Independence

Aspen


Just 16 miles east of Aspen, at the foot of Independence Pass, this gold-mining boom town turned ghost town started as a tented camp in the summer of 1879, when one lucky miner struck gold on the Fourth of July. Operated and preserved by the Aspen Historical Society, the site offers the chance to see the remains of the old livery, the general store and a miners cabin or three.

After its population peaked at 1500 residents, the town fell away during the harsh winter storm of 1899, when supply routes were severed due to heavy snowfall.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Aspen attractions

1. Ashcroft

11.03 MILES

The access point to the breathtaking Castle Creek Valley is the ghost town of Ashcroft, a silver-mining town founded in 1880. What remains are mostly…

2. Aspen Art Museum

12.67 MILES

This art museum's striking building features a warm, lattice-like exterior designed by Pritzker Prize–winner Shigeru Ban and contains three floors of…

3. Boesky West

12.67 MILES

Opened in 2017, this is the Western outpost of Marianne Boesky's Manhattan gallery, displaying the works of emerging artists over two floors.

4. Galerie Maximillian

12.7 MILES

Come here for famous 20th-century names from Chagall to Lichtenstein, mixed in with works from contemporary American and British artists.

5. Christopher Martin Gallery

12.75 MILES

Local artist Christopher Martin specializes in reverse glass painting, a technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. Stop by for a peek at his dynamic…

6. Baldwin Gallery

12.8 MILES

A two-floor gallery, the Baldwin opened in 1994 and specializes in contemporary American art. It's among the best in the Rocky Mountains.

7. Rio Grande Park

12.84 MILES

Aspen’s biggest public park runs along the river and is bisected by the Rio Grande Trail for 2.1 miles. The park is home to an enticing skate park,…

8. Peter Lik

12.84 MILES

Displays the work of the self-taught Australian photographer. Lik focuses on vibrant panoramic landscapes, with a fine selection of local Aspen shots that…

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