of the plane parts along with a memorial plaque.
The B25 Bomber crash site is truly a hidden gem on Sharp Top Mountain. Add an extra 0.5 miles to your hike to Sharp Top (and Buzzard’s Roost) to see this historical spot. Please be respectful if you go and follow the leave no trace principles. This is an incredible yet unfortunate sight to see.
Table of Contents
Know Before You Go
History of B25 Bomber Crash Site
On February 2, 1943, an aircraft known as aircraft 129828 from Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, crashed into Sharp Top Mountain in Virginia. The B-25D Mitchell Bomber was on a low-level nighttime navigational training mission. Five young airmen unfortunately lost their lives in the crash. A memorial was erected on February 2, 2001, at the B25 Bomber crash site.
Leave No Trace
Before you go, please make sure you understand the Leave No Trace principles. These seven principles help reduce our environmental impact from outdoor recreational activities. Nature is meant to be enjoyed and respected. 🌱
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
About the Trail
Sharp Top Trail to B25 Bomber Crash Site
The B25 Bomber crash site is located on Sharp Top Mountain in Virginia. Sharp Top is the most popular hike of the three Peaks of Otter, but not too many people know about the crash site. At this point, due to the internet and word-of-mouth, more people do know about this place now as compared to ten years ago.
It’s pretty easy to locate the crash site. It’s a short, fairly steep hike near the summit of Sharp Top. It will add about 0.5 miles to your hike to Sharp Top (and to Buzzard’s Roost). The trail is not necessarily maintained too well since it is a side trail and there are no official trail markers, but either way the trail is noticeable enough to follow. Unless you go in the fall or wintertime when the trail is potentially covered with leaves or snow.
How to Get to the Trailhead
The plane crash site is located on Sharp Top Mountain which is located near Bedford, Virginia. The trailhead is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 86.
Put this address in Google maps: Sharp Top Mountain Trailhead, Sheep Creek Rd, Bedford, VA 24523
Trail Directions
Start your hike from the trailhead of Sharp Top Mountain. Follow the trail until you reach an intersection where you will see a trail sign that points to Sharp Top one way and to Buzzard’s Roost the other way.
At this intersection, take a right at the trail sign as if you are going towards Buzzard’s Roost. The side trail to the B25 Bomber crash site is immediately located to the left (near the trail sign). When not covered in leaves or snow, the side trail is well defined. Follow this trail down the mountain. Be careful as it is steep and there are no official trail markers. In a little less than 0.25 miles, you will first get to the plane’s engine.
Continue for a short distance on the trail until you reach the rest of the Bomber crash site. More parts of the plane crash remain.
The last thing you will see as you follow the trail further down the mountain is a memorial plaque built into a rock. The memorial was erected on February 2, 2001, which was the B25 Bomber crash site 58th anniversary.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL!! This is a memorial site. Please do NOT vandalize what is left of the plane crash. Leave only footprints and do not take any parts of the plane. Brave young men lost their lives here. Again, be respectful.
We Vlogged Our Experience!
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