Closed for the season, Independence Pass is an outlier of Colorado’s passes

Interstate 70 as well as U.S. and state highway passes and their approaches in Colorado share some, if not all, of the same qualities during the snow season: high snow accumulation, heightened potential for deadly avalanches, merciless winds, and dangerous, whiteout conditions along roads with steep, sometimes sheer drop-offs, and no guardrails.

In other words, simply nasty.

Some of the most well-known of the state’s passes include Loveland, Berthoud, Vail, Wolf Creek (the only pass with a dedicated information page on Colorado Department of Transportation’s website), any along U.S. 550 between Purgatory Ski Area and Ouray. The list goes on.

But, no pass in Colorado is purposely closed to drivers for the entirety of the snow season — except Independence Pass along Colorado Highway 82, which recently closed for the season and will remain so until spring.

“We understand that it is a road people love to use,” said Charles Marsh, CDOT’s regional communications manager for Region 3 Northwest Colorado. “Trying to keep this high-altitude route that receives large amounts of snow accumulation and drifts, which create avalanche dangers, is just not worth the cost of putting our CDOT crews, first responders, and the traveling public at such a high safety risk.”

This is because travelers can still reach Aspen from along I-70, he said, which is a safer, more viable alternative, albeit longer.

Unlike other passes, too, Independence Pass is along a nonessential section of roadway, according to Marsh. 

As a counter example, he said, U.S. 550 is critical for those who live in Silverton, which is located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, with Red Mountain Pass to the north of the town and Molas and Coal Bank passes to the south of it.

“Freight and supplies need to have access into the community,” he said. “Also, the residents need to have access to Montrose and Durango for medical appointments and other needs” — unlike Highway 82 east of Aspen, which is essentially a shortcut to the city during most of the year. 

“We understand the detour will take you a couple hours out of your way,” Marsh said. “But when it comes down to it, driving a couple hours out of your way versus the potential for somebody getting hurt, there’s just no question what we’re going to do.”

Jonathan Bowers is the news editor for The Aspen Times. He can be reached at jbowers@aspentimes.com.