Independence Pass

Traveling through Colorado will likely require you to cross at least one or two of the state's high mountain passes.  Independence Pass is the highest mountain pass in Colorado crossed by a paved highway, with a summit of 12,095 feet above sea level.

This satellite imagery courtesy of Google Maps shows Colorado State Highway 82 traversing a portion of the Sawatch Range, reaching its highest elevation at Independence Pass.  Note the snake-like path the highway takes as it climbs along the mountain sides, switchbacking to the summit of the pass in the center of the image.  From this image and the following photos you can see why this road is closed to truckers and large vehicles and closed to all traffic from the first heavy snow in the fall until late May.

Yellow caution signs dot the shoulder of Highway 82 warning drivers of sharp curves, steep climbs, and the lack of a road shoulder.  (Side note: let's be honest - in Missouri and Illinois, one can typically take curves at speeds faster than the engineers post on the caution signs.  Not true out here; if a Colorado engineer posts 10 MPH on a sign, you better go 10 MPH!)

Independence Pass was originally a hunting ground for Ute Indian tribes as they traversed the Sawatch Range (the highest mountain range of the Rockies).  As white settlers developed the region, the pass as we know it today began to form as a stagecoach route between the mines of the Aspen, Colorado area west of the pass and the more developed mining towns east of the pass such as Leadville and Buena Vista.  More history of the area can be found at the Independence Pass Foundation website.

As seen in the photo above, Independence Pass boasts tight switchbacks and a steep grade of 6% to 6.5% on both sides of the pass.  This means that for every horizontal mile, the road makes a vertical climb of about 343 feet!

Caution signs warning drivers of a sharp curve and cliff border this view back to the east of the valley that Highway 82 has just passed through.  The distant mountain in the center is La Plata Peak, the fifth highest peak in Colorado.  Still climbing...

And finally at the summit!  Here we see our Intrepid Explorer and his trusty companion Murphy resting on the Continental Divide - the Atlantic watershed before us, the Pacific watershed behind us.

Over 12,000 feet above sea level means you are located well above tree line - the climate here is unable to sustain tree growth.  This view of the alpine tundra faces to the west.

Another view of the tundra at Independence Pass.  This ecosystem is extremely fragile and cannot handle sustained human foot traffic like many of the natural areas in the Midwest.

La Plata Peak (14,368 ft) as seen from Independence Pass, shadowed by clouds.

Even in July snow is able to survive well above tree line as seen in the foreground of this photo.  This view shows the eastern approach of Highway 82 as it climbs and switchbacks to the summit of Independence Pass.

A peak located immediately north of the summit of Independence Pass.

A view of a pond and surrounding alpine tundra environment immediately west of the Independence Pass summit.

Bluebells in the surrounding alpine tundra.

Although the conditions here are harsh - dry and very cold a majority of the year - the alpine tundra is able to show off a lush green landscape.