10 Best Leisurely Stops Along Independence Pass, Colorado.

Independence Pass in Colorado is one of the mountain passes you must do. It is one of the most scenic drives in the state and part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway. Imagine the beautiful stops along Independence Pass you will see.

Last July, we drove on Independence Pass in our Toyota RAV4. We made some leisurely stops along the way, which I will share below.

These are not stops for people who want to do long hikes. They are for people who want to experience driving on Independence Pass and make stops at interesting places that don’t take much time.

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The Best Stops Along Independence Pass

Independence Pass connects the town of Aspen and Twin Lakes. Twin Lakes is the eastern gateway to Independence Pass, while Aspen is the western gateway.

The distance between the two cities is 32 miles, and it takes from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, with stops along the way. Of course, it depends on where you want to stop and how long you plan to stay at each stop.

We started from Twin Lakes and made a day trip from Buena Vista, where we stayed. It is about 25 miles or 28 minutes from Buena Vista to Twin Lakes.

Here are my best leisurely stops along Independence Pass, Colorado.

1. Mountain View Overlook 

It’s a quick stop to see the beautiful Twin Lakes with Quail Mountain, Rinker Peak, La Plata Peak, Star Mountain, and Ouray Peak in the background.

2. Twin Lakes Village

Drive around the small village with a population of 23 people. Some of the spots you won’t miss are the Old School, the Dance Hall, the Twin Lakes General Store, and Perkolated Peaks Coffee inside a yellow Volkswagen Bus.

The Old School and Dance Hall were closed during our visit. The General Store has souvenirs, and you can fill up your gas tank as it is the last gas station until you get to Aspen.

If we haven’t eaten breakfast, I would stop at the Perkolated Peaks Coffee for some burritos and coffee.

3. Willis Gulch Trailhead

Another quick stop for beautiful creek scenery. Parking is a little spacious but rocky in some places.

2 miles from the village, on the left side.

4. North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead

We had to stop here because a herd of mountain goats decided to cross the street. Hehe. You may see it, or you may not.

A few yards after that, stop at the pull-off on the left. There is no guardrail. You will see the beautiful scenery of the valley where you come from.

Then, another stop at the pull-off closer to the summit. It is right at a switchback and has no guardrail.

The North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead location is about 11 miles from the Willis Gulch or about a 20-minute drive.

5. Independence Pass Continental Divide

The next stop is the Independence Pass Continental Divide summit at 12,095 feet. Walk to the Independence Pass Lookout Point and enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree views.

You may want to take a break here after driving on a non-guardrail road from Twin Lakes.

Vault toilets are available at the summit. I’m not a fan of vault toilets, so I can’t comment on them.

The Continental Divide is the midway point between Twin Lakes and Aspen. The Pass is on the border between Pitkin and Lake Counties. It is the dividing point between watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean and those that drain into the Atlantic Ocean.

STOPS ALONG INDEPENDENCE PASS

6. Cascade by the Road

Continue down Independence Pass/CO-82 towards Aspen. You will see a cascade on the right, about a few yards from the summit.

There’s a pull-off for one car to park. I don’t think it’s an official parking spot. So, make it quick.

The water feeds the Roaring Fork River.

7. Independence Ghost Town

You will arrive at Independence Ghost Town, about four miles from the summit. It’s on the left. The elevation is 10,900 feet.

If the parking lot is unavailable, keep going for about a mile to another entrance to the ghost town, the Farwell Mill site.

There is a trail that follows the former stagecoach road from the Farwell Mill site to the ghost town. You will explore the ghost town on this trail. It is less than a mile, but you will walk on a gentle uphill slope.

There are interpretative signs along the path and in front of the abandoned structures. You will see the remains of the miner’s cabin, the Farewell Stamp Mill, Stables, the General Store, and others.

Don’t walk too fast if you are not used to high elevation. It is dog-friendly. I walked here for almost one hour with my dog. At the end of the trail, the high elevation got me. I had to take a break.

Independence was a gold mining town founded in 1879. It is four miles from the summit and 16 miles from Aspen.

STOPS ALONG INDEPENDENCE PASS

A portion of the Pass turned into a one-lane road between the ghost town and the next stop. There’s a traffic light to let people know when to stop and when to move. They also put a guardrail on this portion of the road. 

8. Braille/Discovery Trail

What makes this stop interesting is the Braille Trail. It was designed to give blind children an educational outdoor experience.

There are ropes to lead the way and interpretive signs written in English and Braille.

The trail is about 0.2 mi and loops down through the forest to the Roaring Fork, over a bridge, and back again.  

It is 12.5 miles from Aspen.

9. The Grottos

It is a popular family area for picnicking and exploring the short trails to the cascades, Ice Cave, and large boulders and rock formations.

The trail is located within the White River National Forest.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to stop there because there was no place to park. But we will be back.

The entrance to the Grottos area is about 9 miles from Aspen. Turn right and continue for 0.9 miles past Weller Campground to a trailhead on the right. Turn and drive about 200 feet to the parking area.  

10. Devil’s Punchbowl

It’s a swimming hole where you swim or jump at your own risk. It looks beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

When I was there, a college-aged boy was just jumping across the cliffs. I didn’t see him doing it, but I talked with his mother, who was walking back and forth, nervously waiting for him to return.

I’m glad the two girls who wanted to jump from the cliff didn’t do it. It looked so dangerous.

The location is right before the Grottos. There is a small, unmarked pull-off from Highway 82 (Independence Pass Highway). I stopped there because I saw cars and thought there must be something interesting on that side of the road.

What You Need to Know About Independence Pass

– It connects the town of Aspen and Twin Lakes.

– The second-highest paved pass in Colorado reaches 12,095 feet at the summit.

– It crosses the Continental Divide via the Sawatch Mountain Range.

– The pass reopens for the summer season around Memorial Day weekend every year, depending on snowfall and weather conditions.

– There are areas without guardrails and areas where it turns into a single-lane road.

– Vehicles over 35 feet in length are not allowed on the pass.

– There are plenty of pull-over points along the pass.

– Cell service is minimal.

– There are plenty of hiking trails and campgrounds along Independence Pass.

– Dogs on leashes are welcome on these stops.

– It is not for the faint of heart driver. My husband said it is as scary as driving on Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, Pikes Peak, or the Million Dollar Highway in southwestern Colorado.

How to Avoid Altitude Sickness

We drove from Dallas, Texas, to Buena Vista and made a day trip to Aspen through Independence Pass Highway.

The summit of Independence Pass is 12,095 feet, while it is only 482 feet in Dallas.

I have visited Colorado since 2003, and the summer before we drove on Independence Pass, I got my first altitude sickness. We were in Eagle Nest, New Mexico, with an elevation of 8,300 feet. It wasn’t an experience I wanted to have again.

So, on this trip, we spent a night in Raton, New Mexico, elevation of 6,680 feet. The next day, we drove to Buena Vista, elevation 7,960 feet, and stayed there for five days.

The day after we arrived in Buena Vista, we drove to Leadville, elevation 10,154 feet. Then, we visited Vail, elevation 8,022 feet.

On the third day, we drove the Independence Pass. Even so, I still had an altitude sickness problem at Independence Pass Ghost Town. I think the age factor played a key role in my case. 

Altitude sickness is very preventable, and these are a few key ways to prevent it:

– limit how fast you ascend

– Take rest days to acclimate

– Sleep at a lower altitude if possible

– Drink a lot of water

I hope a fear of altitude sickness will not prevent you from enjoying the stops along Independence Pass.