colorado independence pass originally known high mountain pass rocky_mountains central colorado united_states elevation pass midway border lake counties traverses process reaching highest elevation paved colorado state highway road pass south second highest pass improved road state fourth highest paved road state highest paved crossing heavy snowfall elevation closed direct access east ski season pass open warmer weather popular destination scenic near pass allows visitors alpine environment offers excellent views east colorado highest peak second highest mountain united_states rock drawn nearby opportunities informal paths lead nearby mountain higher elevation use slopes late spring early summer pass route pass formed glacial action erosion region recorded sighting surveyed limit european settlement region time land west reserved people defied governor order crossed pass july giving current setting similarly named village ghost town west toll road built pass abandoned neglected railroad connection new road replaced 1920s portions old route seen western approach based works repair damage pass environment caused roads geography pass main ridge continental divide turns running generally south southwesterly north pass slopes rise unnamed foot peak half mile away ridge length connects nearest named summit foot peak south ridge rises gently mountain boy unnamed foot summit miles distant named summit direction colorado highest terrain level ridge broad allow foot parking lot south highway height land pass split evenly lake counties national forests boundaries collegiate peaks wilderness mount massive wilderness near pass south north respectively nearby west parking area small maintenance shed east toilet facilities maintained paved walkway system extends pair feet south allowing views direction valley feet highest peak colorado rocky_mountains state fifth highest peak wide dirt path continues southward miles ridge unnamed foot summit road use path leads miles unnamed peak pass comes roughly middle mile stretch highway winter gates corridor referred entirety miles west miles east highway continues valley mouth east twin lakes highway continues short distance eastern terminus highway miles south approaches steep highway require grade west east approach uses narrow valley fork river tributary colorado rises west pass walls shallower drains east pass tree line surrounding terrain alpine open grassy occasionally broken low bare patches rock particularly steep slope north snow areas year round adjacent road parking area small pools southwest larger permanent north road history like surrounding mountains pass created erosion thousands years european american settlers arrived territory tribe earliest sightings european american mapping southern boundary spotted gap later named upper valley explored team surveyed time known years later colorado state time settlement pushed far west capital denver variety metals minerals surrounding mountains miners rich claims successful heard reports abundant silver deposits west divide governor ordered settlers stay east divide state federal governments peace defied order drawn prospect mining fortunes settlers hunter pass early camp castle creek preferred southern route slightly higher taylor park mile journey miles direct route offered july group struck gold fork valley pass miles west established settlement upper fork valley eventually took independence holiday established pass lake rises nearby mountain took twin lakes established build road camps lower improved original path pass sufficiently horses trip independence grew quickly gold found nearby mountains years settlement permanent buildings replaced original tents mining concern bought claims years produced gold worth million modern dollars funding construction mill valley silver found greater abundance independence gold early investor mines funded construction stage road road cross pass opened november winter swing pass road charged cents modern dollars saddle horses twice axle tolls collected separate gates primarily reflected cost retaining large crew men snow road open able road open winters snow deep instead summer stages able speed dogs running advance warn traffic typical voyage pass required hours changes horses road improved independence economy coaches stopped multi day journey year construction turn settlement economic peak year gold production dropped independence decline population remote location severe high altitude winters cost opportunity seat newly formed located larger plain river growing rapidly rail connection city stage road fell hurting independence economy remaining residents group improvised cross country severe winter remained nearby named prosperity congress repealed silver purchase act response took largest buyer city silver market began period steady decline known today quiet years mines gradually closed route pass remained useful telephone line routed population dropped thousand late 1920s state replaced stage road eventually highway unlike stage road closed winter months old route new road portion original grade remains miles pass east includes foundation house remains gate great depression large public works project involved pass federal oversaw construction diverted water southern tributary irrigation purposes farmers areas starting acre feet million available way effort recognized pass scenic attraction travel automobile touring produced gave route trip highway noted distinctive landscape pass highway rises series loops curves continental divide fight existence way bare hardy grasses alpine vegetation world clouds road