You’ve started planning your Colorado elopement, and it’s time to pick an epic location! Colorado is home to a variety of landscapes. From high alpine lakes to mountain views, forests, and deserts — the best places to elope in Colorado are full of natural beauty. We know that choosing an elopement location in Colorado is not an easy task because the options are endless. So that’s where we come in! Hugo and I are lucky enough to call Colorado our home. We’ve spent so much time exploring here over the years and have stumbled upon a lot of the hidden gems this state has to offer. I want to share them with you! If you need help choosing that perfect spot, contact us, and let us help you narrow down the perfect spot!
If you and your partner are looking to elope in Colorado Springs, look no further than Garden of the Gods! It’s another unique and popular location on my list of best places to elope in Colorado. We highly recommend eloping here on a weekday because it can get crowded, especially in the Summer months. Incredible red rock formations have created structures such as Balanced Rock, Three Graces, Siamese Twins, and more! You’ll also have a view of Pikes Peak!
Permit Required: No.
Best Time To Visit: Year-Round
Rocky Mountain has to be one of our favorite locations for elopements! Although they have only 12 designated locations where you can legally have your ceremony, the park offers an array of picture-worthy options. Some of our favorite spots are alpine lakes. In Summer and Fall, Dream Lake and Lake Haiyaha are beautiful!
Another great location is Trail Ridge Road — a high mountain pass that offers 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains (and Wyoming on a clear day). Although you can’t get married on Trail Ridge Road – It’s totally worth the daring drive. Imagine being 12,183 feet high with the love of your life on your elopement day!
Permit Required: Yes. The cost of a commercial use permit for elopements, weddings, and vow exchanges is $300. A single session permit is only needed if you’re doing a portrait session. Both can be applied for online.
Best Time To Visit: Year-Round
Twin Lakes is one of the coolest hikes in Colorado. You and your partner can hike along the first lake amongst an evergreen and aspen forest. After a few miles, you’ll stumble upon a second lake that has breathtaking mountain views. Both lakes have perfect “Colorado beach” areas, great for picnics. Couples can also kayak or paddleboard to add some more adventure to this elopement location! I'm partial to the otherworldliness of this location and even wrote a quick article about it!
Permit Required: No permit is required as long as the elopement is limited to the couple, elopement photographer & elopement videographer.
Best Time To Visit: Year-round
The hike to Lake Isabelle starts by Brainard Lake. It’s an 8.6-mile trail rated as moderate. This hike features 3 lakes: Brainard Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Isabelle. If you and your partner are up for a longer hike, Isabelle Glacier is just down the trail from Lake Isabelle. Although the hike is rated as moderate, we would say it’s more on the easy side! Couples have also agreed after they’ve eloped here with us!
Permit Required: It depends. Make sure you contact the Boulder Ranger District before any elopement takes place at this location.
Best Times To Visit June – October. You can snowshoe to this trail in Winter, but you do add the mileage from the road closure to Brainard Lake.
Midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, this is another great highway pass elopement location. At 12,905ft, it’s 32 miles long with scenic views of aspen trees, mountains, rivers, and valleys. There are many hiking trails to pull off at along this pass, as well as camping spots and a ghost town! I love Independence Pass so much, I wrote an article on why you should elope there! (Hint, it's because of the awe-inspiring photos!)
Permit Required: It depends. Make sure you contact local authorities for the location you choose to elope in.
Best Time To Visit: May – October
Brainard Lake is a super accessible area that can accommodate guests with wheelchairs and other accessibility needs. A parking lot is conveniently located right next to Brainard Lake, so it can get very busy at times. The lake is a gorgeous spot for Fall colors and Summer sunsets.
Permit Required: It depends. Make sure you contact the correct Forest Service District for more information.
Best Times To Visit: June – Mid-October. You can hike down the road from the Winter lot when the main road is closed.
Grand Lake is another beautiful spot on my list of best places to elope in Colorado adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. It's a beautiful little town on the shore of the largest lake in Colorado. The lake is surrounded by amazing mountain views, great campsites, and endless recreational activities. I actually wrote an entire article about Grand Lake Here!
Permit Required: None if the ceremony is under ten people.
Best Time To Visit: Year-Round
Silver Dollar Lake is a moderate 4.1-mile trail that features three lakes and amazing, high alpine scenery. It’s also another dog-friendly location on my list of best places to elope in Colorado. So, you and your partner can bring your furry friends along for your elopement! If you’re not used to high altitudes, it may be worth noting that this hike starts at over 11,000ft. Silver Dollar Lake is at 11,950ft once you reach the top. While it’s an amazing place suitable for any adventure elopement, make sure you’re acclimatized first!
Permit Required: It depends. You can find more info by contacting the forest service office for more details.
Best Time To Visit: May – October
Located near Idaho Springs, this trail is a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail that passes by a beautiful alpine lake! If you choose to hike up to the glacier, you’ll see incredible views of the Rocky Mountains.
Permit Required: Yes. $5 parking permit paid on-site (bring cash & a pen)!
Best Time To Visit: Year-round. You may need snowshoes in the Winter months and spikes in Spring.
The road up to Mount Evans is the highest paved road in North America! Mount Evans is a famous Colorado 14er with amazing 360-degree views. Since the highway reaches the summit of 14,130ft, no hike is required for the epic views!
Permit Required Yes. The Mount Evans Highway (Colorado Hwy. 5, from Echo Lake to the summit) requires timed-entry reservations during Summer. Visit recreation.gov for more information! Additional permits may be needed depending on the ceremony site.
Best Time To Visit: June – September. The road up to Mount Evans is closed October - May due to snowfall.
Snowmass is a beautiful little sister to spendy Aspen but both towns have fantastic little spots for some epic views! With plenty of lodging and food nearby, it's the perfect spot for a quick mountain elopement then a celebratory dinner with your loved ones.
Permit Required: Depends.
Best Times To Visit: Year-Round
Crested Butte is a cute mountain town with so many location options for your elopement. While Mount Crested Butte has great views, we love capturing the beauty of the wildflowers in Summer here. If you’re looking to experience Colorado wildflowers, this is the place. Each year Crested Butte hosts a wildflower festival in July which is right at peak wildflower season!
Permit Required: It depends on the location. Make sure you contact local authorities for the location you choose to elope in.
Best Time To Visit: Year-Round
If you haven’t heard about Maroon Bells, do yourself a favor and google it! This spot is a seriously amazing elopement spot nestled in Aspen. It’s the most photographed mountain spot in North America, so it can get very crowded during peak times. We recommend eloping on a weekday, so your elopement ceremony in the glacial Maroon Creek Valley is intimate!
Permit Required: Yes. You can reserve a slot on recreation.gov. As a heads up, it’s very hard to get a wedding permit here due to popularity, so planning an elopement date for a weekday well in advance will ensure you secure a spot!
Best Time To Visit: June – October. You can snowmobile your way there during Winter months!
This high mountain pass is 11,990ft above sea level, accessible year round, and offers views of the Continental Divide.
Permit Required: It depends. Call the Clear Creek Ranger Office for more information. Be sure to tell them what you will be doing, how many people will be present (including vendors), how long it will take, and if you are bringing “props” like chairs, florals, etc…
Best Times To Visit: Year-Round. Weather conditions can be unpredictable at times at Loveland Pass, especially in Winter, so always check the weather beforehand.