10 of My Favorite Places to Propose in Colorado
Not too long ago I talked about 10 of my favorite proposal locations in Denver, Colorado, and while it’s true that Denver is fantastic for proposals I felt like the rest of Colorado deserved a little bit of the same love! After all, there are SO many picturesque and stunning locations throughout the state. Iconic mountain views, hidden lakes tucked within the mountains, and hillsides filled with gorgeous evergreen trees only start to scratch the surface of what Colorado has to offer! So let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful locations to propose in Colorado together, specifically 10 of my favorites!! Before that though, we need to talk just a little bit about planning the proposal itself!
Planning a Proposal in Colorado
There is a lot to think about when looking to propose in Colorado, especially if you’re traveling here from out of state! One important aspect of course is the location which we’ll get to, but I wanted to talk a bit about just some of the other important areas of proposal planning.
When to Propose in Colorado
First, when exactly should you propose in Colorado? This largely comes down to what you two both enjoy most as a couple, as Colorado is beautiful year round! I talk about this at length in my article about the best season for Colorado weddings, which you should definitely check out. In it I cover ALL of the pros and cons of each season in terms of accessibility, popularity in terms of tourism, and the individual aspects that make each season unique in Colorado.
Booking a Photographer for Your Proposal
One of the earliest things you’ll want to do once you decide to propose in Colorado is book a photographer to document the moment! I recommend booking a local photographer (such as myself!), for a number of reasons. First is that I have location recommendations to fit whatever vision you have for the proposal. “But Katie, aren’t we talking about those locations later in the article?” We are, but this list just scratches the surface of the amazing and breathtaking locations Colorado is home to!
Another reason to book a photographer like me who is local to Colorado for your proposal is that I can help with ALL the other aspects of the planning process. Not sure where to stay for the duration of your trip? I’ve got you covered! Having trouble deciding between proposing in the summer or the fall? Let’s talk through the options together to give you a more full picture of the decision! Wondering what you should do with your time after you propose in Colorado? I’ve got a list of different activities to do, places to see, and restaurants to try that will keep you busy for the entirety of your trip and then some!!
Planning the Logistics
I mentioned this briefly above, but planning the logistics of your proposal in Colorado is another hugely important piece to the puzzle. If you’re flying in from out of state you’re most likely flying into the Denver International Airport. This keeps the travel aspect relatively simple as you’ll be able to rent a car from the airport to be on your way. Deciding where to stay is something else entirely, and I recommend choosing a place relatively close to your proposal location if possible. I say this because you’re going to want to enjoy yourselves and your time in Colorado to the fullest, and you can’t really do that while spending hours on end in a car! Unless of course that is your thing, in which case more power to you!!
10 of the Best Places to Propose in Colorado
Alright, so now with all of that out of the way we can talk about some of my favorite proposal locations throughout Colorado! First up is Loveland Pass!!
1. Loveland Pass
Found just about an hour from downtown Denver, Loveland Pass is one of the most easily accessible locations on our list. The great part though is that this location doesn’t sacrifice anything in terms of beauty for this accessibility! The area is home to some truly epic mountain views, a plethora of scenic hiking trails to explore, all of which are easily accessible via the highway making its way through the mountains! The only real downside of Loveland Pass is that it’s generally on the more popular side thanks to its accessibility. Luckily there is still plenty of space to get some alone time, even on the busiest of days!
2. Garden of the Gods
The next location that I love recommending for proposals is none other than Garden of the Gods! This park is another easily accessible location thanks to its incredibly close proximity to Colorado Springs, which is just over an hour south of Denver. The unique and gorgeous red rock formations throughout the park offer a TON of different locations to choose from for you to pop the question. The main drawback, much like Loveland Pass, is the popularity of the park due to its beauty and ease of access. Unlike Loveland Pass though, the crowds at Garden of the Gods can actually get to be too much during peak tourism seasons. To avoid this I recommend sunrise proposals at Garden of the Gods in order to avoid the crowds, and to get some epic sunrise lighting for your photos!!
3. Independence Pass
Working our way further west from Denver, Colorado we have my next favorite location for proposals, Independence Pass! This area has some truly epic hikes to enjoy, and even better views to use as the perfect backdrop for your proposal!! Wide open views of the mountains towering in the distance, and secluded lakes under the cover of a nearby mountain peak are just a couple of the incredible bits of scenery you can enjoy during your adventures here! Independence Pass is around two and a half hours from Denver, so you’re likely not going to want to stay in the city if you plan to propose here. The good news is that it’s only 40 minutes down the road from the charming and scenic town of Aspen!
