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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.

Sports & OutdoorsOutdoor Adventure

Independence Pass

Drive Highway 82 over the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet and walk a paved path to alpine tundra overlooks.

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

About Independence Pass

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

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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.

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