The winding, sometimes-precarious state highway Colorado 82 over Independence Pass opened for the season just before noon Friday.
Crews finished avalanche mitigation on the 12,095-foot pass connecting Twin Lakes and Aspen over the Continental Divide, according to a post on X by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
The 30-mile stretch of roadway offers plenty of hiking, camping, breathtaking views and even a ghost town.
Independence Pass usually closes for the season in early November and reopens around Memorial Day.
The highway’s narrow, winding roads and steep grades mean oversize and overweight vehicles, including any over 35 feet, are banned from using the pass.
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