Independence Pass serves as the eastern gateway to the Roaring Fork Valley as well as an historic link between the Western Slope and communities on the Front Range of Colorado. Thousands of people—from Aspen locals to international visitors—travel over the Pass from its opening in May to its closing in the fall.

This unique mountain corridor is located almost entirely on publicly accessible  federal lands within the White River and Pike-San Isabel National Forests. The entire corridor is one of the most heavily used recreational areas in the Roaring Fork Valley.  Recreationists use

 the Pass for activities ranging from hiking and rock climbing in the summer months to cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months.

People with disabilities are among the travelers and recreationists who enjoy the Pass. The Aspen Braille Trail was built high up in the Independence Pass wilderness, at 10,400 feet, by a small band of Aspenites and White River Forest Service personnel. IPF founder Robert B. Lewis was the primary instigator of the trail.