Colorado is one of the best states to elope because it’s filled with jaw dropping mountains, beautiful scenery, adorable mountain towns, and more! From the stunning San Juan Mountains to the German-like ski village of Vail. From the iconic colorful wildflowers in the summer to bright yellow Aspens in the fall. There are endless incredible locations for your Colorado elopement no matter the season!

If you’re thinking about eloping, keep reading to learn all about some of the best spots to elope in Colorado!

Please note: this is NOT an all extensive list, there are lots of beautiful places to elope in Colorado not included. As an elopement photographer, I have a list of “secret” spots that I save to share only with my couples!

Tips to Elope in Colorado

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Summer into fall is usually the best to elope in Colorado! Since Colorado sits at such a high elevation, especially in the mountains, snow tends to stay around way past winter. Snow makes many locations inaccessible. Late July to early August is typically when the snow finally melts and beautiful wildflowers start to bloom. While most couples prefer wildflowers or fall foliage, it is possible to elope in Colorado in the winter if you’re up for the challenge!

Depending on what you’re looking for, here’s what I would recommend:

Wildflowers - Late July to Early August
Fall Foliage - Early to Mid September
Snow - January to March

permits

Most places in Colorado require permits for the couple (and photographer) to have their wedding in public outdoor spaces. Some even require a permit for just portraits of the couple. But these are always changing and vary by location so I suggest reaching out to get the most updated information. To start your search you can google things like "wedding permits in X location" or "special use permits for weddings in X location". It's always better to do this sooner rather than later to give yourself plenty of time to obtain the permit.

I am also more than happy to help you with this process once you know what area you want to have your wedding!

*As of now Garden of the Gods and the San Juan Mountains are some of the few places that don't require a permit making the process to get married there easy!

leave no trace

Unless you spend a lot of time outdoors or work in the wedding industry, you probably have never heard of LNT Principles. Leave No Trace guidelines help ensure we leave nature beautiful and protect it so that people can enjoy it for years to come! As a destination wedding and elopement photographer, I do my best to practice all LNT principles, even on wedding days.

If you’re interested, you can learn more here!

Check out my Colorado wedding photography packages

Best Places to Elope in Colorado:

Crested Butte

Crested Butte cute mountain town located in the Rocky Mountains, about 4 hours west of Denver. It first started in the 1880’s as a mining town. Crested Butte is known as the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado”. This small mountain town is surrounded by 1.7 million acres of National Forest. It’s filled with endless hiking trails, mountain biking trails, and 4x4 roads to explore.

If you’re dreaming of eloping surrounded by wildflowers with the mountains as your backdrop, and a super cute downtown area to explore during your wedding weekend, Crested Butte is for you!

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is located near Estes Park, about 1.5 hours from Denver. It’s one of the most beautiful National Parks in the U.S. From it’s jagged mountain peaks to beautiful blue alpine lakes. There’s endless beautiful locations to choose for your Colorado elopement. While there’s lots of hiking trails perfect for your elopement, there’s also scenic drives throughout the park which make for beautiful photo locations.

Since Rocky Mountain is a National Park, the rules are a bit stricter for where, when, time, and how many people. They allow a maximum of 30 people for any wedding ceremony [including officiant and photographer]. Permits to get married in RMNP go very quickly so it’s recommended to get them one year in advance of your wedding month. You can learn more about getting married/eloping in RMNP here.

*These photos are from an adventure session which is a fun add on to any wedding day before or after!

Ouray

Ouray is known as the “Switzerland of America” and I can honestly say it lives up to its name! This old mining town turned mountain town is located about 6 hours from Denver. It’s in the heart of the San Juan Mountain range surrounded by 13,000ft mountains - it’s freaking stunning!

Many of the most incredible elopement locations are accessible by 4x4 off-roading trails. It’s incredible that so many views are readily available without much physical effort [ie. hiking]. There’s plenty of companies that rent jeeps for you to off-road or you can hire off-road drivers that will take care of navigating the sometimes sketchy roads for you. This is the perfect place for anyone looking to have an adventure elopement or wedding of any kind!

Want to learn more details about eloping Ouray? Check out my Ultimate Guide for an Ouray Elopement!

Loveland Pass

Loveland Pass is the highest mountain pass in Colorado located at 11,990 feet. It’s also one of the few mountain passes that regularly stays open year round. While it can be sketchy to drive during the winter depending on the current conditions, it is a great option for mountain views if you are wanting a winter elopement!

From the Pass, you get stunning 360 mountain views. During the warmer months there’s even a a few lakes and ponds that make for beautiful scenery on your elopement day. It’s a great location to elope in Colorado if you aren’t wanting to hike!

Fun fact: Loveland Pass is named after the former president of the Colorado Central Railroad, William A.H. Loveland.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is located southern Colorado and home to the tallest dunes in North America. Great Sands a high elevation desert in the San Luis Valley and is surrounded by mountains - Sangre de Cristo Mountains [east] and San Juan Mountains [west]. Given that it’s in the desert, the temperatures can be quite extreme. Sunrise and sunset are typically the best and most beautiful time of day for your elopement. It is best to avoid during the hot summer months and the snowy winter months.

Looking for something fun to do on your elopement day? You can actually “surf” the sand dunes!

You do need a permit to elope at Great Sand Dunes since it’s a National Park. Check out more details about the permit process here!

If you’re looking for a super unique place to elope in Colorado, GSNP is the perfect location for you!

Overwhelmed planning your elopement?

10 step guide to plan your elopement

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is located in the heart of Colorado Springs, about 1.5 hours south of Denver. It’s known for it’s unique sandstone rock formations and backdrop of iconic Pike’s Peak. The name “Garden of the Gods” goes all the way back to 1859 when a surveyor, Rufus Cable, exclaimed “Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” And it’s been it’s name ever since!

This location gives the red rock desert vibes of Arizona or Moab but with the snowcapped mountains of Colorado. It’s easy to see why this unique landscape is not only a popular tourist location, but a great place to elope in Colorado!

Pro Tip: Since Garden of the Gods is a very popular tourist destination, I recommend a weekday elopement at sunrise to avoid crowds and keep your elopement more intimate!

I would freaking LOVE to capture your Colorado elopement! Reach out to me and let’s get to dreaming up your perfect day. And if you found this blog helpful, I have many more tips and resources to help you plan your wedding or engagement photos!

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