Colorado VFR GPS Mountain Pass Waypoints

Background

Navigating Colorado's mountainous terrain has long posed challenges for aviators. Thanks to a groundbreaking initiative led by the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, pilots now have VFR RNAV GPS waypoints for key mountain passes — charted on FAA VFR Sectional charts and available in aviation apps like ForeFlight.

The project was inspired by Alaska's mountain waypoint system. Colorado Aeronautics Director David Ulane and Aviation Planner Kip McClain collaborated with CPA's mountain flying experts to chart the safest and most commonly used routes through the Rocky Mountains. Colorado's approach accounts for the unique characteristics of its passes — higher elevations and shorter crossings that require pilots to cross at 45-degree angles rather than fly below weather systems.

Implementation Phases

How Waypoints Appear on Charts

VFR GPS waypoint symbols as depicted on FAA VFR Sectional charts. Waypoints use the "VP" prefix (e.g., VPILK for Wilkerson Pass).

Using Waypoints in ForeFlight

Example ForeFlight flight plan from Centennial (APA) to Montrose (MTJ) using VFR GPS mountain pass waypoints: VPILK, VPMRL, VPNCH, VPMRL, VPCIR.

VFR GPS waypoints can be entered directly into your flight plan in ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and other aviation apps. They provide GPS guidance to the safest crossing points for each mountain pass.

Note: Chart detail is often not enough to visualize the path through the pass, so we recommend extra altitude, flying with an experienced pilot or instructor, or viewing a video of another aircraft traversing the pass in the same direction at a similar altitude.