Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Independence Pass, Aspen, CO

Photo: Mark Donoher from ???. Cropped and color-corrected by Daniel Case prior to upload, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFree

Independence Pass

Summit of CO-82 between Aspen and Twin Lakes · Aspen, CO

Why you should go…

Colorado Highway 82 crosses the Continental Divide here at 12,095 feet, between Aspen and Twin Lakes. At the summit, a paved walkway leads across alpine tundra to overlooks facing Mount Elbert and La Plata Peak. The road is narrow, with steep switchbacks and stretches only one car wide, and vehicles over 35 feet are prohibited. The state closes the pass each winter because of avalanche hazard, so plan this drive for summer or fall.

  • #scenic drive
  • #mountain pass
  • #continental divide
  • #alpine tundra

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Independence Pass, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Aspen Mountain

    $50+

    Ride the Silver Queen Gondola from downtown Aspen to the 11,212-foot summit for runs suited to intermediate and expert skiers.

    15 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Aspen

    Free

    The official visitor bureau for Aspen, Colorado, a mountain resort town offering skiing, hiking and arts programming.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Maroon Bells

    Under $25

    See two 14,000-foot peaks rise above Maroon Lake and walk the trails of the scenic area near Aspen.

    20 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Outdoor Adventure

    Butte & Co.

    $25–$50

    A ski, snowboard, and bike rental shop at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures

    $50+

    Guided horseback trail rides through mountain meadows and forest around Crested Butte, Colorado.

    27 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    CB Motorsports

    $50+

    Self-guided ATV and snowmobile rentals delivered to Crested Butte area trailheads.

    28 mi awayMore like this