Ultimate Guide for an Ouray Elopement
If you’re an adventurous couple looking for a unique destination to elope, you’ve come to the right place. Ouray feels like a town frozen in time, tucked into a nook in the San Juan Mountains. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also a hot spot for outdoorsy activities! While scenic views are often a must for my eloping couples, many of them also want to find a place that’s filled with adventurous things to do and places to explore during their wedding week. An Ouray elopement will have exactly that! Read on to find my recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and where to hold your ceremony when you elope in Ouray, Colorado.
About Ouray, Colorado
Ouray is equal parts Wild West and quiet mountain town. It has all the views and vibes of a cute ski town without the highbrow crowd and high prices that can bring. It rests on the western side of the famous 14er Mt. Sneffels, almost directly across the San Juan Mountains from its much-pricier ski town counterpart, Telluride. Known as the Switzerland of America, its western frontier architecture and Victorian interiors feel like stepping back into a much simpler age. It was originally built as a mining town and is now a popular destination for those looking to get away from the crowds in some of Colorado’s more well-known mountain destinations.
While you’ll have to visit the eastern side of the San Juan Mountains to find swanky ski resorts, there’s no shortage of adventurous activities when you plan to elope in Ouray, Colorado. In fact, adventure is what it’s known for! Filled with hot springs, canyon waterfalls, and off-roading trails, this is the place to be if you want to find small-town outdoor fun and jaw-dropping views for your elopement in Colorado.
When to plan an Ouray elopement
Ouray isn’t the easiest place to travel to, which makes it a bit of a hidden gem away from the crowds you’ll find in the bigger ski resort towns like Breckenridge or Aspen. It’s about a 6-hour drive from the closest major airport in Denver, and much of that is mountain highway driving. While it is known for winter activities like ice climbing, keep in mind you’ll be traveling on potentially snowy mountain roads if you choose an Ouray elopement in winter. I also think that renting a 4x4 vehicle is the best way to get to some of the coolest spots in town, and off-road traverses are just more dangerous and often closed in winter. As an Ouray elopement photographer, I recommend choosing one of the warmer months to travel to Ouray for your elopement. I like July or August! Plus, the Colorado wildflowers during the summer are incredible. Choosing a shoulder season like early fall also provides good weather and fewer crowds!
How to legally elope in Ouray, Colorado
Colorado is one of the easiest states to secure the paperwork for a legal marriage in, which makes legalizing your Ouray elopement a breeze. That’s largely because they don’t require you to have an officiant or a witness! More on that below.
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Like anywhere else, you’ll need to obtain a marriage license in Colorado if you’re getting married there. Simply go to any County Clerk and Recorder and apply for a license for $30. Highly recommend doing this in Ouray if you’re getting married there because the marriage certificates have a fancy, old time-y vibe and are totally frame-worthy!
What sets Colorado marriage licenses apart is that you can self-solemnize in Colorado. What does that mean? No officiant, no witness required! You can simply pronounce yourselves married, and boom - you’re husband and wife! You can of course have an officiant and witnesses if you’d like, but they’re not required to sign the marriage license.
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Ouray is nestled right into the San Juan National Forest, so many of the trails around the area are managed by the Forest Service. The great news is: the Forest Service doesn’t require a permit for use of public lands here unless your event is over 75 people! Since elopements are much smaller than this, you shouldn’t have to worry about it, but in case you want a permit, you’ll simply apply online through the Forest Service.
Best easy access locations for an Ouray elopement
Many of the gorgeous trails in Ouray require quite a bit of hiking and elevation gain to get to the rewarding views. If you’re up for that on your wedding day, I’m totally down to do it with you! But if you want to avoid the risk of altitude sickness due to elevation change and take a more leisurely stroll for your Ouray elopement, don’t stress - it’s hard to find a place in Ouray that ISN’T beautiful! I’ve rounded up some of the more easily accessible spots here.
Molas Lake
Little Molas Lake and Big Molas Lake are both drivable destinations for ceremonies and won’t require any hiking. However, if you want to venture out, there are several trails around the lake and you can explore any of them to add variety to your wedding portraits!
Million Dollar Highway
This highway runs between Ouray and Silverton and is dripping with incredible views. There are so many pull offs (like Mt. Abrams Overlook) that could make for gorgeous ceremony or portrait locations! Why not make it an adventure and pull off at various spots for your Ouray elopement?
Bear Creek Trail
If you’re looking for an in-between option with some hiking but not a ton of elevation gain for your Ouray elopement, Bear Creek Trail is the way to go. At 5 miles out and back, it’s shorter than most hikes in the area and it’s at a lower elevation, which makes it easier. Plus, there’s a gorgeous waterfall along the way!
Trout Lake
If you’re up for heading to the other side of the mountains, either by a few hours highway driving or off-roading through the mountains, Trout Lake is a stunning spot. Who doesn’t love a good alpine lake?! This spot south of Telluride and directly across the mountains from Silverton would make a gorgeous ceremony or photo location.
