Best Places to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2025
Posted On | February 18, 2025
Rocky Mountain National Park is a dream elopement destination for couples who love to explore the outdoors. From wildflower meadows, to winding rivers, to alpine lakes and arctic tundra, you can’t go wrong with eloping here.
Before making your decision on the best place to elope in Rocky Mountain National Park, you need to know about the park’s regulations surrounding wedding ceremonies. RMNP considers your elopement a wedding ceremony if there is an exchange of vows or rings. If you are planning to hold your ceremony in the park, you are required to do so at one of the twelve designated sites within Rocky Mountain National Park. These are the only locations where you can actually hold a wedding ceremony within the park. Before or after your ceremony, you can adventure around the rest of RMNP for epic photos.
Below are descriptions and photos of each of the designated twelve ceremony locations within the park. We also wanted to provide you with some of our favorite spots for elopement photos beyond your ceremony.
Best Places to Elope In Rocky Mountain National Park
3M Curve Elopement
3M Curve, also commonly known as the Longs Peak Viewpoint, is an easy 3.5-mile drive from Beavers Meadow Visitor Center on the East entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s most known for its beautiful rock outcrop that overlooks the meadows of Moraine Park with the Rocky Mountain range and the infamous Longs Peak in the background. Although you have to walk along the rocks to get out to the idyllic elopement ceremony site, it is close to the road so can hear some traffic noise during busier times of the day. It is still probably one of our favorite locations for an elopement ceremony in Rocky Mountain National Park and is accessible all year long!
3M Curve is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want views of rolling meadows with the mountains in the background
- Want to feel on top of the world – this is the only designated site in RMNP that gives that feeling by standing on the rock outcrop
- You want a location that’s easy to access
RMNP Regulations for 3M Curve Elopements
- 15 people max year-round
- 3 car max year-round
3M Curve Overlook Coordinates
40°22’48.2″N 105°36’09.6″W
Sprague Lake Elopement
Sprague Lake is very accessible. With a short walk from the trailhead and wheelchair-accessible trails, it is also a popular spot for hikers and other tourists visiting the park. Located 7 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on the East side of RMNP, Sprague Lake is a popular location for elopement ceremonies. It has dramatic views of the mountains and lake, a dock that you can choose to get married on, and a knoll that you can hike up to for better views. This is a popular spot for moose to hang out in the summer as well! Whether you want to elope in Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter or summer, Sprague Lake is accessible all year round.
Sprague Lake is your perfect elopement location if…
- You love lakes, forests and mountain views
- You want easy access to trails and restrooms
- Variety of scenery is important to you
- You’re hoping for the chance to see moose
Sprague Lake Dock Coordinates
40°19’13.8″N 105°36’17.8″W
RMNP Regulations for Sprague Lake
- 15 people max during the summer/30 people max during the winter
- 3 car max during the summer/10 car max during the winter
- The vehicle limit and summer max applies from the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend through the second Tuesday in October
- Wedding cannot occupy the picnic site or block the trail for other visitors
Moraine Park Amphitheater Elopement
With a short, 2.7-mile drive from Beaver Meadows Visitor center on the East side of RMNP, the Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater is an ideal location for larger ceremonies. This is also the only wedding ceremony location on the East side with seating. The rustic amphitheater with wooden benches has scattered pine trees surrounding it, providing some shade from the sun. But, you still get views of Moraine Park and Longs Peak in the background.
Moraine Park Amphitheater is your perfect elopement location if…
- You’re having a ceremony with a larger guests count
- Seating for your guests is important to you
- You want pine trees
- You want an arch – this is one of the few locations in the park where an arch is allowed!
- You want to include your pup – this is one of three ceremony location in the park where dogs are allowed!
RMNP Regulations for Moraine Park Amphitheater
- 30 people max year-round
- 10 car max year-round
Moraine Park Amphitheater Coordinates
40°21’33.9″N 105°35’05.7″W
Bear Lake Elopement
Located 11 miles from Beavers Meadow Visitor Center on the East entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park is Beak Lake. This ceremony site is one of the most accessible locations to say your vows at in RMNP. The trail to the lake is flat and it’s only a short distance from the large parking lot. Bear Lake is spotted with beautiful groves of aspen trees that add greenery during the spring/summer and golden yellow in the fall. It’s busy (and accessible) all year round, but you can clearly see why this is the most popular trail in the entire park.
Bear Lake is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want a lake
- You want mountain views
- You want evergreen trees
- You’re getting married in late Fall, Winter, or Spring
RMNP Regulations for Bear Lake
- 20 people max weekdays only the 2nd Monday in October through the Friday of Memorial Day. Summer weddings and weekend weddings are not permitted here.
- 5 car max year-round
Bear Lake Coordinates
40°18’48.3″N 105°38’48.8″W
Copeland Lake Elopement
Copeland Lake is a little more off the beaten path because you don’t access it through the main Rocky Mountain National Park entrance. It is located 13 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor center, towards Allenspark, off HWY 7. There is a large space along the edge of the rocky lake for your ceremony. You still get those mountain views and gorgeous forested area that surrounds the lake. As fall and winter hit, the water level drops in Copeland Lake, not making it the most beautiful place for a Rocky Mountain National Park elopement during those times of the year.
