Best Places to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park

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.

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!

3 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

• 15 people max
• 3 car max

View Ali + Tom’s fall 3M Curve elopement or Jenna + Brian’s summer 3M Curve elopement for inspiration!

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. 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

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

View Amanda and Joe’s winter Sprague Lake elopement or Alexa + Peter’s summer Sprague Lake elopement for inspiration!

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.

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
• You are having more than 20 guests at your wedding ceremony

RMNP Regulations for Upper Beaver Meadows

• 30 people max
• 10 car max
• No vehicle access in the winter

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.

Aluvial 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
• 5 car max

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.

Bear Lake is your perfect elopement location if…

• You want a lake
• You want mountain views
• You want aspen trees

RMNP Regulations for Bear Lake

• 20 people max
• 5 car max
• Weekend weddings are not permitted year-round

View Wendy + Joseph’s Bear Lake elopement for inspiration!

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 you to include up to 50 of your friends and family. 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.

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

RMNP Regulations for Copeland Lake

• 30 people max
• 10 car max

Harbison Meadow 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.

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

RMNP Regulations for Harbison Meadows

• 30 people max
• 10 car max
• You are not allowed to occupy the nearby picnic sites for your ceremony

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

RMNP Regulations for Hidden Valley

• 30 people max
• 10 cars max
• Your wedding ceremony cannot take up any of the space at the picnic sites

Lily Lake Elopement

Located 6.4 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Hwy 7, there are three locations you can hold your elopement ceremony at Lily Lake: the dock, trail or south side picnic area. The dock is very adorable with the best views of the lake and mountains. It also happens to be the busiest of the three spots. 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. Lastly, the picnic area on the south side has beautiful, alternative views of the lake and mountains. This area holds up to 60 people and you can pay an extra $50 for gated access for two cars to the south side picnic area.

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

RMNP Regulations for Lily Lake

• 10 people max at the dock
• 20 people max on the trail
• 30 people max at the south side picnic area
• 10 car max
• *The vehicle limit of 10 applies from the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend through the second Tuesday in October

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 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

RMNP Regulations for Moraine Park Amphitheater

• 30 people max
• 10* car max
• *The vehicle limit applies from the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend through the second Tuesday in October

View Alexa + Jason’s Moraine Park Amphitheater wedding.

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

RMNP Regulations for Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater

• 20 people max
• 5 car max

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, short 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!

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.