independence pass lake

It's only about an hour from where we live, so we hope to visit it at other seasons. Aspen, CO – Mountain Pass Independence Pass (12,095 ft), originally called Hunter Pass, is a mountain pass along the Continental Divide accessed by Highway 82 that connects Aspen to Twin Lakes. It is a spectacular drive and an adventure, with hairpin turns, sheer drops and narrow roads, climbing up to the 12,000 foot level. Independence Pass is in the Gaps category for Lake County in the state of Colorado. This is an impressive drive that leads well above the tree line - at least the 6 months of the year when it is open. Follow the trail as it ascends steeply up the hillside to the glacial cirque holding Linkins Lake (12,008-ft.) at 0.6 miles. Photos June 22, 2006 - My hike to Lost Lake began at the first major switchback on the Pitkin County side of Indpendence Pass. The pic doesn't do it justice. The pass closes in winter. From the top of Independence Pass (12,095 ft) stay on the road and continue east winding down the road 4.5 miles to a sharp left turn. Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer, Camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, around Pitkin County, Plan Your Drive | Seasonal Mountain Passes Closures in Colorado. The semi ghost town town of Twin Lakes is a nice place to walk around. Independence Pass (file photo credit: CDOT) Cycling Independence Pass can be done. Independence Pass Colorado Camping information. more. Two miles to the east is the ghost town of Independence, an early mining town. The pass is midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties. Above is a photo with my back to the trailhead. In the summer the area has a wonderful wildflower display. Pitkin County lies on one side and Lake County on the other. LAKE & PITKIN COUNTIES – Independence Pass on Colorado Highway 82 will close on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. for the season. Independence is the highest paved mountain pass in Colorado, though there are several higher unpaved passes (such as Mosquito and Cottonwood), while three paved roads climb further (Pikes Peak Highway, Mount Evans Byway, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park), but these are not passes. During its 60-mile journey from the Pass to its confluence with the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork River is … Length 34.1 miElevation gain 3454 ftRoute type Point to point To prove my point, even I got my lazy ass up there with my road bike. There’s also point of interests along the Roaring River, like the “Grottos” – cavern like creek bed. It is at elevation 12,095 ft on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range. There are 10 campsites available. In addition to being a scenic byway, Independence Pass, just east of Aspen, is a favorite recreation location during the summer months. Independence Pass, Lake and Pitkin Counties, Colorado. download map PDF. My husband is afraid of heights so I do mountain driving. : It was the first full day of summer, and what do you know? South Cascades -- Mount St. Helens. Many 13ers and 14ers stand straight and massive around it, and alpine meadows and lakes set off the mountains’ craggy slopes. Independence Pass, part of Colorado State Highway 82, passes over the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen, Colorado. Map of the Independence Pass corridor. On the Eastern Slope, it follows Lake Creek past some of Colorado's highest mountains to Twin Lakes Reservoir, where it ends at US 24 south of Leadville. Continue along FR99 for about 3 miles and you will pass the trailhead for the Independence Pass hike. They offered to follow us up the mountain and block traffic if we found it necessary to turn around. Independence Pass (#227) Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument ... Green Trails No. Get spooky in Aspen with this ghost tour! This trip we got to view the fall colors which were beautiful. Linkins Lake, CO Independence Pass in Colorado is a beautiful area. The summit of the Continental Divide is 12,095 feet above sea level, and Independence Pass is a 32-mile drive that takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Gorgeous!! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Mask Up Michigan. Independence Lake fills a broad alpine bench under Lost Man Pass with a large tarn.1 mile away that's easy to reach and worth exploring. View fullsize. We got lucky with beautiful weather in mid-October and made the drive up Independence Pass. Primitive campsite overlooking Twin Lakes. To reach, take CO 82 west from Twin Lakes or east out of Aspen. Independence Lake—headwaters of the Roaring Fork River The river originates as a tiny rivulet draining Independence Lake at an elevation of over 12,500 feet. There was a 10 minute delay to some rock slide prevention going on but it was faster than I-70 to and from Denver and then scenery was spectacular, The John Denver Sanctuary: Tickets & Tours‎, Maroon Lake Scenic Trail: Tickets & Tours‎. The 12,095 foot high pass is located on Highway 82 east of Aspen. At 12,095 feet, Independence used to be the highest paved pass in all of North America (another pass not far away, signed at 12,126 feet, was paved last year). They had had a snowfall a few days before we got there and the small lake was frozen and there was snow everywhere. At that time, Colorado Department of Transportation crews will close gates near Aspen and Twin Lakes. