The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed Colorado Highway 82 at Independence Pass for the 2025/2026 winter season as of November 17. The closure affects the stretch between Aspen and Twin Lakes in Lake and Pitkin Counties.
The pass was initially closed on November 15 due to a winter storm that brought heavy snow and hazardous winds. After assessing the road conditions, CDOT extended the closure into its regular seasonal period because of continued snowfall and more storms expected in the area.
According to CDOT, closing the pass each winter is necessary to protect both maintenance workers and drivers. The steep switchbacks on either side of Independence Pass are particularly dangerous during extreme weather, and certain sections are exposed to significant avalanche risk.
“While the alternate route for the seasonal closure adds a few hours to drivers’ trips, the safety of the traveling public and our CDOT crews is our priority,” said Jason Smith, CDOT’s Regional Transportation Director for Northwest Colorado. “We keep the pass open as long as conditions allow, but when Mother Nature tells us winter has arrived and it’s time to close the roadway, we listen.”
During this closure period, motorists traveling from Denver to Aspen are advised to use Interstate 70 westbound to Glenwood Springs before heading south on CO 82. The gates near Aspen and Twin Lakes will remain closed until spring when CDOT determines it is safe to reopen.
Independence Pass typically closes each year in late October or early November. Over the past decade, closures have ranged from late October through mid-November.
The pass is known as Colorado’s highest paved state highway at an elevation of 12,095 feet. It crosses the Continental Divide over a distance of 32 miles through mountainous terrain including San Isabel National Forest on one side and White River National Forest on the other. Its narrow roads with sharp curves make travel especially difficult during poor weather conditions.
CDOT collaborates with forecasters from CAIC when making decisions about seasonal closures. The agency usually reopens Independence Pass after inspecting road conditions in late spring, often just before Memorial Day weekend.
