This route connects Colorado’s capital metropolis with a famend mountain resort city. The journey sometimes entails traversing Interstate 70 westward earlier than transitioning onto state highways. Relying on the particular route chosen, vacationers may encounter Independence Cross, a high-altitude scenic byway, or Cottonwood Cross, a barely decrease elevation various. The journey time can range primarily based on street situations and chosen route, typically taking between 4 to 5 hours.
The connection between these two places facilitates entry to leisure actions, together with snowboarding, mountain climbing, and cultural occasions. It helps the economies of each communities by way of tourism and commerce. Traditionally, this route developed alongside the expansion of Aspen from a mining city to a world-class vacation spot, and displays the event of Colorado’s transportation infrastructure.
