Colorado · Rock climbing · Aspen

Independence Pass

Independence Pass in Colorado has 26 climbing routes with 22 difficulty grades.

26 routes
V0 – V10-11
Bouldering · Sport · Trad

Is Independence Pass open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White River National Forest. It doesn't name Independence Pass, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Independence Pass

Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    31° / 3°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    33° / 3°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    39° / 9°

    8 wet

  4. Apr

    44° / 18°

    8 wet

  5. May

    55° / 27°

    9 wet

  6. Jun

    68° / 34°

    9 wet

  7. Jul

    73° / 39°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    70° / 38°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    62° / 31°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    51° / 23°

    6 wet

  11. Nov

    39° / 14°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    31° / 6°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sugarloaf Rsvr, CO, 18.8 mi away at 9,738 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Independence Pass is a climbing area in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, part of the Aspen Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 73°F with lows near 39°F, and September highs around 62°F. That station sits about 1,000 feet below the pass, so temperatures up high run cooler. Sunset Cliff and the Ptarmigan Creek Area are both about 0.4 miles away. Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground is about a mile off, and Weller Campground is about 2.3 miles away.

Routes (26)

Diehard Cliff(1)

Obtuse Corner5.8

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Lincoln Creek CliffPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lincoln Creek Cliff

~1 min drive

Lincoln Creek Cliff in Colorado has 15 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades.

Sunset CantinaPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sunset Cantina

~1 min drive

Sunset Cantina in Colorado has 5 climbing routes across 2 difficulty grades.

Campground RockPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Campground Rock

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Campground Rock in Colorado has 5 routes ranging from moderate to hard, offering bouldering pads, mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

Jungle Wall

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Jungle Wall in Colorado has 9 climbing routes, grades 5.10 to 5.13a, sport and trad.

Ptarmigan Creek Area

~1 min drive

Ptarmigan Creek Area in Colorado has 7 sport climbing routes.

Squawk Rock

~1 min drive

Squawk Rock in Colorado has 5 sport climbing routes on 4 difficulty grades.

Powerline

~1 min drive

Powerline in Colorado has 7 sport climbing routes across 5 grades.

Upper Bulldog Cliff

~1 min drive

Upper Bulldog Cliff in Colorado has 14 sport climbing routes across 8 grades.

Turkey Rock

~1 min drive

Turkey Rock in Colorado has 9 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Upper Boulderfield Area

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