Independence Pass: A road over the Great Divide

Independence Pass in Colorado is a mountain pass through the Continental Divide that runs through CO. If you find yourself doing this scenic drive, make sure to stop at the overlook just off Highway 82 for views from 12,000 feet. This viewpoint will also show you some Alpine Tundra.

Sights from Independence Pass
Independence Pass is a mountain pass in Colorado; a pass through the Rocky Mountains in the state. That’s not all. There’s another fact that needs to be underlined here: it runs across a continental divide — North America’s Great Divide. Rivers west of here drain into the Pacific Ocean.

A scenic drive through Independence Pass in Colorado

Highway 82, Colorado.

The highway that winds through this pass is Colorado State Highway 82. Now if you are visiting Aspen or the Maroon Bells area, adding Independence Pass to your itinerary is something you might want to consider.

Like the pictures tell you, it is a scenic route through high elevations. It’s been a while, but I still remember the drive from Aspen and the icy road to the top. And later, the curved downhill roads that lead us away from the mountains and towards Denver, threw in some picturesque sights too.

There weren’t a lot of cars on the road that day. But we did see some people at point-of interest, Β scenic stop on Highway 82.

If you are up on that highway look out for a parking lot by the side of the road and a blue sign board that says ‘scenic overlook’ and a bigger sign behind it that marks the continental divide.

A walk along the trail there, will take you to a vista point that shows you a panorama of the Rocky Mountains, some mountain vegetation and the Alpine Tundra — the part towards the top of the mountains where there are no trees owing to the wind and the extreme cold at that altitude.

Take a look at the pictures and you should be able to decide whether you want to add Independence Pass to your Colorado itinerary. (If you have visited the area, is there anything you’d like to add? And tips? Any suggestions for the readers of this post?)

NOTE:

  • The walk might make you a little altitude sick. Go prepared for that. The mountain pass lies at a height of over 12,000 feet.
  • And it’s closed in the winter because of the heavy snowfall and harsh conditions. So you might want to check on that as well, while planning the drive.

Drive Safe! πŸ™‚

Views from Colorado State Highway 82/ Independence Pass

Independence Pass, Colorado

Independence Pass’s ‘Scenic Overlook’

Where to stop on the Independence Pass in CO.

The path to the scenic overlook off Highway 82

The Independence Pass Overlook, Colorado

Views from the The Independence Pass Overlook, Colorado

Views from the The Independence Pass viewpoint, Colorado

Alpine Tundra near Independence Pass.

Wind-swept snow (?) on the Independence Pass, CO.

Is that the wind’s doing?

Independence Pass on the Continental Divide, Colorado.

Frozen Lake off SR 82, Colorado

Frozen Lake off SR 82, Colorado

Frozen Lake off Independence Pass, Colorado

Also from Colorado:

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Lithic LandscapesMountainsScenic DrivesScenic Routes

Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. πŸ“Έ Loves tripping.πŸ›£ Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!πŸ₯‚πŸ˜‰
31 Comments on this post.
  • rupam { xhobdo }
    26 February 2018 at 9:26 pm
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    Amazing . Beautiful pics.

    • dNambiar
      27 February 2018 at 12:30 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Rupam. πŸ™‚

  • Photo Cache
    27 February 2018 at 12:17 pm
    Leave a Reply
    • dNambiar
      27 February 2018 at 12:30 pm
      Leave a Reply

      πŸ™‚
      Thank you for visiting, M. πŸ™‚

  • Al
    27 February 2018 at 4:39 pm
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    That is a beautiful drive, I’ve done it several times. I usually drive over Hoosier Pass to get to the ski areas, it only tops out at 11,542 feet and stays open during the winter.

    • dNambiar
      28 February 2018 at 5:59 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Oh yeah? Nice to know that.
      Now let me look up Hoosier Pass to understand where it comes on the map. And you say that that one is open all through the winter.
      Thank you so much for sharing that info, Al. πŸ™‚

  • Grace
    28 February 2018 at 4:44 am
    Leave a Reply

    Oh la! magnificent vistas. I can’t imagine getting there dN but I’m more than happy to see these sights through your lens, merci beaucoup ✨

    • dNambiar
      28 February 2018 at 6:01 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Magnificent indeed. πŸ™‚
      Really, Grace? Is it the heights/ mountain roads or the cold temperatures?

