The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), working with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, will close Colorado Highway 82 over Independence Pass starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. The closure comes in response to an expected winter storm that could bring snow and strong winds, making travel dangerous across the high mountain pass between Aspen and Twin Lakes.
The closure points are set at Lincoln Creek Road (Mile Point 51.1) on the west side and near Graham Gulch (MP 68.5) on the east side. CDOT plans to reassess conditions on Tuesday morning, November 18, to determine if the pass can reopen for fall or if it will enter its usual winter shutdown.
Travelers from the Denver Metro Area heading to Aspen are advised to use an alternate route: westbound I-70 to Glenwood Springs, then CO 82 into Aspen.
“Recognizing the access Independence Pass provides for Pitkin County residents, visitors, and others, our maintenance teams consider several factors when deciding whether to close the pass — whether for a short-term storm event or the full seasonal closure,” said Jason Smith, CDOT’s Regional Transportation Director for Northwest Colorado. “Of all the factors involved, the safety of the traveling public and our CDOT personnel remains paramount.”
Independence Pass is known as a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway maintained by CDOT. It is also recognized as the highest paved state highway in Colorado at 12,095 feet above sea level. The road features narrow sections with steep drop-offs and single-lane stretches that require caution from drivers during poor weather.
The summit lies about 18 miles west of Twin Lakes and 19 miles east of Aspen along a route that covers 32 miles through mountainous terrain in both San Isabel National Forest and White River National Forest. When open during non-winter months, CDOT crews monitor Independence Pass daily from early morning until evening.
Typically closing each year in late October or early November due to heavy snowfall at higher elevations making travel impossible during winter months, Independence Pass has occasionally stayed open later; in recent years, its latest closure was recorded on November 17 in 2017. If weather allows and safety checks are satisfied after winter ends, CDOT usually reopens Independence Pass just before Memorial Day weekend.
