COLORADO ELOPEMENT GUIDE
Best Places to Elope in Colorado
Every place I'd send you, sorted by region, with when to go, how far it is from Denver, and what you should know before picking a spot.
Because the hardest part of eloping in Colorado might be picking where to do it.
When couples ask me where they should get married, my first question is usually "when?" Colorado in January looks a whole lot different than Colorado in July, and the time of year changes the scenery more than anything else. Then we talk about what they're picturing in the background and how far from Denver or the airport they want to be.
I've broken down my favorite regions below, including the best time to visit, how far they are from Denver, and anything you should know before getting too attached to a location. Most also have their own guide with specific spots, permits, and all the other details you'll need to plan your day.
How to Choose Where to Elope in Colorado
Time of Year
Same as in my How to Elope in Colorado guide, I'd start here, because Colorado looks completely different depending on when you're visiting. Summer means wildflowers and green mountains, fall brings golden aspens, winter is for snowy peaks, and spring is a little bit of everything (mud included).
Some locations are incredible in one season and buried under snow or behind a locked gate the next, so I've included the best time to visit for every place below.
What Kind of Scenery Do You Want?
Are you picturing an alpine lake, a field full of wildflowers, red rock formations, or snow covered mountains? Colorado has all of it, but not necessarily in the same place or at the same time of year.
Figuring out what you want in the background is a pretty good way to narrow down your options.
In the Mountains, or on Top of Them?
Okay, I know this sounds like a weird question but it is legit one I ask. Because there is a different in getting married in the mountains and getting married on top of them.
In the Mountains
Alpine lakes, valleys, meadows with huge peaks behind you.
On top of the mountains
Mountain passes, overlooks, and 360 degree views.
Neither is better, but they photograph very differently. And knowing which one you're picturing helps me find the right spot for you. (Nervous about heights? Here are the roads I'd pick.)
How Far Do You Want to Drive?
If you're flying into Denver or bringing guests, you might want somewhere that's easy for everyone to get to. Or maybe you could care less about being in a car for six hours and really want a road trip to the San Juans.
I've included approximate drive times from Denver for each place below.
Spring
Summer
Winter
Fall
Still figuring out how eloping in Colorado actually works? My How to Elope in Colorado guide covers the rest:
Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
The Front Range is where the mountains meet the plains, from Boulder down to Colorado Springs. Everything here is within about an hour and a half of Denver.
Boulder
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 40 minutes
Vows overlooking the Flatirons (the giant slanted rocks above town), and dinner downtown twenty minutes later. Boulder is one of the easiest places to bring guests, since nobody needs a rental Jeep or a long drive into the mountains. Permits take a little more planning here, and trails sometimes close when melting snow turns everything into mud.
Guanella Pass
Best time: Summer and fall
From Denver: About 1 hour
One long road just outside Georgetown with a lot of different places to stop along the way: lakes, forest, big rocks, and at the top, the open tundra above treeline with peaks on every side. Do sunrise up there and you can be back in Denver for lunch. The upper road isn't plowed, so it's gated roughly Thanksgiving to Memorial Day.
See Guanella Pass in the Denver elopement guide → (coming soon)
Brainard Lake
Best time: Summer and fall
From Denver: About 1 hour 15 minutes
Alpine lakes with jagged peaks right behind them, and a pretty good chance of spotting a moose. It's one of the easiest places near Denver to get views like this: a lot of alpine lakes are up a bumpy 4WD road, and this one isn't. From July to October you'll need a timed parking reservation, and in winter the road is gated at the winter trailhead, so it's a hike in.
Garden of the Gods
Best time: Spring, fall and winter
From Denver: About 1 hour 15 minutes
Huge red rock formations with a 14,000 foot mountain right behind them. It's open year round, but summer gets hot, so I'd pick any other season. Get there early, because the parking lots fill up FAST.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 1.5 hours
Drive up overlooks, alpine lakes, and it’s one of the only places I'd actually suggest a hike. It's my first pick for a winter location too because most of the park stays accessible all year (Trail Ridge Road closes for snow). Ceremonies happen at the park's designated sites with a permit, and dogs aren't allowed in most of the park.
Central Mountains
The middle of the state, where most of the ski towns and 14,000 foot peaks are, about 1.5 to 4.5 hours from Denver.
Aspen
Best time: Summer
From Denver: About 4 hours
Aspen is one of the most expensive places to stay in Colorado, but for good reason. You've got the Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in North America, plus a bunch of spots that aren't on everyone's list, like the pullouts along Independence Pass, the high mountain road into Aspen. Independence Pass closes for snow from about November to May, so in winter it's the long way around, and those spots are off the table.
Crested Butte
Best time: Summer and fall
From Denver: About 4.5 hours
When someone mentions wildflowers, my first thought is Crested Butte, and it always will be. Nothing else in the state comes close in July. The town is just the right amount of weird, and the roads around it are easy. 4WD or high clearance comes in handy, but they're dirt roads, not rock crawls.