Telluride Gondola
Of course, if you’re going to make it to Telluride, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Telluride Gondola. It’s the best way to get a mountaintop backdrop without strenuous effort. The views from the top of this gondola are absolutely jaw-dropping.
Best 4x4 access locations for an Ouray elopement
If you’re feeling adventurous but not interested in hiking too much on your Colorado wedding day, there are some epic spots that can be accessed with 4x4 vehicles! This is what all the locals do for a fun weekend. If you decide to go this route, you get to choose whether you want to rent the 4x4s yourself or hire a jeep tour guide. The latter is my recommendation! Hiring a guide gives you fewer things to worry about like researching, driving, knowing your location, weather updates, trail option/conditions, and more, because you have an Ouray expert showing you around. Plus, if you have a few guests joining you, hiring a guide could be more cost-effective and make things easier for them too. Some companies will even give you a tour the day before your wedding so you can see the locations in person, which is ideal in preparing to elope in Ouray, Colorado.
If you want to have a more relaxed timeline and have more control, renting a jeep yourself is a great option; however, I would only recommend this if you have experience driving on similar terrain. These are some great location options that can be accessed by 4x4 vehicles, here is just a tiny glimpse of a few popular ones:
Yankee Boy Basin
This is one of the most popular spots in the Ouray area due to its majestic natural beauty and vivid, colorful wildflowers. The best months to experience the height of its spring color is between July and September. This spot is filled with beautiful landmarks including waterfalls and a rock overhang.
Imogene Pass
Built in 1880 as a well-traveled mining road, Imogene Pass is the second highest drivable mountain pass in Colorado with absolutely amazing views. Because it’s a more challenging trail, I recommend hiring a guide for this one. The best time to go is July-September to avoid severe weather and storms.
Gold King Basin
A landscape of mountains, flowers, and trees line the outskirts of this spot located near the Alta Lakes. This short, rocky ride gives all the serene vibes as you ride into its natural beauty, opening up to the remote and stunning basin.
Where to stay for an Ouray elopement
Ouray is not a town with a lot of big resorts. You’ll find more of that on the other side of the mountains in Telluride, but it’s not as close as it seems - unless you’re off-roading in a Jeep. You can stay in one of these small hotels or in an Airbnb for your Ouray wedding day!
The Imogene Hotel + Rooftop - trendy boutique hotel with a sauna and rooftop bar
Red Mountain Alpine Lodge - backcountry ski lodge on the Million Dollar Highway south of Ouray
Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings - the rooms here aren’t impressive but the hot springs are cool!
Yeti Summit Luxury Studio - cute tiny home on Airbnb
Vacation home in Ridgway - mountain home in a nearby town for a group
Downtown Ouray Townhome - cozy home in downtown area
Ultra modern new home - modern cabin in a wooded wedding
Quaint Historic Cabin - log cabin with a modern twist
Things to do in Ouray, Colorado
This cute mountain town has plenty to entertain you during your stay! When you elope in Ouray, Colorado, you can enjoy old fashioned saloons and adventurous outdoor activities. Here are a few of my favorite suggestions!
Food
The Imogene - this it the rooftop bar atop the Imogene Hotel
Brickhouse 737 - upscale new American
Full Tilt Saloon - unpretentious bar with a great menu
Mouse’s Chocolates & Coffee - fine Belgian chocolate, coffee concoctions and ice cream
The Outlaw - cocktails and dinner with a Wild West vibe
Kami’s Samis - creative sandwiches in a simple setting
Activities
Rent a Jeep or OHV - one of the best ways to explore Ouray is to rent some type of 4x4 or off-road vehicle. It’s the fastest way to get up into the mountains for stunning views (and photos!) Switzerland of America is a great company.
Soak in the hot springs - you can’t elope in Ouray without visiting the hot springs. The most well-known and accessible ones are at the public Ouray Hot Springs pools but there are others within private lodges and resorts!
Explore Box Canyon Falls Park - known as Ouray’s Wonder of the World, this bridged trail takes you through a beautiful box canyon to a waterfall and is free to visit
Walk the Ouray Perimeter Trail - Ouray isn’t a huge area. Did you know you can actually walk its perimeter in just 6 miles?! This trail is such a fun way to explore, and it’s never more than a horizontal half mile from the city limits.
Ice climb at Ouray Ice Park - for bold winter sports fanatics, Ouray is known for its world-class ice climbing, and this is the place to do it. They also hold an ice festival here in January!
Dare to try the Ouray Via Ferrata - if you’re seriously daring for your Colorado adventure elopement, this is one of the few places in the US you can climb an “iron path” off the edge of a cliff like the famous one in the Alps.
Let me help you elope in Ouray, Colorado!
Let me help you elope in Ouray, Colorado! I would love to help make a Colorado adventure elopement happen for you. Get in touch and we can plan all the perfect activities that match you and your partner’s personalities and get all the epic photos! As an experienced Ouray elopement photographer, I can help you find the perfect location, timeline, and activities to make your day truly special.