Highway 82 over Independence Pass is part of a national scenic byway

The road east out of Aspen on State Highway 82 climbs to Independence Pass, the high point of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway. The byway links the upper Roaring Fork Valley with the Leadville and Twin Lakes area on the other side of the Continental Divide.

This is one of the highest paved mountain pass crossings in the country, and the drive shows it. The road is narrow and winding near the top, with steep drop-offs and a few sections too tight for two large vehicles to pass easily. It is a beautiful drive, but it asks for an unhurried, careful driver, not a hurried one.

A few miles below the summit on the Aspen side sit the weathered remains of Independence, a mining camp from the early 1880s. People came for gold, the boom faded within a few years, and most residents moved down to Aspen. The Aspen Historical Society helps tell the story of the old town site today, and there is a short walk among the buildings.

Remember that the pass closes to through traffic each winter, so the byway crossing is a warm-season drive. For the byway route and current pass status, see the Colorado Department of Transportation; for the history of Independence itself, the Aspen Historical Society and History Colorado are the places to look.