Colorado
Great American Drive: Independence Pass, Colorado
The 32-mile Independence Pass is an essential American experience for its majesty, jaw-dropping scenery and “Let’s pull over and take another 100 selfies.” It’s open now through October, and closed to traffic in winter.
ASPEN, CO – AUGUST 22: Tom Danielson of the USA riding for Garmin-Sharp leads out Francisco Jarley … [+]
Part of Colorado State Highway 82, Independence Pass is 12,095 feet above sea level and the highest paved pass in North America. Depending on your driving habits, it takes anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes to twist around groves of sublimely beautiful aspen trees and the Roaring Fork River.
It’s narrow, it’s steep enough to make you queasy and it’s twisty as corkscrew pasta, with few guardrails. It’s safe, however, if you take it easy and use common sense. There’s camping for a fee at most places, but it’s offered free along Lincoln Creek Road. Numerous hiking opportunities abound, naturally. But you can also pull off, walk a short distance and picnic near streams, or sit and contemplate and forget the madding crowd. Take your trash, please.
Independence Pass mountain landscape, continental divide in Colorado, USA.
The drive from Denver’s around 142 miles and should take approximately three hours depending on traffic and your driving habits. You can either pop out on the Aspen side and spend the night there, or, if you haven’t had your fill, just turn around and do the pass again.
Helpful things to know
*Oversize and overweight vehicles are prohibited at all times due to the narrowness of the roads in different sections. Don’t try to do it in your RV, in other words.
*Cell phone service is more or less non-existent on Independence Pass, so be sure to download any map you consult so it can be seen off-line. That said, first-timers can just follow the road and you’ll get to the other side from either direction. You just won’t be able to determine “Are we there yet?” until you’re there.
*The best times to drive as far as road conditions and ideal hiking are June, July and August. Because of the mountainous terrain, you’re more than likely to come across snow as late as the latter part of May. Check road conditions beforehand. And drive a snow-worthy vehicle – leave your MX5 or Volkswagen Beetle at home. The pass is full of hairpin turns you’ll want to do when the weather is mild.
The author, Independence Pass
*You can visit as late as October but by that time, the fall colors will be finished and it’ll be like watching “The Wizard Of Oz” in black and white. It’s still fun but you won’t get the full, majestic, soul-stirring experience. The last week of September is usually a good bet to experience the explosion of rich color the pass is known for.
*Bring a jacket no matter what time of year you go. Colorado is known for its bipolar weather. It can be 70 degrees and sunny at noon and 40 degrees at 4 PM.
UPDATE: SUNDAY 4/19/2026 7:12 p.m.
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Northbound Powers Boulevards is back open at Palmer Park Boulevard, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). However, the center and right northbound lanes as well as the right turn lane remain closed south of Constitution Avenue. Law enforcement asked the community to avoid the area if possible, and drive carefully.
ORIGINAL STORY: CSPD: Major crash closes northbound Powers
The northbound lanes of Powers Boulevard are closed at Palmer Park Boulevard for a major crash at Powers and Constitution as of 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). Drivers are asked to avoid the area.
According to FOX21 News crew who spoke to an officer at the scene, the crash involved at least two cars and two motorcycles, and multiple people have been taken to the hospital.
Multiple agencies are responding, according to the FOX21 News crew, and the Major Crash Unit may be called in. Reports indicate that no one has died as of 5:30 p.m.
Former Colorado Buffaloes stars Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak announced their transfer portal decisions on Sunday with Rancik committing to Florida State and Dak committing to Vanderbilt, per On3’s Joe Tipton. They join former Buffs guard Isaiah Johnson (now at Texas) as the third former Colorado player to leave the Big 12 conference as Rancik opts for the ACC and Dak heads to the SEC.
The trio of Johnson, Rancik, and Dak make up three of Colorado’s four most productive players with rising senior guard Barrington Hargress, and the Buffs are now tasked with replacing such production with Hargress as the only returner.
Rancik’s season ended prematurely with an injury, but he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Buffs. Dak was Colorado’s leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per game, scoring 11.5 points per contest as well.
While each player has his respective reasons for transferring, the most expected ones are for seeking better NIL deals or more development on a better team in a better league. The Buffs finished 12th in the Big 12, and the allure of the SEC was too strong for the program to hold onto key talent like Johnson and Dak.
Still, Colorado coach Tad Boyle proved his ability to recruit and build up a solid core, one that saw its headliners of Johnson, Dak, and Rancik all depart in the portal. Can he do it again?
Colorado Buffaloes Roster Outlook
Boyle and the Buffaloes did retain Hargress as well as three freshmen guards: Jalin Holland, Ian Inman, and Josiah Sanders.
As a freshman, Holland averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as one of Colorado’s key pieces coming off of the bench. Meanwhile, Sanders appeared in 33 games as a constant presence in the Buffs backcourt, averaging 4.4 points and 1.7 assists per game.
Inman played the fewest minutes of the returning trio, but he flashed with a couple of double-digit scoring performances as a true freshman.
“When I think of those three together, I think of toughness. I think of the improvement they made over the course of the season and the togetherness they have. They’re great friends and have formed a bond during their freshman year. Their toughness, energy and work ethic, when you have those attributes to go along with talent, which they all have, you get a chance to have three really good sophomores next year that will take the next step,” Boyle said in a release announcing the return of the three freshmen.
With eight outgoing transfers to replace, the Buffaloes will certainly have a new look to them for the 2026-27 season.
Colorado has landed one transfer portal prospect so far in former North Dakota State foward Noah Feddersen. On the recruiting trail, Boyle and company are bringing in four-star forward Rider Portela as well as two prospects from the NBL in Australia: forward Goc Malual and guard Alex Dickeson.
The transfer portal for men’s college basketball closes on Tuesday, April 21, meaning players have to enter their names by then. Transfer athletes do not have to commit before the portal closes, though, so Colorado is expected to continue hosting prospects on visits while building out the roster.
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