sheer face mountain steep traversing pass colorado stone monument small lakes mark summit highest probably impressive automobile pass state arctic overshadowed rises far peaks high viewed valley world war began grow establishment popular ski resort annual music festival relaxed lifestyle attracted celebrities corporate executives city visitors generally highway fly wanted drive pass road paving road pass designated colorado scenic state federal departments transportation environment alpine pass extends elevation approximately feet altitude lake western crossing zone pine spruce fir dominate forest patches trees persist elevation tree growth patches curtailed alpine climate pass characterized severe changes temperature high winds deep winter snow resulting short growing season shorter thin soil predominant plant species alpine zone pass grass species adapted harsh climate alpine flora moss rocks season appearances shrubs survive include birch animals alpine zone include small species like pocket mountain goats types rock found pass vicinity forms cliffs dates recently years ago rock point slippery visitor attractions visitors stop parking lot walk paved path scenic clear weather offers views east colorado highest peak state fifth highest feet west mountain stand mountains trail plaques available visually impaired visitors outdoor recreation opportunities exist near pass pass difficult miles east popular rock climbing areas grades wall frequent destination closer pass instant cliff dome pair rocks highway east approach pass popular spots days pass spring advantage remaining snow slopes years following heavy winters skiing possible july water based recreation available near pass particularly climbing cliffs miles west pass short trail leads area river known devil high stone cliffs popular swimming hole deep cool waters river popular casting trout pass lake trout stocks miles west pass site independence village establishment july led pass current ghost town early 20th century listed national_register_of_historic_places buildings building supplies log remain conjunction built trail plaques bicycle race colorado held time mile stage routed independence passes spectators allowed camp pass impact pass environment led ban camping miles following year event posted signs reminding spectators pass surrounding travel advisories restrictions use highway pass significant winter closure road typically closed significant winter snowfall november latest tries reopen memorial day weekend late traditional beginning summer united_states accumulated melted possible clear repair road years light winters pass reopened early gates east west end west remaining buildings stage stop east prevent motor vehicles passage road closed isolated east highway valley access city busy ski season pass open vehicles use road overweight vehicles prohibited pass vehicles vehicle combinations longer feet regardless weight size use pass tractor trailers buses recreational vehicles truck drivers use pass despite prohibition generally unaware restriction following routes plotted gps devices aware willing risk fine sake time distance saved resulting accidents forced closure pass larger signs advising drivers ban worked gps device manufacturers software notes restriction officials suggested increasing fines driving pass challenging approaches require grades height pass require navigating turns speed limits mph particularly approach narrowed sections single lane feet wide temporary traffic lights twin lakes approach resulted temporary vehicles frequently enter road unexpectedly parking areas recreational attractions frequent use highway lastly weather pass unpredictable vary considerably conditions thunderstorms clear days snow occur time year advises coming pass outdoor recreation precautions effects high altitude weather days stage road forced highway partly massive disturbance land road construction attempt remedy shortly automobile road built 1930s relief project great depression crew slopes independence abandoned decades time faded mining town population fewer thousand later decade efforts develop ski resort began continued world war later decades 20th century city began grow paving road unable undertake significant improvements highway corridor projects state requirement coordinate efforts owns damaged land beginning environmental activist organized efforts sections pass near road having erosion problems realized eventually dedicated nonprofit organization better way address issues remained established project coordinated reconstruction curve near popular success project cleared way work cut mile stretch summit western includes seriously eroded slopes pass corridor lewis intended focus efforts organization began ongoing projects work included construction stone retaining walls 2010s results evident success projects projects road cut blankets applied large sections soil replace lost nutrients foundation began removing metal snow fences embedded soil pass summit 1960s abortive project increase capture aesthetic environmental problem removed team helicopters wilderness area restrictions fence material removed undertaken projects promote awareness work needs pass protect distinctive environment groups local schools spent day pass working learning adopted sites work new class year foundation independence day walking tour pass adults covers ecological topics depth pass foundation holds popular ride pass charity bicycle race serves major outreach event fundraiser follows mile route gate east independence climbing feet process canceled twice poor weather
Independence Pass (Colorado)