At 7 p.m. Friday, Independence Pass on Colorado Highway 82 will close for the season.
The pass is a popular historic and scenic route between Aspen and Twin Lakes. It crosses over the Continental Divide and is the highest paved state highway in Colorado at 12,095 feet.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will close the gates on both sides of the pass at 7 p.m. Friday.
Independence Pass closes each year because the steep and narrow switchbacks are not safe for snow plow during the winter and sections of the road are exposed to "significant avalanche hazard," CDOT said.
In years past, the pass has closed on the following dates:
- 2011: Nov. 2
- 2012: Nov. 9
- 2013: Nov. 4
- 2014: Nov. 12
- 2015: Nov. 4
- 2016: Nov. 17
- 2017: Nov. 17
- 2018: Nov. 5
- 2019: Oct. 28
Drivers can instead take the alternate route to Aspen by driving Interstate 70 to Glenwood Springs, then taking Colorado Highway 82 to Aspen.
The pass typically reopens around Memorial Day, weather permitting.