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It is in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness so dogs must be on a leash. The road is steep, narrow and twisty with only a few guardrails but is completely safe. So, when we had a few hours to kill while traveling between Leadville and Aspen, a hike near Independence Pass seemed perfect. Featuring many stops along the way to enjoy scenic views, it twists around stunning groves of aspen trees and hugs the Roaring Fork River. INDEPENDENCE LAKE. The trail is primarily used for scenic driving and is best used from June until September. The road from Twin Lakes has many areas with no guard rails combined with very steep drop offs. Even my husband was thankful he persevered. Per Executive Order 2020-147, a face covering must be worn over your nose and mouth*: When in any indoor public space; When outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household; and St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Trailhead Co-ordinates: 46.3045, -122.0819 Open map in new window. behind us and I decided to go talk to them. Trailhead access to Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness is across the road. Independence Pass, originally known as Hunter Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. Hike to Lost Man's Pass in the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness. Independence Pass is a 34.1 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Twin Lakes, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Be ready for some real mountain driving to see vistas along the Continental Divide at over 12,000 ft. Much of the land on both sides of the pass is National. This lake is in the “Lost Man Trail loop” on Independance Pass. Last year at this time, Independence Pass had already closed for the season due to a heavy autumn snowfall that prompted the gates in Pitkin and Lake counties to shutter on Oct. 28. It is at elevation 12,095 ft (3,687 m) on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. Anyone who is interested in visiting Independence Pass can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. There are also shorter hikes at the lakes and at the base of Mt Elbert. The entire hike and trail can be seen on the National Geographic topographical map named Aspen / Independence Pass. As we began driving up the mountain, his concerns began to increase until he finally insisted that I pull over. This seasonal road usually closes in October, depending on snowfall and doesn’t reopen again until late spring. The trailhead turnoff is approximately 19.1 miles west of the HWY 24 - HWY 82 intersection at Twin Lakes, and 23.6 miles east of Original Street in downtown Aspen. While taking it all in, I was moved to tears by the beauty of God's creation. We were about a week or so behind the peak colors but this is a must do. Independence Pass Loop Map & Directions. A Virtual Hike of the Mt. Personally I prefer this ride from the east side (the Lake County / Twin Lakes side), as I live in Buena Vista and it's easier for me to access. Enjoy the views at Independence Lake (and Lost Man Lake if you decide to make a loop). If there's one reason to rent a car in Aspen, it's to take the 20-mile drive through Independence Pass. Trailhead. Thankfully, another driver pulled over. Independence Pass is part of the great Top of the Rockies Byway. From the Linkins Lake / Upper Lost Man trailhead, follow the trail for 0.2 miles to a signed junction and turn left (northwest) toward Linkins Lake. Difficult Campground, Weller Campground, Lincoln Creek Camping, Parry Peak Campground and Twin Peaks. We were so glad we took this road to independence pass. At 12,095ft at the summit, Independence Pass is the highest paved pass in the state. Follow the North Fork Trail is up along the North Fork of Lake Creek. Beautiful drive although in a rented RV sprinter van there were some tight curves but it was fun. Drivers must follow the speed limit and proceed with caution. The trail follows the level shore before turning sharply up to Lost Man Pass (2.35 miles : 12,810'). From there it continues up the valley to cross the Continental Divide at Independence Pass. The car was near mile marker 62, which is close to the summit of Independence Pass (12,095 feet) and is also roughly the boundary between Pitkin and Lake County, officials said. Lost Man Family Campground is situated directly across Independence Pass road from Lost Man Trailhead.The campsites are within a lodgepole pine forest at 10,500' above sea level. (The trail to the right leads to Independence Lake and Lost Man Pass.) Independence Pass, originally known as Hunter Pass, is a high mountain pass in central Colorado, United States. To download this map onto an 8 12/” x 11” sheet (or larger), hit the button below, then under “file” select “export as PDF”. To Lost Man's Pass and back is 4.5 miles with ~1200 feet of gain. To get to the trailhead from Aspen, travel up Independence Pass Road (HWY 82). Short hike leads to the "Grotto", a cavern like stream bed. Continue your visit to www.tripadvisor.com, Are the prices for this place or activity, Hwy 82, 20 miles E of Aspen, Aspen, CO 81611, We took a scenic drive to Independence Pass while staying in Aspen. We made it to the peak and BOY, was it worth it! Experience a thrill as you hear about the gruesome history that created these ghosts, and glance around, wondering where the wraiths will emerge from. (CBS4) – Independence Pass will be closing for the season on Friday night at 7 p.m. Independence Pass is displayed on the Independence Pass USGS quad topo map. https://www.mapquest.com/us/colorado/independence-pass-16110122 If you make a loop including Lost Man's lake to the lower trailhead is about 11.5 miles. The Aspen were a bright gold. There are (14-15 inch) Brook Trout in this lake sitting at 12,500 feet above timberline. There is a parking area - and rest rooms - at the top with the opportunity to wander around stretching your legs to look at the alpine tundra ecosystem that many visitors have never seen. You continue on for a very short distance, and you will pass the trailhead for the Meta Lake hike. Timed for nightfall according to season, experience a creepier Aspen as you slip through shadowed streets and into the dark haunts of the past. The road is fine, but nowhere near in as good shape as Cottonwood Pass (that runs west out of Buena Vista). Cliff jumping in the Roaring Fork near Aspen. The North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead is located off Highway 82, 4.5 miles east of Independence Pass at Mile Marker 66. The safety closure is to keep maintenance equipment operators and the traveling public safe during the winter season. Forest, with trailheads and campgrounds available. Dispersed car camping can be found along many of the dirt roads near Mt Elbert, close to the lake. We usually take Indy pass when we head to Aspen in the summer. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. One of the best places to stretch your feet is around the ghost town of Independence on the Aspen side. 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