Ride for the Pass is a charity bike race/recreational ride benefiting the Independence Pass Foundation's work on the Pass. Held in May the Saturday before the road opens to automobiles, the Ride attracts hundreds of competitive and recreational riders every year. The Ride follows the traditional route from the Winter Gate, four miles east of Aspen, Colorado, to the Independence Ghost Town approximately 10 miles east up Highway 82 on Independence Pass. The Ride gains approximately 2,500 feet of elevation, from 8,550 feet to 11,100 feet, over the 9.5-mile route.