Photo of the Week: Independence Pass

For my inaugural post on this new blog, I will kick off my "Photo of the Week" series with the cover photo to the new website. This photo was taken on the ascent up Independence Pass, Colorado in June 2019. State Highway 82 traverses Independence Pass, and is the second highest paved mountain pass in the U.S., reaching an elevation of 12,095 at the Continental Divide. Only Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) in Rocky Mountain National Park is higher. Independence Pass connects Aspen on the west to Twin Lakes on the east. Several prominent high 14ers are visible from the pass including Mount Elbert (the highest point in Colorado at 14,440 feet) and La Plata Peak (14,361 feet). The highway typically opens to traffic the Thursday heading into Memorial Day Weekend, but opened late in 2019 after one of the snowiest winters in recent memory. Even in late June, snow was abundant above the treeline.


Entering Independence Pass from Twin Lakes (east of the Continental Divide)

Ascending Independence Pass

Sign at the summit

La Plata Peak (prominent peak just right of center)

Travel Recommendation: Independence Pass is closed during the winter, so you have to visit between Memorial Day weekend (which can be too early sometimes) and the beginning of October (about the time the highest elevations of Colorado start getting their first large snows, but they can come early!). If camping, check out the Difficult Campground along Highway 82 on the banks of the Roaring Fork River. Just know that there is bear activity in this area, so secure your food and carry bear spray. There are plenty of amenities in Aspen, though I only stopped at a grocery store there, so I can't personally recommend any restaurants, bars, etc.

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