The Complete Guide to a Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement

Anyone that knows me as a Colorado wedding photographer knows just how much I LOVE my Colorado elopements! There’s something so special, intimate, and romantic about you and the love of your life heading off into the incredible natural wonders that make up Colorado! That’s why in this article I thought I’d go over everything you need to know to plan your own elopement in one of my favorite locations in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park. Let’s get into it!

A bride and groom hold hands and smile at one another while crossing a stone bridge during their hike for their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Why Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?

A better question is why NOT elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?! I’m only kind of kidding here, as RMNP is seriously one of the coolest locations throughout Colorado to plan an elopement! For starters, the park itself is simply gorgeous, I mean just take a look at Iva and Adam’s engagement session in the park. The park is also massive and has a ton of variety, something that we’ll cover more in depth later in this article. The park is beautiful year round (as you can see in Iva and Adam’s session), and logistically it’s one of the more simple parks to get to as well as figure out where you’re staying at after your elopement!

Your Wedding Permit

The process of purchasing a wedding permit for your Rocky Mountain National Park elopement is relatively straightforward, though there are some key details you’ll want to be aware of. First is that you’ll want to apply for your permit early in order to get your desired date. Applications open on the first of the month for the following year, so on June 1st applications for June of the following year will open. Applications are reviewed and approved on a first come first serve basis, which is why I say to get them in early!!

Once they approve your application you’ll receive a link to submit a non refundable payment for $300 to acquire your permit. You can apply for your permit up to a year in advance, and no later than 7 days prior to your date. I recommend applying sooner rather than later though as RMNP will book up these slots very often! Finally, once you have your permit and are approved you’ll be set for your elopement date! It’s important to note that no matter the size of your elopement you are only able to have your ceremony at certain locations throughout the park, something we’ll cover more in depth next.

A bride and groom play rock paper scissors while on a wooden dock on a lake with mountains in the background during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Where Can You Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Rocky Mountain National Park has a whopping 13 different locations to choose from for your elopement ceremony! If you were concerned about the park requiring your elopement to take place only in certain locations, trust me you have no reason to worry. These locations all have their own feel to them, offer different levels of accessibility, and overall offer their own unique experience for your elopement day!

3M Curve

Our first location is 3M Curve which is on the west side of the park near the town of Estes Park! This location is a great option for those looking to keep things on the simpler side in terms of hiking. 3M Curve is located right on the park entrance road so there’s little need for any hiking at all. The space has an incredible open view of the mountains in the distance and has trails for hiking nearby for those looking to explore the surroundings! P.S. sunsets and sunrises here are INCREDIBLE.

Alluvial Fan Bridge

Next up is the Alluvial Fan Bridge which is just to the northwest of 3M Curve! This location requires a bit more hiking to get to but offers an equally beautiful location for your elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park. Just off of the Endovalley Road, the site has a gorgeous river and waterfall with large boulders surrounding the waters. The site is very popular, especially during the summer which is something you'll want to keep in mind.

Bear Lake Nature Trail

Our first location on a lake is the spectacular Bear Lake Nature Trail! This spot is close to the center of Rocky Mountain National Park and has a literal jaw dropping view for your elopement ceremony space. This space is just off of Bear Lake Road which gives it easy access, but that combined with the beauty of the location makes this one of the more popular spots in the park.

Note: No weddings are permitted here on the weekends, and no weddings allowed at all the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through 2nd Tuesday of October.

3 photos side by side of a bride and groom with hiking backpacks on a hike together, the left and middle photos are of them walking away from the camera, the right is of them kissing

2 photos side by side, the left is of wedding rings on a hiking map next to park ranger badges and flowers, the right photo is of a bride and groom kissing in the middle of a forest

Copeland Lake

Towards the southwest end of the park is Copeland Lake! This elopement ceremony location is relatively easy to access via an unpaved road just off of County Road 84W. The space has a beautiful lake with views of the mountains looming overhead in the distance, and forested areas nearby with hiking trails to explore as well!

Harbison Meadow Picnic Area

On the west side of the park is Harbison Meadow, an elopement space that lets you really take in the wide open skies of Colorado! Just off of Tail Ridge Road, this space is incredibly easy to access and gives you some incredible views of mountains in the distance. This space will really make you appreciate the scale and majesty of Rocky Mountain National Park!

