This seasonal road usually closes in October, depending on snowfall and doesn’t reopen again until late spring. The Pass travels through 32 miles of mountainous terrain. Twin Lakes Motels; Twin Lakes Campgrounds; Romantic Hotels Twin Lakes; Near Landmarks. It winds through the San Isabel National Forest on the east and White River National Forest on the west side of the Divide. $25,000,000. 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. There are also shorter hikes at the lakes and at the base of Mt Elbert. You are at 12,095ft, so the weather can be unpredictable. 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. Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer, Camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, around Pitkin County, Plan Your Drive | Seasonal Mountain Passes Closures in Colorado. The decision to close the Pass on the Aspen and Twin Lakes sides was made about 7:45 a.m. Monday. The scenic drive along CO 82 from Twin Lakes to Aspen via Independence Pass is well worth the time. The pass, which connects Aspen and Twin Lakes via State Highway 82, is normally scheduled to open the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, … Independence Pass is taken all the way to US 24. The road is open to traffic and is extremely narrow in some sections. Do not rely on your GPS for directions if the pass is closed. House for sale. It is a 19 mile paved road from Aspen to the top of the pass. Independence Pass refers to the 32 mile stretch of Highway 82 that connects Aspen, CO, to Twin Lakes, CO. To reach, take CO 82 west from Twin Lakes or east out of Aspen. Hwy 82 over Independence Pass is slated for seasonal closure starting this Fri, Nov 13, at 7:00pm. Not a lot of traffic, or guardrails, on winding high altitude road. Independence Pass between Aspen and Twin Lakes is now open for the season. Free camping can be found along Lincoln Creek Road. Here, you are presented with two routes to get to Aspen: via I-70 to Glenwood Springs then Highway 82 to Aspen; or south to Leadville, Twin Lakes and Highway 82 over Independence Pass into Aspen. The pass is a popular historic and scenic route between … The midway point between Aspen and Twin Lakes, Colorado, Independence Pass is on the border between Pitkin and Lake Counties and is the dividing point between watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean vs. those that drain into the Atlantic Ocean. Independence Pass Rock Climbing offers short approaches and a large variety of climbs, both trad/mixed and sports climbing is available. Drivers must follow the speed limit and proceed with caution. Aspen Chamber Resort Association ALL | Independence Pass on Colorado Highway 82 is open for the season. Keep going past Aspen, to Twin Lakes and US 24, and your in for a ride. Located 21 miles southwest of Leadville and 36 miles east of Aspen, this historic village sits at the base of Colorado’s highest peak, Mt. Independence Pass is a scenic way to travel between two mountain towns with beautiful views and a little piece of history. State transportation crews are shooting to open Independence Pass by Friday evening, an official said Wednesday. 352 E Reds Rd, Aspen, CO 81611. In addition to being a scenic byway, Independence Pass, just east of Aspen, is a favorite recreation location during the summer months. Be alert to all car traffic, which is especially heavy on summer weekends. At 12,095ft at the summit, Independence Pass is the highest paved pass in the state. 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. Most of it followed the original route; however in some places it … Runoff on the west side of the pass drains to the Roaring Fork River, while the east side empties into the North Fork of Lake Creek. The pass is midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, on … Due to harsh weather conditions that can make the road unsafe for drivers, Colorado Department of Transportation closes Independence Pass for the winter, often in late October, and reopens around Memorial Day. Independence Pass, Twin Lakes: See 142 reviews, articles, and 60 photos of Independence Pass, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 5 attractions in Twin Lakes. Independence Pass is part of the great Top of the Rockies Byway. Snowmobilers are also able to utilize the road, providing access to ski mountaineering adventures further from the parking lot. The road is steep, narrow and twisty with only a few guardrails but is completely safe. Once a thriving mining town with over 40 businesses and an estimated population of 1,500. 12 results. It is at elevation 12,095 ft (3,687 m) on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. 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. One of the best places to stretch your feet is around the ghost town of Independence on the Aspen side. We stopped at a 1800's mining "ghost town" along the pass. Visit cotrip.org for up-to-date road closure information. Alternate route to Aspen via I-70. A few miles west of the pass… At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is the fourth highest paved road in the state. Homes for You Price (High to Low) Price (Low to High) Newest Bedrooms Bathrooms Square Feet Lot Size. From Glenwood Springs (on Interstate 70) to Aspen, is a 4 lane highway that won't scare anyone. Review of Independence Pass. Situated along the “Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway,” Twin Lakes is the eastern gateway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in the state. 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. West to east, Aspen to Twin Lakes is significantly more difficult than east to west. Visit cotrip.org for up-to-date information. Depending on snow accumulation, the Colorado Department of Transportation closes the highway at the Winter Gate, 5 miles east of Aspen. 16 miles east of Aspen is the historic ghost town of Independence. The semi ghost town town of Twin Lakes is a nice place to walk around. Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet above sea level and connects Aspen and Twin Lakes. Probably one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the fall colors is via Highway 82 from Twin Lakes to Independence Pass. Starts at Limelight Hotel and enter CO 82 at the end of Aspen. It winds its way up and over the Continental Divide at Independence Pass, 12,045 feet above sea level. From Aspen to the peak of the pass is about 20 miles, but riders can turn around at any point and return to town. It is 17 miles from the top of Independence Pass down to Twin Lakes. At 7 p.m. Friday, Independence Pass on Colorado Highway 82 will close for the season. Before developing the route west of Aspen, the state turned its attention the other way. It’s the 4th highest paved road in the state and it travels through spectacular scenery. “We’re going to give them the whole day (Friday) to get it done,” Trulove said. 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. It’s the earliest closing since at least 2011, which was the … Road biking on Independence; Pass/Highway 82 is a popular route in the summer. The area offers world-renown ski resorts, the beautiful mountain passes of Independence, McClure, Vail, Loveland, and crystal clear mountain rivers. Elbert, and beside the beautiful Twin Lakes. Featuring many stops along the way to enjoy scenic views, it twists around stunning groves of aspen trees and hugs the Roaring Fork River. I hope to travel it again someday. pic.twitter.com/aJxP7SnAcN — Lake County OEM (@LakeCountyOEM) November 12, 2020 There are restrooms and a sign at the top. You are … Cross Country skiers will enjoy the groomed trail for both classic and skate skiing jaunts. Today you can view the remains of miner's cabins, the Farewell Stamp Mill, Stables, and the General Store. Go slow, as every instinct will tell you, and you'll be … Independence Pass is a high mountain pass in central Colorado, midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes and bordering both Lake and Pitkin Counties. The mountain views alone are breathtaking in Twin Lakes, but then with the added feature of shimmering yellow aspen leaves make it Independence Pass - Aspen CO Real Estate. Sort by: Newest. Fee-based camping on the Aspen side of Independence Pass is available at Difficult Campground, Weller Campground, Lincoln Gulch and Lost Man Campground. To get it done, ” Trulove said groomed trail for both classic and skate skiing jaunts way up over... ) to Aspen, to Twin Lakes to the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen, CO to! 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