Plan a flight · Mon 1:25 am MDT (07:25 UTC)

Denver International to Rifle Garfield County DEN → RIL

143 nautical miles (164 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 255° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 24 knots, gusting to 32; RIL is VFR, wind calm. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the whole route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 114 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 19 nm of the route.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from DEN.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 24 nm south, 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 105 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
B737 descending, 3 nm south, 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 3 nm south, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
B38M at 21,500 ft, 47 nm north, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 38 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
Time
04:33 UTC
Height
at 21,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light below 25,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 37 nm south, 12:35 am MDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 48 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
A20N at 25,000 ft, 7 nm southeast, 12:19 am MDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 48 nm along the route, 7 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
E170 at 22,500 ft, 39 nm south, 11:06 pm MDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 48 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
B738 at 23,000 ft, 28 nm south, 12:23 am MDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 57 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
E170 at 4,800 ft, 44 nm southwest, 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 2 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GJT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
8,500 ft	220° at 27 kt	+22 kt	12 °C	98 kt	1 h 28 min	2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 35 kt	+32 kt	8 °C	88 kt	1 h 38 min	3:03 am MDT (09:03 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 44 kt	+41 kt	3 °C	79 kt	1 h 49 min	3:14 am MDT (09:14 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 45 kt	+39 kt	-1 °C	81 kt	1 h 46 min	3:11 am MDT (09:11 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 47 kt	+38 kt	-6 °C	82 kt	1 h 45 min	3:10 am MDT (09:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 49 kt	+36 kt	-9 °C	84 kt	1 h 42 min	3:07 am MDT (09:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 53 kt	+40 kt	-21 °C	80 kt	1 h 47 min	3:12 am MDT (09:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 55 kt	+45 kt	-29 °C	75 kt	1 h 54 min	3:19 am MDT (09:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 58 kt	+52 kt	-34 °C	68 kt	2 h 06 min	3:31 am MDT (09:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 50 kt	+44 kt	-45 °C	76 kt	1 h 53 min	3:18 am MDT (09:18 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
DEN	used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
GJT	used from 95 nm out; 67 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
DEN Denver, CO	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 24 knots, gusting to 32	10+ mi	18,000 ft	5,433 ft	12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC)
BJC Denver, CO	19 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	07:15 UTC
GNB Granby, CO	57 nm out, 21 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	8,207 ft	07:15 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	105 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	6,547 ft	06:56 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,536 ft	12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 8,207 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC)

Wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR

At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet

The forecast for DEN, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 10 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Denver International, Rifle Garfield County.