Note: Your elopement ceremony may not occupy picnic sites.

Hidden Valley

Our next location is the Hidden Valley which is just off of Hidden Valley Road! The location is on the Hidden Valley access trail, which means you'll need to do some hiking in order to reach this spot. That’s not a problem though as the hike itself is beautiful and lets you take in all the beauty of the surrounding aspen trees, pine trees, and summer wildflowers when they’re in bloom!

Note: Your elopement ceremony may not occupy picnic sites.

A bride is lifted in the air and kissed by the groom with a snow covered mountain in the distance behind them, taken during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Lily Lake Dock

Our next three locations surround Lily Lake, the first being the dock which is the simplest to access as it is right next to the parking lot! The dock extends out onto the lake giving you views of the mountains surrounding you during your elopement ceremony.

Note: There is a vehicle limit of 10 that applies from the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through 2nd Tuesday of October. (This note applies for all 3 Lily Lake Locations)

Lily Lake Trail

The Lily Lake Trail site is on the opposite side of the lake from the dock, which means you’ll have to do some light hiking to reach the site. The trail is very easy to walk and pretty flat though so this is very doable! This space gives you those same 360 degree mountain views but from a new perspective and with a closer view of the trees covering the sides of the mountains.

Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area

The third stop along Lily Lake is the picnic area, which can be found between the other two locations along the hiking trail. This location is further in the trees but still has some clearings where you can see the mountains of Rocky Mountain National park making for a stunning ceremony space for your elopement.

Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater

This location is one of our two amphitheater locations throughout Rocky Mountain National Park, and is a great option for your elopement ceremony! The amphitheater can be accessed via a short trail which you can access from Bear Lake Road. The site is surrounded by towering trees and has views of mountains in the distance which gives you an incredible setting for your ceremony!

Note: For this location the ceremony size and vehicle limit of 10 applies from the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through 2nd Tuesday of October.

2 photos side by side of a bride and groom walking up a hill with mountains in the background, the left photo is in color while the right is black and white

Sprague Lake

East of Bear Lake is our next elopement site, Sprague Lake! Sprague Lake can be accessed via a hiking path off of Bear Lake Road and Sprague Lake Picnic Area Road. The hike is a little longer than most on the list, but these views are WELL worth it! Of course these views come at the cost of this being one of the more popular locations on the list, so that is something to be aware of and plan for.

Note: For this location the ceremony size and vehicle limit of 10 applies from the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through 2nd Tuesday of October. Also your elopement ceremony may not occupy picnic sites.

Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater

On the west side of the park is the more structured Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater! The site is easily accessible as Timber Creek CG road leads directly to it as well as weaves through the large campgrounds nearby. The site has mountain views and views of the Colorado river to take in during your elopement ceremony. Be aware that parking here is limited due to the popularity of the campgrounds.

Upper Beaver Meadows

Last but not least on our list is the lovely Upper Beaver Meadows trail! This site is just south of the 3M Curve site and gives you access to the meadows that give it it's namesake, but also views of the mountains looming in the distance. The site is incredibly beautiful, though very hard to access during times of inclement weather, which is why they close the road here for part of the year.

Note: There are road closures typically from mid October to mid May due to this being an unpaved road. During this time no vehicles may travel on the roads here.

A bride and groom hold hands while looking at one another on a hiking trail surrounded by evergreen trees during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

After the Ceremony

Once you have a ceremony site picked out we get to plan out the rest of your elopement day in Rocky Mountain National Park! While your elopement ceremony can only take place at one of the sites listed above, we are able to take photos throughout the park's hiking trails afterwards. Some of my favorite areas throughout the park are Dream Lake, Trail Ridge Road, and Moraine Park. The landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the sheer number of them that are available for us to explore, are part of what makes this area SO incredible to have your elopement in.

When is the Best Time of Year to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?

I recently wrote a blog talking in depth about the pros and cons of each season when it comes to having your wedding in Colorado! For RMNP though there are some special things you’ll want to consider when deciding when to have your elopement here. First is that the busy seasons of Colorado very much hold true here! Fall and summer are the busiest times due to the gorgeous colors in the fall and the stellar weather in the summer.

