The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), in coordination with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, will close Colorado Highway 82 over Independence Pass starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, due to predicted winter weather conditions. The closure affects the stretch between Aspen and Twin Lakes, with blockades set near Lincoln Creek Road (Mile Point 51.1) on the west side and Graham Gulch (MP 68.5) on the east side.
The decision comes as a winter storm is expected to bring snow accumulation and strong winds, which CDOT says will make travel across this high-elevation route unsafe. CDOT maintenance teams plan to reassess road conditions on Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, to determine if it is possible to reopen the pass for fall or if it will enter its regular winter closure.
“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 recognized as Colorado’s highest paved state highway at an elevation of 12,095 feet and serves as a designated Scenic and Historic Byway maintained by CDOT. The roadway presents narrow curves and steep drop-offs that become particularly hazardous during poor weather conditions.
Each year, Independence Pass typically closes in late October or early November due to winter weather. In recent years, one of the latest closures occurred in 2017 when it shut down on Nov. 17.
For travelers affected by this closure, CDOT recommends using an alternate route: westbound I-70 to Glenwood Springs followed by CO 82 into Aspen.
When open during warmer months, crews monitor Independence Pass daily from morning until evening hours. However, heavy snowfall at higher elevations renders travel impossible through most of winter; reopening usually occurs just before Memorial Day weekend after safety evaluations are completed.
The summit of Independence Pass sits between Twin Lakes and Aspen—18 miles west of Twin Lakes and 19 miles east of Aspen—crossing through both San Isabel National Forest and White River National Forest along a winding 32-mile mountain corridor.
