Entry No. 36 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: ghost town
Independence Ghost Town
Prospectors struck gold here on July 4, 1879, and within three years more than forty businesses — three saloons, four grocery stores, boarding houses — crowded a canyon shelf at 10,900 feet. The boom burned out by 1883 when the shallow ore pinched off; most residents drifted down to the silver bonanza in Aspen. The rump population of a few dozen finally fled in the winter of 1899 when record snowfall cut the supply roads and food ran out — they spent three days lashing together 75 pairs of skis from cabin planks and escaped en masse. What the Aspen Historical Society has stabilized includes a log-cabin general store, a stable, two boarding houses in various states of collapse, and the Farwell Stamp Mill used to crush ore, all connected by a short dirt path with interpretive signs.
The story
Prospectors hit gold on a high canyon shelf at 10,900 feet on July 4, 1879, and within three years over forty businesses rushed up the mountain to meet them. Three saloons, four grocery stores, and boarding houses jammed together along what is now CO-82. The bonanza was brief: by 1883 the shallow ore pinched out, and most of the town drifted down-valley to chase the silver strike in Aspen.
The few dozen holdouts who stayed behind met their end during the winter of 1899. Record snowfall buried the pass, cutting off supply roads until food ran out completely. Facing starvation, the remaining residents spent three days tearing wood planks off cabin walls to fashion 75 pairs of makeshift skis, then escaped down the mountain en masse.
What remains at the edge of the highway today has been stabilized by the Aspen Historical Society. A short dirt foot path winds past the timber shell of the general store, a stable frame, two collapsing boarding houses, and the heavy wood skeleton of the Farwell Stamp Mill, which once pounded gold out of high-country rock.
What it's like
Pull into the signed gravel lot on the south side of CO-82 roughly 16 miles east of Aspen, drop your suggested five-dollar donation into the honor box, and step onto the loop trail. At nearly 11,000 feet, the alpine air gets thin fast as you walk past silvered log walls sagging into the grass. Keep in mind that dogs are strictly forbidden on the townsite. For deeper context, time your trip for a summer Saturday afternoon when the Aspen Historical Society leads guided walks, then drive four miles further east to watch the light fade over the Elk Mountains from the Continental Divide.
The move: Drive Independence Pass on CO-82, stop at the roadside pullout 16 miles east of Aspen, and walk the trail through the mill and log cabins. The pass summit is four miles further east — sit on the Continental Divide above treeline and watch the light drain off the Elk Mountains.
📍 Before you go CO-82 over Independence Pass is closed from roughly late October through late May — CDOT opened it May 21 in 2026, but the date shifts with snowpack; check cotrip.org or call 511 before you go. The site is self-guided with no set hours; admission is a suggested $5 donation (honor system). Aspen Historical Society runs guided 1.5-hour tours on Saturdays at 1 pm from mid-June through early October — no reservation needed but confirm at aspenhistory.org. No dogs allowed on the townsite. Standard 2WD cars are fine on CO-82. From Grand Junction allow roughly 2.5 hours each way.
- 📍 Aspen
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: CO-82 (Independence Pass Road), approximately 16 miles east of Aspen, CO 81611 — signed roadside pullout on the south side of the highway
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Ashcroft Ghost Town — Pair Aspen's two great high-country ghost towns to compare Independence's quick gold bust with Ashcroft's sprawling silver remnants up Castle Creek.
- Smuggler Mine Tour — Follow the historic path of miners who abandoned Independence in 1883 down to Aspen, where Smuggler Mine tapped vast underground silver lodes.
- Ute Cemetery — Trace early mining history down into Aspen's pioneer burial ground, where late-1800s prospectors lie under pine-needle soil.
- Woody Creek Tavern — Trade cold alpine wind at 10,900 feet for direct heat and drinks inside a log-cabin watering hole down in the valley.
Good to know
When is Independence Ghost Town open?
Access depends on highway conditions. CO-82 over Independence Pass is closed by snow from roughly late October through late May; check cotrip.org or call 511 before driving up.
How much does it cost to visit?
It is self-guided with no set hours or ticket booths. Admission is a suggested $5 donation collected on an honor system.
Are dogs allowed at the townsite?
No. Dogs are prohibited at the Independence Ghost Town site to protect the historic structures and terrain.
How do I take a guided tour?
The Aspen Historical Society offers 1.5-hour guided walks on Saturdays at 1:00 PM from mid-June through early October. Reservations aren't required, but confirm dates at aspenhistory.org.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: aspenhistory.org · uncovercolorado.com · codot.gov · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-06-11