For a quick summer getaway, check out Aspen’s adventurous side

Although Aspen is known as a haven for the rich and famous, it’s also a spectacular playground for the adventurous, no matter the depth of one’s pocketbook. Here’s the perfect itinerary to maximize your fun during a long summer weekend in and around this high country town.

Take the scenic route to Aspen

Your adventure begins with a couple of stops as you drive over the Continental Divide on your way to town. Independence Pass (12,095 feet elevation at the summit) is one of the highest paved point-to-point roads in Colorado. (Trail Ridge Road and Cottonwood Pass are slightly higher in elevation.)

The pass road began as a trail for miners and pack animals and expanded by 1881 to a stage route connecting Aspen and Leadville. At the summit, make time for a quick hike to the scenic overlook or along one of the adjacent trails. (You can even tackle a couple of thirteeners from here.)

Plan to stop again at the small parking area about 3 miles west of the summit to explore Independence, a scenic ghost town.

In the late 1800s, Ashcroft, Aspen and Independence were booming mining towns. A prospector is said to have struck a rich vein of gold on July 4, 1879, prompting the name for the camp that had been known as Farwell, Chipeta, Sparkhill and other names that didn’t stick. In 1881 and 1882 the town’s population swelled to 1,500 and it boasted more than 40 stores. The mill processed more than $190,000 in gold in two years (about $5.34 million today).

By 1883, ore production dramatically dropped, and miners went in search of fortune elsewhere. Independence quickly turned into a shadow of itself and nearly every resident had left by 1900.

Walking to the remains of the town’s business district, you get a glimpse of what mining life was like at 10,830 feet. The setting is picturesque but life in Independence was tough because of its isolation and harsh weather. Even in summer it can be cold and windy here, so make sure you wear layers.

The ghost town is well preserved, thanks to the Aspen Historical Society. It’s a living history lesson. As you wander around and even into some of the old cabins and buildings, you can see rusted tin cans, bottles and other remnants of everyday life in the late 1800s.

The Farwell Mill is a half-mile from the business district. If you walk there from Independence you’ll follow the steps of miners, as the path was part of the road connecting Independence to Aspen and Ashcroft. You also can drive to a parking lot for the Farwell Mill.

There are trailheads on the west side of the pass with wonderful hikes if you need to stretch your legs, but plan to arrive in Aspen in time to join a downtown walking tour led by a docent from the Aspen Historical Society, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

There are many historic buildings in Aspen, and taking a guided tour is a fun way to learn the back stories. The oldest building, the Andres, dates to 1885. It was a haberdashery in the late 1800s and early 1900s and now houses Prada. I really enjoyed learning about Aspen’s re-invention from a mining town filled with fortune seekers to a world-class ski and outdoor destination during one of these tours.