As a Colorado elopement photographer and local, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of my favorite elopement locations. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and there are many incredible places to take photos.
In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about having a Rocky Mountain National Park elopement. I’ll discuss the best locations for a ceremony, how much it costs, and helpful tips. I’ll also answer common questions about eloping at RMNP.
Can you elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?
While Rocky Mountain National Park has strict guidelines around eloping, you can elope at the park. You can also skip the ceremony and explore RMNP to take elopement pictures at your leisure.
Here are some important guidelines about having an elopement ceremony at RMNP:
- There are specific public park spaces that can be used as ceremony sites.
- You can’t reserve spots exclusively for your elopement.
- Ceremonies are limited to a maximum of two hours.
- You need a ceremony permit for your elopement.
- RMNP only schedules six weddings daily and two at a specific location.
Why Elope at Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places I’ve done elopement shoots. It spans over 400 square miles and boasts picture-perfect scenery, including lakes, waterfalls, and mountain peaks. The photo ops are endless!
If you and your love enjoy hiking, RMNP is an incredible place to explore, with more than 300 miles of hiking trails.
How much does it cost to elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?
It costs $300 to obtain The Special Use Permit for an elopement ceremony at Rocky Mountain National Park. If you prefer to do the legalities and ceremony elsewhere, you can explore the park and take elopement portraits with a $50 photo permit.
Note: I take care of the photo permit cost for couples I work with.
Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Locations
If you want to reserve a ceremony location at that park, there are several stunning wedding sites to choose from!
3M Curve
Take a short hike down a rocky trail to 3M Curve, a large rock overlook, for an elopement surrounded by meadows and mountain scenery. If you have guests, there’s standing room that offers stunning views.
Max people: 15
Accessibility: moderate
Alluvial Fan Bridge
Alluvial Fan Bridge is one of the park’s most popular areas, especially during summer. There’s a large river with boulders, a waterfall, a wooden footbridge, and aspen trees. Share your vows and enjoy gorgeous views of the Mummy Range, Horseshoe Falls, and Endovalley.
Max people: 20
Accessibility: easy
Bear Lake Nature Trail
If you’re planning a weekday Rocky Mountain National Park elopement between Columbus Day and Memorial Day, Bear Lake Nature Trail is an excellent option. It’s a busy area, which is why there are timing restrictions, but the area is breathtaking, with mountain scenery and aspen trees.
Max people: 20
Accessibility: easy
Copeland Lake (Wild Basin Area)
This is one of the most magical areas in RMNP, where you can elope in a large meadow surrounded by sweeping mountain views. The road to the lake leads to a parking lot, which is easily accessible for any car.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: easy
Harbison Meadow Picnic Area
West Side near Grand Lake
Another large meadow to tie the knot in RMNP is Harbison Meadow Picnic Area, where you can enjoy a beautiful mountain backdrop and possibly unique wildlife. There are also four picnic tables at this location.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: easy
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a more secluded Rocky Mountain National Park elopement location. Aspens and pines surround it, and there’s a unique wooden footbridge. During summer, the meadow is filled with wildflowers.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: easy and wheelchair accessible
Lily Lake Dock
With 360° mountain views, Lily Lake Dock is one of the best Colorado mountain elopement locations. There’s a dock over the lake to stand and exchange your vows, with the nearby walking trail to add to the adventure.
Max people: 10
Accessibility: easy and wheelchair accessible
Lily Lake Trail
The Lily Lake Trail also has beautiful mountain and lake views. Unlike the dock, you’ll have your ceremony in the grassy area by the lake. This ceremony site is a short walk from the parking lot and takes you off the trail, so you aren’t too close to other hikers.
Max people: 20
Accessibility: moderately easy
Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area
Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area is a good option if you’re considering having more guests for an intimate wedding. While this area is more tucked away from the views, it’s quiet, and you have the lake, peaks, and aspen trees around you. There are also picnic tables at this ceremony location.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: moderately easy
Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater
Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater is the best option if you want guests and decorations at your RMNP elopement. It’s easily accessible, and wooden benches offer ample seating. You can also bring decor to this area.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: easy
Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake is a busy area, and for great reason. It offers dramatic views of the mountains and lake. There’s also a wooden footbridge, and the trail to the site is easy to navigate.
Max people: 15 during summer and 30 during winter
Accessibility: easy and wheelchair accessible
Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater
Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater is one of the best RMNP wedding sites for convenience. The trail is easily accessible, and there’s bench seating for guests and a nearby campground to stay at. The only issue with this location is the structure on the ceremony stage, which blocks some of the scenery.
Max people: 20
Accessibility: easy and wheelchair accessible
Upper Beaver Meadows
Upper Beaver Meadows is perfect for a secluded elopement. There are also various places to have your ceremony, depending on which backdrop you prefer. This area has an open meadow and rocky hills. You can also see views of the Continental Divide.
Upper Beaver Meadows is closed during winter, so you can only elope here from mid-May to mid-October.
Max people: 30
Accessibility: moderately easy
Tips for Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement
Here are some tips to help you have the perfect Rocky Mountain National Park wedding!
Getting a Permit
If you plan to have a proper elopement ceremony at RMNP, you’ll need to apply for a permit. It’s important to plan in advance because there are limited permits.
The park accepts permit applications a year in advance. For example, if you want to get married in March 2025, you can apply as soon as March 2024.
If you don’t want to apply for a RMNP wedding permit, you can have your ceremony elsewhere and enjoy an elopement adventure with pictures at the park.
Enjoy the Experience
One of the best parts about eloping is not worrying about the stress of a traditional wedding.
To have an authentic and memorable RMNP elopement, live in the moment and enjoy your experience. Sometimes, this requires flexibility, especially since weather and crowds can be unpredictable.
I always recommend couples I work with include a few fun elopement ideas into their elopement day. This might be stopping at a coffee shop or having a picnic together. The opportunities are endless!
When to Elope
You can have your Rocky Mountain National Park elopement any time of year. All seasons offer a unique vibe with different landscapes.
The park is stunning year-round, from a winter wonderland or spring wildflower portraits to sunny summer or fall foliage.
Personally, taking elopement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park during late May or June is my favorite because of the pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and vibrant green mountains.
It’s also best to have your elopement at RMNP during the week. Weekends can get very busy, especially during summer. For the fewest crowds, aim for a sunrise or sunset elopement.
What to Wear
Most couples I work with wear hiking shoes for an adventure elopement. You can always dress for comfort, especially if you plan to hike and explore the park, then change for your ceremony.
When I work with couples, I offer help deciding what to wear and share an Elopement Guide that offers wedding attire inspiration and recommendations
Bringing Pets
I love it when couples have their dog join them for their special day! Unfortunately, there are limited options for pet owners at RMNP.
If you’re having a ceremony, dogs are only permitted at Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater and Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater.
Dogs aren’t allowed at other ceremony sites or on trails. However, they’re allowed on roads and in paved parking lots of the park.
Let’s Plan Your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement
I hope you found this guide helpful and are excited to plan your perfect elopement experience. I love working with couples to help make their wedding day dreams a reality!
Not only do I capture all the special moments on your elopement day, but I also help with the entire planning process to make your experience as stress-free and fun as possible.
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