Great Sand Dunes
Best time: Spring, fall and winter
From Denver: About 4 hours
Great for when the rest of the state is in mud season. I wouldn't recommend summer, since the sand gets hot and there's no shade. Getting anywhere near the dunes is a hike.
Breckenridge
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 2 hours
Alpine lakes about ten minutes from downtown, and plenty of restaurants, cabins and things to do. It's one of my top winter picks because it stays easy to get to and the restaurants stay open.
Leadville
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 2 hours
The highest city in the country, at about 10,150 feet, with Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake just outside town. There are easy 4WD roads, or harder ones if you're up for the challenge. And you get the big mountain views without paying Aspen prices.
Buena Vista
Best time: Summer and fall
From Denver: About 2 hours
More 14,000 foot peaks than anywhere else in the state, plus the Arkansas River and hot springs everywhere. A lot of the best spots are up Cottonwood Pass, a paved road that climbs up and over the Continental Divide, so any car is fine. It closes for snow in winter, so this one's summer and fall.
Winter Park
Best time: Summer and fall
From Denver: About 1.5 hours
Pine forests, cozy cabins, and 4WD roads where you can sneak off for a private ceremony. It's quieter than the bigger ski towns, and it gets overlooked a lot.
San Juan Mountains
Southwest Colorado, the farthest from Denver and the most rugged.
Read the San Juan Mountains elopement guide →
Lake City
Best time: Summer (winter works too)
From Denver: About 5 hours
The quietest part of the San Juans: one tiny town, a pile of really tall mountains, and the Alpine Loop, a 4x4 road over the high passes. There's nowhere to stay out on the Loop, so plan on driving in and out from town. When couples ask me where to go for actual privacy, this is it.
Silverton
Best time: Summer
From Denver: About 6 hours
One street of old Victorian buildings at 9,318 feet, with some of the most ridiculous mountains in Colorado on every side. It's the one town where I'd actually tell you to get a 4WD. There are a few spots you can reach without one, but you'll see all of them in a day, and everything else is up a 4x4 road. It's also where I eloped, so I'm a little biased.
Ouray
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 6 hours
They call it the Switzerland of America, and they aren't wrong: the whole town sits in a canyon with mountains going straight up on every side. 4x4 roads up to high alpine basins, waterfalls you can walk to, and hot springs are all close to town. Silverton is a short drive away if you want both in one day.
Telluride
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 6 hours
Telluride sits in a box canyon, so the mountains are on three sides of town. The free gondola takes you up to overlooks, Bridal Veil Falls is at the end of the canyon, and downtown has the best food in the area. The catch: Telluride prices.
Ridgway
Best time: Summer
From Denver: About 5.5 hours
The San Juans' front porch: ten minutes from Ouray, thirty from Telluride, and calmer than both, which makes the town a good place to stay while you explore everywhere around it. Right outside town, Ridgway State Park's reservoir faces the whole mountain skyline.
Western Slope
West of the mountains toward Utah, where it turns into red rock desert.
Grand Junction
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 4 hours
Where the Rockies turn into desert, with Colorado National Monument's canyons on one side and vineyards on the other. Elope in the canyon in the morning, do a wine tasting for lunch, and go skiing an hour later. It's the best of everything, and in my opinion, so underrated.
Gateway
Best time: Year round
From Denver: About 5 hours
Red canyon walls, the Dolores River, and almost nobody else. At sunset the cliffs turn creamsicle orange. Gateway is the pick if you want the resort experience: Gateway Canyons has horseback riding and Jeep tours right on the property, and there are plenty of spots off it too. The catch: there's one place to stay and one restaurant in town, and they're the same place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the closest place to elope near Denver?
Golden and Lookout Mountain are only about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Denver, and Boulder is around 40 minutes. If you want to head farther into the mountains, Guanella Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park are options too.
Where should we elope in winter?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorites for snowy mountains, and Breckenridge, Leadville, Ouray, Telluride, Grand Junction, and Gateway are all options too. Just keep in mind that some mountain roads close for winter, even when the towns themselves are open.
Can we bring guests?
Yep! Every region has locations that work for guests, although some have limits on how many people you can bring. Rocky Mountain National Park has designated ceremony sites with different capacities, and Maroon Bells Amphitheater can accommodate up to 50 people.
If your guests are flying in, Boulder and the areas around Denver are especially convenient.
Can we bring our dog?
Please do! Most National Forest locations allow dogs, although leash rules vary. Rocky Mountain National Park is the big exception, since dogs aren't allowed on trails or in the backcountry.
How to Include Your Dog in Your Elopement →
Where's the most private place to elope in Colorado?
Lake City. Every time.
Do we need a permit to elope in Colorado?
Sometimes! It depends on the location and who manages the land. National parks generally require ceremony permits, and some state parks and city parks do too. I'll help you figure out what applies to your spot.
Okay, But Where Should YOU Elope?
If you made it this far and still can't pick, that's normal. Fill out the form below, I'll send over my pricing guide, and we'll figure out the right spot together on a call.
Still figuring out the basics?
Start with How to Elope in Colorado → or Colorado Elopement Locations You Can Drive To →.