10 Best Places to Elope in Colorado (Updated for 2022)!
Colorado is one of the most popular elopement destinations in the world, and for good reason! The state has some of the most elopement-friendly marriage laws, and the landscape is ripe with opportunity to capture stunning mountain backdrops. It can be overwhelming to choose a spot to say your wedding vows, so I put together a list of the best places to elope in Colorado. This list will be updated as I visit more places!
Don’t forget – If you are eloping or getting married in Colorado, please research and get the appropriate permit/access and practice “Leave No Trace” principles.
Help keep mother nature as you found her.
Here are the 10 best places to elope in Colorado, with a short summary of what you’ll need to know before you go:
1.) Rocky Mountain National Park
Photography Permit: Yes! Click HERE for more information.
Hiking: Yes and No! There are many locations within RMNP to take photos. The ceremony locations are accessible by vehicle but you can hike further for bride and groom portraits if you obtain written permission from the park.
Season: Year Around (many areas of the park are not accessible during the winter)
Rocky Mountain National Park is a varied, gorgeous, and memorable landscape for an elopement. It is also extremely popular, and you’ll want to ensure you’ve attained the correct permits and choose a date or time when fewer people are crowding the popular viewpoints. The park limits the amount of ceremonies to 6 per day, so spots tend to book up quickly. Do not wait to obtain your permit if you plan to elope here! As of 2020, the park is only accepting a limited number of weddings and elopements on an annual basis.
2.) Great Sand Dunes National Park
Photography Permit: Yes! Click HERE for more information.
Hiking: Yes! While there aren’t many established trails in this park, you won’t want to miss the chance to hike out into the dunes.
Season: Year Around (that winter wind is COLD)
Great Sand Dunes is the least stereotypically “Colorado” destination on this list. Massive dunes are a far cry from the green forests and snowy peaks this state is known for. While the photos may look like a hot desert, the dunes get cold in the winter and you’ll want to prepare for the season as you would any Colorado elopement. It’s an incredibly unique environment, but be prepared to find sand in all your nooks and crevices for days after! In my opinion, this is definitely one of the best places in Colorado to elope, and I highly suggest this location for the beautiful sunsets!
3.) Lake Isabelle near Nederland
NOTE: AS OF 2020 A RESERVATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE. YOU MUST HAVE A RESERVATION IN ADVANCE TO ENTER THE PARK! More information can be found at this link.
Photography Permit: No! However, there is an entrance fee in order to make a reservation and park – read more HERE.
Hiking: Yes! This trail is 4.4 miles round-trip and rated as moderate difficulty. Be sure to park at the parking lot for Long Lake/Lake Isabelle. If you park at Brainard lake you will add a little bit of walking to your overall mileage.
Season: Mid-June to Mid-October (sometimes early November). There is a winter trail but it adds several miles.
Lake Isabelle is a perfect early-summer hike to a mirror lake! If you’re looking for an elopement with a little more adventure, this is definitely one of the best places to elope in Colorado. The lake is framed by Niwot Ridge, which boasts two thirteen’r peaks in the background. The lake itself is actually a reservoir that gets drained in late August, so the water levels will be significantly lower in late-summer. The parking area at the trailheads tends to get VERY busy during the summer, and I highly recommend this spot for a sunrise elopement due to the lighting and amount of traffic. The parking lot tends to fill up before 730AM on weekends. PS – This is one of my favorite sunrise hikes in Colorado and I wish I could hike it more often. Well worth the early wake up call!
4.) Maroon Bells near Aspen
Photography Permit: Yes! Click HERE for more information.
Hiking: Yes and no! It is a very short walk from the parking lot to Maroon Lake where you have a stunning view of Maroon Peak. There are plenty of options for hiking no matter what your skill level is.
Season: Typically June to October
Maroon Bells isn’t the place to go during peak season if you want privacy.. I kid you not, I visited the Maroon Bells on a weekday in early October at 5:30AM and shared the views with 50 other travelers. Obviously there is a reason this place is so popular – The views are stunning and very accessible by driving or shuttle. It is in fact one of the most photographed mountain ranges in Colorado! Those who want to go for a longer hike will be able to find some space for themselves even during the summer months. The US Forest Service manages a small amphitheater, but plan ahead! These spots are typically reserved for at least a year in advance, are not rentable on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and come with an additional fee.
5.) Guanella Pass near Georgetown
Photography Permit: No!
Hiking: Maybe! One-way hikes take you into the mountains around the pass, or you can choose to witness the view an easy walk from the parking lot.
Season: Typically Memorial Day – November
Guanella Pass is beautiful in the summer, but fall is when this place bursts with color! The drive up winds through bright gold forests and expansive fields. This location is multi-faced and accessible for couples looking to view the mountains and expansive Colorado valleys during their elopement.
6.) Mt. Evans near Idaho Springs
Photography Permit: Yes! Click HERE for more information.
