Best Places to Elope in Colorado
You’re likely here because you’re thinking of eloping in Colorado. There are endless gorgeous places to exchange your vows in Colorado that it can seem impossible to pick just one. But that’s where I come in!
I’ve lived in Colorado for ten years, and spend most of my time exploring stunning mountain ranges, towering waterfalls, glacial alpine lakes, sand dunes, wildflowers, and more—all in one place. Here are some of my favorite places for elopements, weddings, engagements, and more in Colorado!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Millions of visitors journey from around the world to visit this crown jewel of national parks—and for good reason. RMNP offers over 400 miles of jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and more. RMNP is also a great place to see wildlife (from a safe distance) and you might even get photobombed by a moose or elk!
Best Time: Year-Round, but Trail Ridge Road closes in late fall, which limits how much of the park you can visit
Permit Needed: Yes - and all elopement ceremonies must occur in designated spots
Closest Airport: Denver
Lodging: Estes Park, Lyons, Granby, Boulder
Pro Tip: Sunrise or sunset sessions at RMNP are the best when you can avoid the massive summer crowds!
Note: RMNP permits are limited and issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
Did you know Colorado is home to Great Sand Dunes National Park, which has the tallest sand dunes in North America! There are so many fun things to do at the sand dunes like sand boarding, hiking, etc. and they make a unique and exciting place to elope!
Best Time: Spring and Fall when the temperatures aren’t scorching!
Permit Needed: Yes
Closest Airport: Colorado Springs or Denver
Lodging: Alamosa
Pro Tip: You can camp on the dunes with a backcountry permit and sit and view the amazing night sky views right from your tent—let’s take some epic Milky Way photos!
Note: Rent a sandboard for an added adventure!
SAN JUAN MOUNTAIN RANGE - OURAY, TELLURIDE, ETC.
Nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado are the San Juan Mountains, one of the most stunning places to elope. The San Juans boast colorful peaks, glacial alpine lakes, wildflowers and endless waterfalls. This area of the state is also much less crowded than areas closer to Denver. My husband and I even eloped here!
Best Time: Summer, fall, late spring
Permit Needed: Depends on the spot, but not in most public forest lands
Closest Airport: Montrose or Telluride
Lodging: Telluride, Mountain Village, Ouray, Silverton
Pro Tip: There are a multitude of hikes to alpine lakes that boast otherworldly colors of bright blue and turquoise from the sediment deposits and glacial runoff. They are truly a bucket list item and amazing for your elopement photos.
Note: Book an off-road jeep tour so you can visit waterfalls, lakes, and towering peaks all in one day!
ASPEN
Aspen is a stunning location year-round and is famous for the Maroon Bells, two iconic Colorado peaks nestled above a small lake that boast millions of visitors each year. Photographers from all over come to photograph the Bells during peak season when the leaves turn a stunning gold color. During the winter when the road to the Maroon Bells is closed, you can hike or bike the road to experience the place in pure solitude.
Best Time: Year-Round, but the road to Maroon Bells closes in late October.
Permit Needed: For Maroon Bells, yes! For other areas, it depends on where you choose.
Closest Airport: Aspen/ Denver
Lodging: Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale
Pro Tip: You can rent out the Maroon Bells Amphitheater for your ceremony and book the shuttle back for your guests to the lodge for an after party! Cost: $200 and can be booked here.
Note: While the Maroon Bells are an iconic location, Aspen has plenty of other jaw-dropping spots without the crowds.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Summit County is home to some of the most popular ski resorts in all of Colorado: Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and A-Basin. There are stunning views of the Gore and the Ten Mile Ranges and elopements during winter are just as popular as summer ones! You can even have a skiing elopement! Because of its proximity to Denver, Summit County is one of the more popular areas to elope.
Best Time: Year-Round
Permit Needed: Depends on the locations, but national forest areas do not require a permit if your guest count is below the requirements.
Closest Airport: Denver
Lodging: Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon
Pro Tip: You can host your elopement ceremony at the top of Breckenridge, Keystone or Arapahoe Basin and ski down! Ask me about an adventure skiing elopement!
Note: The hiking in summit county is amazing and there are so many secluded hike-to locations for your elopement to choose from, but they can get busy. I recommend a weekday elopement whenever possible!
BOULDER COUNTY
Boulder is one of the most accessible locations for elopements with gorgeous mountains and within a 30-minute drive from Denver. Boulder sits at the base of the Indian Peaks Wilderness near Nederland, where there are gorgeous mountain peaks and plenty of alpine lakes right in the front range! Since Boulder is very popular, most spots will require a permit.
Best Time: Year-Round
Permit Needed: Yes, a commercial use permit is needed for most photography locations.
Closest Airport: Denver
Lodging: Boulder, Nederland
Pro Tip: You can host your elopement ceremony in the mountains, then head to one of the amazing restaurants in Boulder for a celebration!
Note: For a more secluded location, opt for a hike-to spot in the area rather than a walk-up or drive-up location.
CHOOSING THE BEST COLORADO ELOPEMENT LOCATION FOR YOU
It can be a super tough decision to choose one spot in Colorado’s multitude of stunning landscapes. That’s a large reason I recommend a full-day elopement—that way we can visit multiple locations, plan fun activities, and take in the scenery and the moment without feeling stressed for time. When it comes to choosing the location for your elopement, it’s important to choose a spot that really speaks to you. I will provide a comprehensive list of locations after our initial call that I feel fit your unique personalities and your vision for your photos.
Here are some additional considerations when choosing your Colorado elopement location:
Your elopement location should mean something to you. Even if you’re visiting from out of town and have no idea about locations in Colorado, I will ask what you like to do together, what your favorite adventures together have been, and together we can choose a location that speaks to you.
Consider seasons and weather. If you love alpine lakes, waterfalls and wildflowers, you’ll likely want to have your photo session during the summer. Many higher-elevation spots aren’t accessible in winter with road closures and deep snow. If your heart is set on a ski elopement, you’ll obviously want to choose a winter date! Choosing your season and date will help me put together locations that work for you!
Seclusion is another big consideration. If you love the idea of eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park, but hate crowds, I’ll likely try to suggest a different location with a similar feel. I strive to take my clients to secluded and off-the-beaten-path locations because exchanging vows with a crowd of strangers defeats the purpose of an intimate elopement and I want your day to be all about you! I also recommend things like a hike or a 4x4 guided tour so you can get to harder-to-access locations, which generally equates to less crowds!
Guest count should be taken into account for those inviting family and friends to their elopement or intimate wedding. If you are having people, you may want to consider a drive-up location that allows for bigger groups or book an outdoor location where a spot and seating is guaranteed.
The last big thing is deciding what activities you want to include on your elopement or wedding day. If you want to paddleboard, we need a lake. If you want to fish, we need a river or stream, and so on. The activities will also help us to narrow down potential locations.
There is truly no bad place to elope in Colorado. The hardest part is choosing, but that’s where I come in! If you’re ready to create your dream elopement, contact me today!