      Thank YOU for coming this way. πŸ™‚

  • A shutterbug Explores
    28 February 2018 at 7:11 am
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful vistas and photography ~

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    • dNambiar
      28 February 2018 at 6:01 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much. Shutterbug.
      You too. πŸ™‚

  • Renuka Walter
    28 February 2018 at 10:04 pm
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    This place looks fantastic, awe-inspiring! So you need to acclimatize like here in Ladakh. Ah…Such difficult places really make you come alive. I’d love to visit it someday.

    • dNambiar
      1 March 2018 at 5:19 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Hi Renuka,
      It was lovely up there. Yeah, quite like that; this part of the Rocky Mountains is over 12,000 ft. Acclimatization might be a good idea for heights like this. We weren’t really prepared for the elevation but everybody was mostly ok (we were traveling with friends). We had to do some walking to the viewpoint and that was when I felt the effects of the thin air and I felt a bit sick. I tried not to think too much about the rising uneasiness and surprisingly it worked. πŸ˜‰
      I just stopped walking for a few minutes and then went on to talk about other things and take pictures and all that, and that distraction seems to have helped. It may not work for everybody, tho. πŸ™‚ And it can turn out to be really bad for people with certain conditions.

      I hope you’ll get to visit these parts, soon. It’s beautiful. (Btw this mountain pass is closed in the winter.)

      Thank you for stopping by, Renuka. πŸ™‚

  • Mridula
    1 March 2018 at 12:21 am
    Leave a Reply

    What a scenic route!

    • dNambiar
      1 March 2018 at 5:20 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Isn’t it?
      πŸ™‚

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    2 March 2018 at 6:27 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Mesmerizing captures….as usual.

    • dNambiar
      5 March 2018 at 9:00 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, Jyotirmoy. πŸ™‚

  • Jaishvats
    3 March 2018 at 11:28 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful…snowcapped mountains look so pure don’t they ?

    • dNambiar
      5 March 2018 at 9:01 am
      Leave a Reply

      Absolutely.
      I hope you are doing well, Jaish. πŸ™‚

  • NatureFootstep PhotoArt
    5 March 2018 at 2:13 am
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    beautiful scenery πŸ™‚ I was in Yellowstone 4 months ago and was passing the divide several time in the park. Not as majestic as this place. But still πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      5 March 2018 at 9:10 am
      Leave a Reply

      I remember visiting your post on a Yellowstone-photo exhibition. I’d love to come by and see your other posts on Yellowstone if they are up. πŸ™‚ I’m sure you had a great trip.
      This place has a higher elevation; maybe that adds to the appeal of the place.

      Thank you for coming this way, Monica. πŸ™‚

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    27 May 2018 at 8:23 pm
    Leave a Reply

    The beauty of has endless versions and through your posts those can be cherished every time, very nice captures as usual.

    • dNambiar
      1 June 2018 at 8:00 am
      Leave a Reply

      The beauty of the earth? πŸ™‚
      It really is a beautiful world. The many different kinds of landscapes it has to show us is amazing.

      Thank you, Jyotirmoy. I’m happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying the posts here. πŸ™‚

  • Ranjana Shankar
    28 May 2018 at 3:07 am
    Leave a Reply

    So beautiful and peaceful!

    • dNambiar
      1 June 2018 at 8:00 am
      Leave a Reply

      Isn’t it?
      How have you been, Ranjana?

  • pushpendra dwivedi
    28 May 2018 at 11:43 am
    Leave a Reply

    awesome motion capturing

  • magiceye
    28 May 2018 at 7:32 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Marvelous landscapes!

    • dNambiar
      1 June 2018 at 8:01 am
      Leave a Reply

      Absolutely!

      Thank you for visiting, Magiceye. πŸ™‚

  • Deepa Gopal
    23 June 2018 at 9:48 am
    Leave a Reply

    So scenic! Awesome pics!

    • dNambiar
      23 June 2018 at 8:16 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Absolutely, scenic.
      Waiting to go that side again. πŸ˜‰

      Thank you, Deepa. πŸ™‚

  • How to see Rocky Mountain National Park | Tipsy from the TRIP
    26 October 2020 at 6:00 pm
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    […] America’s Great Divide. (Another road in Colorado that takes you over this continental divide β€” Independence Pass – A road over the Great Divide. […]

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