Hiking: Yes! While the view from the parking lot is also stunning, it is a .25 mile hike to the summit. It is rated as “easy” but consider the altitude before attempting.
Season: May – October
Mt. Evans is a fourteener and probably not the first choice for couples coming from sea level. However, it is one of the most accessible mountain peaks above 14 thousand feet, with a road that takes you only a few hundred feet from the summit. For those who can handle high elevations, this is an extremely accessible alpine location. Keep in mind the weather can be extremely unpredictable. I have seen it snow in the middle of July at the summit
7.) Loveland Pass near Dillon
Photography Permit: No (however a wedding permit may be required, be sure to check with the White River National Forest – Dillon Ranger District. Email is best).
Hiking: Yes and no. There are 2 main locations on Loveland Pass to stop: Loveland Pass Lakes and Loveland Pass Summit. Loveland Pass lakes will not be accessible during the winter, while the top of the summit is open year around as long as the road is open. There is a hike at the top of the summit that runs along the ridge. On a windier day it would be better to visit the lakes and explore the short hiking trail that runs along multiple small alpine lakes. Be sure to stay on trail!
Season: Summer recommended, but typically accessible year around.
Whether you want to hike to the summit of a thirteen’r, or simply marvel in the views a short walk from the car, Loveland Pass is one of the more accessible locations on this list. It is also very popular location, and you’ll want to either plan for a bit of hiking or arrive on a less popular day to find some space to yourselves. If you choose this as your Colorado elopement location, then I recommend choosing a backup location nearby in case of road closure, high winds or dangerous weather.
8.) Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs
Photography Permit: No!
Hiking: Yes and no! Wheelchair accessible areas are available such as Central trail. There are 6 hiking trails available for exploration at Garden of the Gods. The park is free to enter, but parking can be limited.
Season: Spring and summer recommended, but typically accessible year around.
This stunning park right outside of Colorado springs boasts unique mountain views of the nearby 14’er, Pike’s Peak. I highly suggest visiting this park around sunrise or sunset for best lighting. There are 6 ceremony locations within the park that you can get married at for absolutely free. Just note these spots are on a first come, first serve basis. I wrote an entire guide on how to elope here! For more information, visit the link below.
9.) Brainard Lake Recreation Area near Nederland
Photography Permit: A photography/special use permit is not required, however you will need a reservation to enter Brainard Lake Recreation Area. As of 2021, the reservation costs $12 per vehicle, and I recommend making your reservations ASAP. More information can be found at this link
Hiking: You can access the shores of Brainard Lake with a short 4 to 5 minute walk from the parking lot. There is plenty of space to spread out and have an intimate ceremony, but it’s important you’re careful not to trample any foliage.
Season: You can only access Brainard Lake during the summer and fall months. Typically late June – October.
Brainard Lake is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, just like Lake Isabelle! Which makes the park even better, as you could spend multiple days just exploring the other nearby lakes. Boulder is just a 45 minute drive, and Nederland is about 25 minutes if you’re looking for closer lodging.
The lake itself sits at 10,300 feet, so it’s likely you may see snow on the mountains well into July. From the ceremony location you’ll have Brainard Lake in the background right at your feet with Mt. Audubon, a 13,200 foot mountain, in the background with multiple other 12,000 foot peaks! Parking has been plentiful since the reservation system was put into place, but I still highly recommend opting for a weekday at this location to avoid crowds.
10.) Local Secrets & Backcountry Locations
This is the best category – Want to find the best spots to elope in Colorado? Hire a specialized elopement photographer (like me), to help you find the perfect location! There’s nothing like having the place all to yourself and not having to step around other explorers. Believe it or not, the trails in Colorado can get pretty busy depending on your location. Tell me your wants and your needs and I will help you find the perfect location.
I live in Colorado, and spend a lot of time exploring. You tell me exactly what you’re looking for, and I put together a 30 – 40 page location guide with 6 – 10 locations that fit your specs! Then you choose your favorite and we move on with planning your custom elopement timeline.
Here are a few amazing locations I've scouted for my couples:
I hope that helps you narrow down your list if you’re still trying to figure out the best places to elope in Colorado!
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8 thoughts on “10 Best Places to Elope in Colorado (Updated for 2022)!”
This is such helpful info for planning an elopement in Colorado! And your photos are grogeous too!
Those are my favo spots! Love colorado so much for all beau spots we can play in!
Colorado is such a gorgeous location for an elopement! Love the colors in your photos!
Wow , my favourite are dunes! Feels like Sahara
REally great tips here!
Some great tips and advice here for newly engaged couples planning to elope in Colorado! These 7 top locations are truly stunning, but my favorite is the sand dunes national park. Maybe because it reminds me a bit of the desert. No doubt, when it comes to colorado elopements you are the true expert elopement photographer!
Great article for the best places to elope in Colorado!
This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing this, Colorado is such an amazing place to elope!