4. Twin Lakes
Just about 20 minutes away from Independence Pass is our next location, Twin Lakes! These lakes are some of the largest and most picturesque in all of Colorado, and the perfect location to propose. First off, the scenery of these large lakes with the mountains surrounding them makes for an unbelievable setting for when you pop the question. I mean, imagine having a picnic on the shore and proposing to the love of your life as the sun begins to set on the mountains around you! Twin Lakes is also beautiful year round, yes even in the winter as the snow covered peaks of the mountains make the scene even more astounding. Finally, there are plenty of nearby hiking trails, but also a ton of water activities to engage in like paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and more!
5. Telluride
Alright so I have a little bit of a bias here since this is where I got engaged, but honestly I feel as if it's totally valid with just how spectacular Telluride is! Telluride is around 6 hours away from Denver, and is in the southwest corner of Colorado. This means that you’ll likely be staying in Telluride if you plan on proposing here, and that’s a good thing! Telluride is a lovely town with SO much character to it, and the fact that it’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape in Colorado is definitely a plus! There’s plenty to enjoy around the town including hidden lakes, breathtaking mountain peaks, and endless amazing hiking trails to explore. Telluride is especially beautiful in the fall, and is a definite must when considering where you want to propose in Colorado!
6. Lost Gulch Overlook
Heading back closer to Denver we’ll find our next location just outside of the city of Boulder, Lost Gulch Overlook! Lost Gulch Overlook, as the name implies, is an astounding overlook that offers some wonderful views of the mountains near Boulder and the city itself. It’s a spot that truly makes you feel as if you’re on top of the world, perfect for such an emotional and important moment like a proposal! Being so close to Boulder is also a massive plus as it keeps travel time to a minimum, allows you plenty of options to choose from for your stay, and gives you practically endless options of things to do outside of the proposal!!
7. Officers Gulch Pond
Our next spot is the surprisingly low key Officers Gulch Pond. I say surprisingly low key as this body of water can be found just off of the I-70 interstate, which makes it incredibly easy to access. The pond is rarely ever that busy though, which gives it that perfect mixture of accessibility and privacy. Combine that with the abundance of beautiful spots for you to propose at, and the location is easily one of the most appealing in Colorado! After your proposal on the shore you can explore the beautiful landscape thanks to the hiking trail that surrounds Officers Gulch Pond. Then finish off the night with dinner in Frisco, Dillon, or Breckenridge, all of which make for the perfect home base for your Colorado proposal and other adventures!!
8. Maroon Bells
Maroon Bells is the next proposal location on our list, and is often considered one of the most iconic views in all of Colorado! This title is very much earned, as the location has literally everything you could want out of a location. Twin mountain peaks tower in the distance, framed by smaller hillsides of evergreen trees on either side, all reflecting off of the gorgeous lake at your feet. It’s truly an out of this world experience, and while you can hike up to the location on your own I strongly recommend booking a reservation and a shuttle through the RFTA. It will make the experience so much simpler, and there is still plenty of hiking to enjoy once you’re at Maroon Bells! Aspen is the closest town and likely your best bet when deciding where to stay for your elopement travels.
9. Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak is a towering mountain found just outside of Colorado Springs, and is one of the most scenic and easily accessible peaks in all of Colorado! This probably makes you think that the peak is the go to spot for proposals, and that can be the case, but that overlooks all of the gorgeous spots you can find along the highway itself!! Pikes Peak Highway is an wonderful 18 mile stretch of highway that weaves through the mountains as it makes its way to the peak. Throughout these 18 miles are countless locations to stop at and take in the view, each ideal for a proposal. The best part is that with the peak getting most of the attention, these spots along the roadway are much less popular, giving you a more private experience to enjoy!
10. Rocky Mountain National Park
Last, but DEFINITELY not least we have Rocky Mountain National Park! Many of the proposal locations on our list have a wide array of spaces to choose from to actually pop the question, but RMNP takes that to an entirely new level. The park consists of a whopping 415 square miles, and is home to some of THE most epic locations for proposals! Whether you want to do a challenging hike, a simple drive up location, or a bit of both, RMNP has something for you. There are so many different locations to choose from that if we covered all of them we’d be here ALL day long!
Lucky for you I put together a guide to eloping in RMNP, which you can take a lot of the information from to apply to your proposal planning! Finally when planning a proposal in Colorado’s RMNP I recommend making Estes Park your home base since it’s near many of the best locations in the park and has a ton of its own charm to enjoy!!
There are 10 of my favorite proposal locations throughout Colorado! I hope this list gave you some ideas as to what to look for in a proposal location, and maybe you even found your dream spot to pop the question at!! Either way I would love to hear from you to start the planning process of your proposal. Head to my contact page to send over an inquiry so we can iron out all the details of your proposal and get you ready for the best day ever in Colorado!!
