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. It winds through the San Isabel National Forest on the east and White River National Forest on the west side of the Divide. How long and high is the Pass?
Where is Independence Pass on a Colorado map?
| Independence Pass | Topo map USGS Independence Pass | Independence Pass Colorado |
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What road is Independence Pass on?
Colorado 82
How do I get from Denver to Independence Pass?
To get to Independence pass, you’ll
take I-70 from Denver to Highway 91 south to Leadville and then follow signs to Highway 82 and the pass
. It takes just under two hours to reach Leadville, which is a nice spot to stop for a coffee or lunch.
Is Independence Pass in Colorado still open?
Each year, this two-lane, 12,095-foot pass
closes for the winter
for the safety of the travelling public and CDOT maintenance crews. It typically closes on or near Nov. 7 and almost always re-opens on the Thursday before Memorial Day each May.
What is the most difficult Pass in Colorado?
Red Mountain Pass
is notoriously tough to drive during the winter and features tricky 8 % grade sections. Named after the price some say it’d take them to willingly drive it, the Million Dollar Highway often tops lists for most dangerous drives in the world.
How long does it take to drive from Denver to Aspen via Independence Pass?
Take Hwy 82 through Glenwood Springs and stay on the same road all the way to Aspen approximately 42 miles). A slightly shorter and more scenic summer route from Denver to Aspen (approximately
3.5 hours
) goes over Independence Pass.
How long does it take to drive from Leadville to Aspen over Independence Pass?
Leadville to Aspen via Independence Pass –
1 hour
Independence Pass (Highway 82) is one of the highest roads in the Colorado and only open between Memorial Day and Labor day (check here for road closures).
What is the highest Pass in North America?
ColoradoMount Evans Scenic Byway
The highest paved road in North America (and one of the highest in the world), the Mount Evans Scenic Byway was constructed for tourists and stretches from the Idaho Springs Visitor Center to the summit of Mount Evans.
Where is Independence Pass closed?
Independence pass is located on Colorado Highway 82, midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes. The summit is 18 miles west of Twin Lakes and 19 miles east of Aspen. Since 2011, the road has closed for the season
anywhere from Oct. 28 to Nov.
How long does it take to drive over Independence Pass?
At an elevation of 12,100ft (3.700m) above the sea level, it is said to be the highest paved mountain pass in Colorado. The trip between Aspen and US 24 takes from
45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half
with stops along the way to enjoy the scenic views.
Can you drive Independence Pass at night?
Independence Pass is one of the few places in the United States where
it’s possible to drive at night
to a place that’s pitch dark with clear, dry, high altitude air. Standing on top of it is a like being in a brilliant dream of twinkling stars and night sky.
Where is the Continental Divide located in Colorado?
The divide
crosses Wolf Creek Pass in southwestern Colorado in the San Juan Mountains
, marked by a line symbolizing the division. The year round pass is very steep and is treacherous in the winter. The Lobo Overlook, at 11,760 feet, offers beautiful views of the divide.
What passes are closed in Colorado?
- Kebler Pass – Crested Butte to Paonia. Kebler Pass in the fall. …
- Independence Pass – Twin Lakes to Aspen. Independence Pass in July. …
- Mount Evans – Idaho Springs to 14,000’+ Mount Evans Road. …
- Cottonwood Pass – Buena Vista to Almont. Cottonwood Pass in the summer.
What is the highest paved pass in Colorado?
The
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
, just 60 miles west of Denver, is the highest paved road in North America.
Where is Wolfe Creek Pass?
Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass
on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song.
Is Mt Evans higher than Pikes Peak?
The Mount Evans Scenic Byway (Colorado Highways 103/5) is the highest paved passenger route in North America — including Alaska, Hawaii and California. It ends at 14,130 feet above sea level, or
20 feet higher than the much more famous and popular Pikes Peak Highway
— still a gravel road in its upper reaches.
How far apart are Aspen and Vail?
The total straight line distance between Aspen and Vail is
62 KM (kilometers) and 800 meters
. The miles based distance from Aspen to Vail is 39 miles.
Is it hard to drive to Vail from Denver?
From Denver,
it is just under a two-hour drive to Vail, depending on weather and traffic
(the latter can be heavy on weekends during ski season). You can also take a shuttle or private car service or even hop on public transport from the Mile High City if you are not interested in driving yourself.
Where do you fly into for Aspen?
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE)
is located only three miles from downtown Aspen, and is the most convenient airport in the Rocky Mountain region! Flying to Aspen has never been easier and is, by far, the quickest way to start your vacation. United, Delta and American all currently offer dierct flights into ASE.
Does Aspen have an airport?
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE)
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is just 3 miles from the town of Aspen and 6 miles from Snowmass Village. With service from United and American Airlines, it offers direct flights to Denver, Chicago (O’Hare), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas / Ft.
Is the drive from Denver to Aspen hard?
The distance from Denver to Aspen is around 200 miles, which means that this is a
relatively easy and short road trip
. If you were to drive straight there without making any stops, the Denver to Aspen drive time would be around four hours.
How is the drive from Denver to Breckenridge?
From Denver to Breckenridge by Car
From Denver, it is a beautiful
one-hour-and-45-minute drive
(depending on traffic and weather it can be much longer) via I-70 and Hwy 9 to Breckenridge. The route takes you over the Continental Divide as you cross the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is stunning in any season.