RMNP Regulations for Copeland Lake
- 30 people max year-round
- 10 car max year-round
Copeland Lake Coordinates
40°13’08.0″N 105°32’10.5″W
Copeland Lake is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want a lake
- You are having a large number of guests attend your ceremony
- You want an easily accessible location
Upper Beaver Meadows Elopement
Upper Beaver Meadows is one of the most private ceremony sites in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s located only 1.5 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on the East side of the park. With views of the Continental Divide and rolling meadows, it is an idyllic Colorado location to get married at. An added bonus is there are restrooms available as well and they allow for larger weddings. Second to 3M Curve, this is our other favorite elopement location in Rocky Mountain National Park. The only downside is that the dirt access road is not maintained during the winter, so Upper Beaver Meadows can only be accessed during the summer months. There is a pretty significant burn scar from the 2020 East Troublesome fire at this location that will likely be visible in photos.
Upper Beaver Meadows is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want more privacy on your elopement day (there will still be people nearby, it’s inevitable, but typically a lot fewer people here than in other areas)
- You love large open meadows
- You still want mountain views
Upper Beaver Meadows Coordinates
40°22’21.6″N 105°36’51.0″W
RMNP Regulations for Upper Beaver Meadows
- 30 people max year-round
- 10 car max year-round
- No vehicle access mid-October through mid-May, but you may still hike in.
- Annual meadows closures occur September through October due to elk rut activity. Closures are in place between the hours of 5pm to 10am. During the specified hours, these meadow areas will be closed to all foot travel.
Alluvial Fan Bridge Elopement
The Alluvial Fan Bridge is a ceremony site in RMNP that is located 7 miles from Beavers Meadow Visitor Center on the East entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s situated up Old Fall River Road with the Roaring Snakes River winding through the bouldery area. It’s very busy during the summer months and one of the more popular parts of the park. It’s most idyllic during the spring and early summer months when the water is flowing faster. There are also restrooms nearby which is always a happy bonus.
Alluvial Fan is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want a waterfall and river
- You like the idea of eloping on a bridge
- You don’t mind crowds of people
RMNP Regulations for the Alluvial Fan Bridge
- 20 people max year-round
- 5 car max year-round
Alluvial Fan Bridge Coordinates
40°24’38.6″N 105°38’05.8″W
Hidden Valley Elopement
Hidden Valley is 6-mile drive from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on the East side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s part of a picnic area complete with bathrooms and wheelchair accessible for guests. There are not as many mountain views at this location, but the beautiful meadows of wildflowers during the summer, forest of pine trees and gorgeous aspen groves make up for it.
Hidden Valley is your perfect elopement location if…
- You love wildflowers for a summer elopement
- You want wheelchair access and bathrooms for guests
- Forests of pine and aspen trees are important to you
Hidden Valley Coordinates
40°23’36.8″N 105°39’21.0″W
RMNP Regulations for Hidden Valley
- 30 people max year-round
- 10 cars max year-round
- Your wedding ceremony cannot take up any of the space at the picnic sites nor block the trail for other visitors.
- Ceremonies are not allowed in the warming hut.
Lily Lake Dock Elopement
Located 6.4 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Hwy 7, the Lily Lake Dock is one of three locations where you can hold your ceremony at Lily Lake. Lily Lake provides stunning views of Longs Peak, Lily Mountain, and Twin Sisters Peak, and Mummy Range in the distance. The dock is adorable with the best views of the lake and mountains. It also happens to be the busiest of the three spots. Located outside of the gated area of the park, this area tends to be pretty busy year-round.
Lily Lake Dock is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want to get married on a dock over the water
- You love mountain views
- Wheelchair access and bathrooms are important to you
- You don’t mind a busy location
RMNP Regulations for the Lily Lake Dock
- 10 people max year-round
- 3 car max year-round
- Weddings may not occupy the nearby picnic area without a separate reservation (see below)
Lily Lake Dock Coordinates
40°18’24.7″N 105°32’18.6″W
Lily Lake Picnic Area Elopement
Located 6.4 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Hwy 7, the Lily Lake Southside Picnic Area is one of three locations where you can hold your ceremony at Lily Lake. The Southside Picnic Area is located 0.25 mile around the lake to the left on a knoll that overlooks the lake. This spot is a bit more private than the dock since it’s a bit tucked off of the trail, and has several picnic areas that can be used for seating during a ceremony, or for a small reception after.
Lily Lake Picnic Area is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want to get married next to a lake, but don’t like the idea of a dock
- You love mountain views
- You’d like seating for your guests, or would like a space for a small reception after
RMNP Regulations for the Lily Lake Picnic Area
- 30 people max year-round
- 10 car max year-round
- Weddings may not occupy the dock without a separate reservation (see above)
Lily Lake Picnic Area Coordinates
40°18’24.4″N 105°32’27.7″W
Lily Lake Trail Elopement
Located 6.4 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Hwy 7, the Lily Lake Trail is one of three locations where you can hold your ceremony at Lily Lake. You can walk anywhere along the trail that surrounds Lily Lake to hold your wedding ceremony, which allows for more flexibility in location and crowds. There are two trail bridges, one dock, and a boardwalk along the trail.
