Independence Pass (State Route 82): Colorado Motorcycle Rides

Motorcycle Roads Home > Colorado Motorcycle Roads

Title: Independence Pass (State Route 82)

State: Colorado

Submitted By: Nitro

Date Submitted: May 05

Motorcycle Type: 1981 CB900F

Motorcycle Road Length: 40 Miles

Motorcycle Road Scenery:

Typical dense forest at the lower elevations with endless switchbacks. Ghost town of Independence near the top of the pass. Breath taking views of the famous Maroon Bells area of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Independence Pass crests at 12,095 feet so you know you'll be taking in some great views of the Rockies!!! River canyons to ride in and lots of pullouts to take pics!

Motorcycle Road Quality:

Road is narrow and steep! Expect endless switchbacks, sharp curves, extreme drop off's and very narrow roads at different spots! Even down to one lane in some areas, so believe the warning signs!!!

Motorcycle Roadside Amenities:

Basically Twin Lakes area on the East end and Aspen on the West. Not much in between, but who cares! You will be busy holding on!!

Directions:

      There are a couple different ways you can get to the starting point for this route.
      - You can access this route from the west by just getting to Aspen and heading East out of town on state route 82!
      - If you're coming from the east (ex. Denver) you can just take I-70 west into the mountains and exit onto state route 24 right around Vail, CO. Take s.r. 24 past Leadville and look for the signs to Twin Lakes, CO and state route 82. Take 82 West to/through Independence Pass and on to Aspen.

Photo contributed by a visitor in July 09: "Independence Pass"

Photo contributed by a visitor in July 09: "just before the pass"

Photo contributed by a visitor in July 09: "This picture was taken July 2009."

Photo contributed by a visitor in Oct 09: "a view from Hwy 82 east of Aspen."

Photo contributed by a visitor in Oct 09: "Independence Pass in mid-September 2009 ."

Photo contributed by a visitor in Oct 09: "What a great road, a little cool at the top, even in August."

Additional Information:

      *** If you like the Beartooth or Trail Ridge Road, you will love this one! You won't find many cages on this route!

      - View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather.

Untitled Document

Visitor contributed pictures or videos

Click here to add a picture or video
	Do you have any pictures of this area? Contribute a photo and show other riders what they’ll see along the way.			Have you ever filmed video along this ride or in the area? Contribute the video and show riders what the area looks like.

Comments page 1 of 0

Click here to add a rating and/or comment

Your Name:

Motorcycle Information:

Year (yyyy) Make Type

Survey questions to help us serve you better (this information will NOT be displayed with your comment):

Gender Your age State

Route rating:

Image verification:

Comment / Addition / Update:

MotorcycleRoads.com reserves the right to edit or delete the information submitted. If you do contribute/submit content, material, photos, etc, you grant MotorcycleRoads.com and its affiliates a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display such content throughout the world in any media. You grant MotorcycleRoads.com and its affiliates and sublicensees the right to use the name that you submit in connection with such content, if they choose.

Laurie - 2006 Honda

Posted 737 days ago

You will love this route we took it this month 08/08 - We were at the highest peak about 14,000 - and there was still some snow in August. The twisties are so much fun! Well worth traveling on.

Was this comment helpful? Yes | No

Ron/Keiko - 2005 Harley-Davidson

Posted 737 days ago

We made the trip on a Sunday in late July (East-West). The roads were very good with spectacular views. Aspen was picturesque; unfortunately traffic back into Denver on 70 was terrible. Recommend not taking 70 on late Sunday afternoons.

Was this comment helpful? Yes | No

<1>