Independence Pass (el. 3686 m./12,095 ft. ) is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. The pass is at the summit of the ridge of the Sawatch Range between Aspen and Leadville, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties and is located within the confines of the White River National Forest. The pass connects the upper valley of the Roaring Fork River upstream from Aspen with the headwaters of the Arkansas River near Leadville.