Lily Lake is your perfect elopement location if…
- You want to get married on a dock over the water
- You love mountain views
- Wheelchair access and bathrooms are important to you
Lily Lake Trail Coordinates
40°18’24.1″N 105°32’17.0″W
RMNP Regulations for Lily Lake
- 20 people max year-round
- 5 car max year-round
- Weddings may not occupy the dock or picnic area without a separate reservation (see above)
- Weddings must not block the trail for other visitors
Timber Creek Amphitheater Elopement
Located on the West side of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater is ideal if you are staying in Grand Lake or want the chance to drive over Trail Ridge Road after your ceremony. The amphitheater is located next to a campground and is the only ceremony site on the West side of the park with seating. You could even have all your guests stay at the campground during your stay! The Colorado River can be seen from this site along with meadows and views of the mountains.
Timber Creek is your perfect elopement location if…
- Wheelchair accessibility and restrooms are important
- You are considering camping while you are staying in RMNP
- You are staying in Grand Lake
- You want to include your pup – this is one of three ceremony location in the park where dogs are allowed!
RMNP Regulations for Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater
- 20 people max
- 5 car max
Timber Creek Amphitheater Coordinates
40°22’48.4″N 105°51’09.2″W
Harbison Meadows Picnic Area Elopement
Harbison Meadows is located on the West side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake. This is by far a much less busy area than the East side of the park. The location is next to a large meadow with plenty of wildlife (moose and elk are commonly spotted) and mountain views of the Never Summer mountain range in the background. This location was pretty severely damaged during the 2020 East Troublesome fire and does have a burn scar that is visible in the background.
Harbison Meadow is your perfect elopement location if…
- You like large open meadows
- You’re staying in Grand Lake
- You are having a large number of guests attend your ceremony
- You want to include your pup – this is one of three ceremony location in the park where dogs are allowed!
RMNP Regulations for Harbison Meadows
- 30 people max
- 10 car max
- You are not allowed to occupy the nearby picnic sites for your ceremony
Harbison Meadows Picnic Area Coordinates
40°16’55.4″N 105°50’18.7″W
Best Spots For Elopement Photos in Rocky Mountain National Park
Before or after your elopement ceremony at one of the designated sites listed above, you can explore the rest of Rocky Mountain National Park for photos. Here’s a list of our favorites:
Dream Lake
The easy, 2 mile (round trip) hike to Dream Lake leads to a picturesque view of Hallet Peak towering over Dream Lake. It’s stunning at both sunrise and sunset. But beware, it does get busy!
Dream Lake is accessible year-round and is a great spot to see wildlife, as well as changing leaves in the fall.
Trail Ridge Road
With 30 degree views of the Rocky Mountains, Trail Ridge Road gives you a top-of-the-world rush. There are views right off the road, as well as options to hike on trails to more secluded areas. Trail Ridge Road is perfect for stargazing on clear nights, but it is closed seasonally each winter, so plan for a summer or early fall elopement.
Moraine Park
We love Moraine Park because it tends to be more private. It’s only a short walk from the parking lot to reach a winding river through a vast grassy meadow. During the summer, you can spot lots of wildflowers and is best at sunset. During elk rutting season (mid-September to mid-October), Moraine Park is closed in the late afternoon through mid-morning to protect the wildlife.
West Alluvial Fan
This area has lots to explore in seclusion, including views of the Endovalley, aspens that turn golden in the fall, a rocky shore along a river, and even a waterfall nearby.
It’s a pretty private area of the park and is a short walk from the nearby parking area!
Real Rocky Mountain National Park Elopements
The Proof is in the pudding – Check out a few of the 50+ Rocky Mountain National Park elopements We’ve Photographed
More Rocky Mountain National Park Resources
Estes ParkElopement Guide
How to Elope in Rocky Mountain NAtional Park
What To Do During Your Elopement
Looking for a Rocky Mountain National Park Photographer?
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Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement + Small Wedding Packages
Meet Larissa and Bailey! We are two born and raised Coloradoans who specialize in planning and capturing epic elopements for our couples that feel authentic to who they are. Loveland Pass is THE spot to elope if you want adventure and stunning scenery. We specialize only in Colorado and can help you plan the perfect just-us day or a celebration with up to 30 of your friends/family.
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When we say we help with it all, we mean it. Location scouting and ideas. Vetted and LGBTQ+ allied vendors who know elopements. Recs for activities to do on your elopement day. Stress-free timeline planning. Planning resources and ideas. Unlimited communication because we never leave you high and dry.
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We’re 100% here for whatever day you’re dreaming up. Fill out our contact form to start chatting.
Comment Love
One response to “Best Places to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2025”
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This page was so extremely helpful in figuring out if we truly wanted to elope in Colorado! There are SO many places to choose from and this was amazing getting to see pictures that went with the name of each lake, mountain range etc. 🙂 Thank you for putting together such a simple, modern, beautiful guide to help anyone planning to elope / get married in Colorado!!
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