Mountain Flying Guides
Local knowledge for flying into Colorado’s mountain airports: which passes to use, which weather cameras and AWOS actually matter, and when the answer is “not today.”
Available Now
The Return Rule
If conditions are unfavorable anywhere along your route, go back the way you came. The single most useful rule in this whole guide.
Read the guide →Decision-MakingThe Mountain Pass Oxygen Rule
There is no low-altitude route across the Divide. How 14 CFR 91.211 actually applies to a Colorado crossing.
Read the guide →Airport GuideMontrose Regional (MTJ)
North and south routes from the Front Range, the passes on each, and exactly which cameras and AWOS to check before you go.
Read the guide →Airport GuideSteamboat Springs (SBS)
North and south routes from the Front Range, the passes on each, and exactly which cameras and AWOS to check before you go.
Read the guide →Airport GuideGunnison-Crested Butte (GUC)
North and south routes from the Front Range, the passes on each, and exactly which cameras and AWOS to check before you go.
Read the guide →Airport GuideTelluride Regional (TEX)
North and south routes from the Front Range, the passes on each, and exactly which cameras and AWOS to check before you go.
Read the guide →Airport GuideAspen-Pitkin County (ASE)
North and south routes from the Front Range, the passes on each, and exactly which cameras and AWOS to check before you go.
Read the guide →High Country IFR
These guides are written for VFR piston flying. If you’re coming in IFR, the companion set covers which arrival ATC will assign by direction of flight, the departure gates, and how to get a clearance on the ground. Read the guides →
More Airports Coming
Same depth as the MTJ guide: routes, passes, weather sources, and bail-out options for each.
Get notified as new airports go up
One email per new guide. No spam.
Want a second opinion before you fly?
These guides are free and always will be. If you want a pre-trip briefing tailored to your airplane and your trip, or a guide flight on arrival, that’s something I do in person out of KLMO.
See Mountain Flying Instruction & Destination Pilot Guide