Today you can view the remains of miner's cabins, the Farewell Stamp Mill, Stables, and the General Store. - 86.9 mi, +7915 ft. Bike ride in Aspen, CO It is a 19 mile paved road from Aspen to the top of the pass. It winds through the San Isabel National Forest on the east and White River National Forest on the west side of the Divide. Independence Pass between Aspen and Twin Lakes is now open for the season. Cliff jumping in the Roaring Fork near Aspen. The road is open to traffic and is extremely narrow in some sections. *Visit other Aspen area hiking trails here. Primitive campsite overlooking Twin Lakes. Depending on snow accumulation, the Colorado Department of Transportation closes the highway at the Winter Gate, 5 miles east of Aspen. There are restrooms and a sign at the top. A few miles west of the pass… Living in Buena Vista, on the east side of Independence Pass, I can tell you of the stories I have heard of novices attempting to reach Aspen from Twin Lakes via Independence Pass, only to get stuck in the snow way up in the high country and incurring massive towing and rescue bills to get them out. Our Aspen High Country bike tour features 14,000 foot peaks, massive wildflower fields, White River National Forest, fine dining & much more. Free camping can be found along Lincoln Creek Road. The pass is midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, on … It winds its way up and over the Continental Divide at Independence Pass, 12,045 feet above sea level. Starts at Limelight Hotel and enter CO 82 at the end of Aspen. In 1927 it rebuilt the old stage road over Independence Pass to Twin Lakes and designated it part of Highway 82, closing it in winters to avoid the maintenance costs. Seasons . You are at 12,095ft, so the weather can be unpredictable. Independence Pass was full of beautiful views. We stopped at a 1800's mining "ghost town" along the pass. At 12,095 feet, this pass is the highest in Colorado. From Glenwood Springs (on Interstate 70) to Aspen, is a 4 lane highway that won't scare anyone. One of the best places to stretch your feet is around the ghost town of Independence on the Aspen side. ASPEN, Colo. — Colorado transportation officials will close Highway 82 over Independence Pass for the winter on Friday.The road is typically … Approximately 65 vehicles were lined up at the Pitkin County gate on Monday, June 1, when Colorado Department of Transportation crews opened the gates on the seasonally closed highway. ALL | Independence Pass on Colorado Highway 82 is open for the season. Twin Lakes Flights; Twin Lakes Restaurants; Twin Lakes Attractions; Twin Lakes Travel Forum; Twin Lakes Photos; Twin Lakes Map; Twin Lakes Guide; All Twin Lakes Hotels; Twin Lakes Hotel Deals; By Hotel Type. The pass, which connects Aspen and Twin Lakes via State Highway 82, is normally scheduled to open the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, … There is ample parking and a scenic overlook where you can take in the 360-degree views. It is at elevation 12,095 ft (3,687 m) on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. Cross Country skiers will enjoy the groomed trail for both classic and skate skiing jaunts. $25,000,000. Review of Independence Pass. Homes for You Price (High to Low) Price (Low to High) Newest Bedrooms Bathrooms Square Feet Lot Size. It provides a more direct … On the Lake County side, CDOT will block the road at the winter closure gate west of Twin Lakes. Independence Pass Road is typically closed to vehicular traffic between November 1 and the start of … Before developing the route west of Aspen, the state turned its attention the other way. However, visitors are still able to enjoy recreational opportunities on the closed, snow packed road. Road biking on Independence; Pass/Highway 82 is a popular route in the summer. Featuring many stops along the way to enjoy scenic views, it twists around stunning groves of aspen trees and hugs the Roaring Fork River. To reach, take CO 82 west from Twin Lakes or east out of Aspen. Independence Pass is a scenic way to travel between two mountain towns with beautiful views and a little piece of history. It’s the 4th highest paved road in the state and it travels through spectacular scenery. We left Aspen heading to Twin Lakes. Hwy 82 over Independence Pass is slated for seasonal closure starting this Fri, Nov 13, at 7:00pm. Snowshoers and hikers can also enjoy the same access to the road. There are also shorter hikes at the lakes and at the base of Mt Elbert. This seasonal road usually closes in October, depending on snowfall and doesn’t reopen again until late spring. West to east, Aspen to Twin Lakes is significantly more difficult than east to west. Do not rely on your GPS for directions if the pass is closed. (From Buena Vista, travel north on Highway 24 for 22 miles and turn west at the main sign for Highway 82 and Twin Lakes.) The summit of Independence Pass is located 18 miles west of Twin Lakes and 19 miles east of Aspen and crosses the Continental Divide over the Sawatch Range. The road — which normally opens the Thursday before Memorial Day — should be open by 5:30 p.m. Friday, said Tracy Trulove, Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman. Sort by: Newest. Visit cotrip.org for up-to-date road closure information. Be alert to all car traffic, which is especially heavy on summer weekends. Highway 82 is closed at the Winter Gate, 5 miles east of Aspen, around the beginning of November each year. Snowmobilers are also able to utilize the road, providing access to ski mountaineering adventures further from the parking lot. 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