The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Independence Pass for the season. The pass was temporarily closed on Monday due to the snowfall, adverse conditions and the winter storm forecasts.
This closure includes the area from just east of Aspen to west of Twin Lakes, approximately 18 miles. A re-opening of the pass following the storm was determined not to be feasible and safe, so will remain closed.
The pass's regularly scheduled seasonal closure is Nov. 7 each year. The 12,095-foot pass is closed for the winter every year for the safety of the traveling public. It is often closed temporarily before the goal date-last year, the pass closed for the season on October 29, for similar early storms. Each spring, CDOT plans the opening of Independence Pass for Memorial Day weekend in May, weather permitting.