Speaking of weather, your safety is a priority of mine, which is why eloping in the winter at RMNP is something you need to think about for a while before making your decision. Winters in RMNP are no doubt gorgeous, but they can make it difficult for you to reach your site, especially if the weather is less than ideal the day of your ceremony. If you do intend to elope during the winter in Rocky Mountain National Park I recommend choosing a location with easy access to paved roads!

2 photos side by side of a bride and groom, the left is of them touching foreheads together as the sun sets in-between them, the right is of them holding hands and smiling at one another while walking towards the camera

Black and white photo of a bride and groom embracing, smiling, and touching their foreheads together while in a forest during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

Can I Bring My Dog to my RMNP Elopement?

You can, though there is a catch. Rocky Mountain National Park only allows dogs on the premises under certain criteria, which is that they are on leash and are only allowed on established roads, parking areas, picnic areas, and campgrounds. This means that your pup cannot go on any of the trails, and of the elopement sites listed above only the Moraine Park Amphitheater allows leashed dogs on site. While this is a bummer, not all is lost! Since you are able to have your pup leashed in the parking areas and other established spaces they can still tag along for some photos! Delegate a friend or family member to be in charge of your pupper. You can then take portraits with them in one of the designated areas either before your ceremony or afterwards!!

Where to Stay

The closest town to Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park, which is a lovely place to stay for your elopement! The town has Vrbos and Airbnbs that make for a great stay as well as getting ready spaces. Another option is the iconic Stanley Hotel along with plenty of other great lodges in the area. RMNP is also only about an hour away from the city of Boulder and an hour and a half from Denver. If you’re open to a little bit more driving, these two cities give you basically endless options for your stay! In my opinion though, the feel of Estes Park adds to the elopement experience and would be my recommendation for anyone planning their elopement at RMNP!

A bride and groom stand atop a stone wall and kiss with mountains in the background during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park

What to Do

Your elopement ceremony at Rocky Mountain National Park is only part of your elopement festivities! After you two are officially married it’s time to celebrate, and RMNP and the surrounding areas have a ton to offer. For starters, if you haven’t had your fill of hiking there are almost endless trails to explore in RMNP. Then in Estes Park you can celebrate at some of my favorites, Penelope's for burgers, Bird and Jim for dinner, and Inkwell & Brew for coffee. There are also a ton of shops to explore, and breweries to try in Estes Park, it really has it all! Finally, with Denver and Boulder being so close there really is no shortage of ways for you to celebrate your elopement!

A bride and groom stand on a rock formation to say their vows to one another during their elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park, behind them are snow capped mountains and the groom is tearing up while smiling at the bride

Other Rules and Things to Think About When Eloping in RMNP

We’ve covered a LOT about eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park, but there are still a few key details I want to cover as we start to wrap things up!

The national park does not allow any chairs or outside décor to be brought in for your ceremony.

No amplified music is allowed on site during your ceremony.
Your permit does not close off the location. While no other wedding ceremony will take place at the same time and location as yours, it is still open to the public.
In the case of inclement weather, covered areas are few and far between. Keep an eye out on your radar and plan accordingly!
Public bathrooms may not be used as dressing rooms.
Lastly, the national park enforces the Leave No Trace rule, something I am 100% in favor of! You can read more about my thoughts and strategies for sustainable weddings here.

A bride and groom hold hands during their elopement ceremony in Rocky Mountain National Park, their officiant is speaking while guests watch and behind them are mountains in the distance

Booking Your Colorado Elopement Photographer

The last thing I want to mention as you plan your elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park is that you’ll need to hire a photographer to capture your incredible and epic experience! I always recommend hiring a photographer who lives in Colorado as we have that first hand experience and recommendations that are invaluable for these types of elopements, especially for couples traveling from out of state! By booking with a Colorado local (like me!), you’ll be able to rest assured that no matter the setting you’re looking for, the season you’re planning to have your elopement in, and the overall feeling you’re looking to achieve, I’ll be able to guide you through and help provide that experience!

If you’re ready to book me for your own elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page! I love meeting new people and helping them plan the elopement of their dreams, and what better place to elope than in the great RMNP!