The mountain highway that provides a shorter scenic route to and from Aspen is closed for the season.
Independence Pass closed for the winter Monday after a snow storm that moved across Colorado dropped several inches of snow on the pass.
It's the road's earliest closing since 2011 when the gates closed on Nov. 2. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the road usually closes in early to mid-November.
Department spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes says plowing crews had trouble keeping up with the road conditions.
The road typically reopens for the summer around Memorial Day depending on how much snow there is to clear.
