Planning to elope in Boulder? I did the same thing, all the way back in 2011. Since then, I’ve photographed countless Boulder elopements, and helped local couples and out-of-state visitors alike plan their wedding days in the mountains I call home.
In this guide, I’ll share the best places to elope in Boulder, venues where you can have larger elopements and intimate weddings, local vendors who can help make your day extra special, and all my favorite insider tips on how to have an epic elopement day.
Reasons to elope in Boulder
- Boulder has been named the best place to live in the U.S, and the happiest city in the country.
- The City of Boulder has over 45,000 of open space land, 150 miles of trails, and 60 urban parks. You may have seen photos of the Flatirons from Chautauqua, but there’s so much more variety in the Boulder OSMP trail system.
- The “low” altitude of 5,328′ (when compared to mountain towns like Breckenridge and Estes Park) means you’re less likely to deal with altitude sickness.
- Boulder has over 300 restaurants (and 20+ breweries), and Pearl Street has been named one of the “Ten Best Foodie Streets in America.”
- 70% of Boulderites own a bicycle, and the city often plows the bike paths before the streets in winter (no joke). If you’re looking for an active place to stay for your elopement / honeymoon trip, Boulder is perfect!
- It’s the most dog-friendly place to elope in Colorado. You’ll see one dog for every five humans on the trails in Boulder, and there are plenty of breweries and patios that allow dogs as well. (Your dog can even sign your marriage license as your witness!)
Best places to elope in Boulder
I’m going to be completely honest with you. The very best places to elope in Boulder are not going to be found listed online. My favorite places are the hidden gems that don’t have location tags on social media, where you can have an incredible elopement experience in the mountains, away from other people.
That being said, the locations I’m about to share are still some of the best places to take pictures for a Boulder elopement. While they may not have the most privacy, they have the iconic Flatirons views that Boulder is known for, the mountain settings without the long hikes, and the easy access that make the Foothills such an amazing place to live, work, and get married.
Can you elope anywhere in Boulder?
No. Some locations have restrictions against elopements, and others are limited by the guest count. While you can elope on many trails in Boulder, you should always research the rules and required permits first (or talk to a local photographer who has experience in the area.)
Lost Gulch Overlook
Lost Gulch Overlook is one of the most popular places to elope in Boulder, and also one of the busiest trailheads in the county. Part of the Open Space & Mountain Parks system, there are some restrictions in place, like no elopements with guests, no furniture or decorations, and no blocking access for others. If you go to Lost Gulch around sunset on a weekend, there will be dozens of other people around, from college students to engagement sessions. Not the vibes you want for your elopement! But if you’re open to eloping on a weekday, and even better—a weekday at sunrise—Lost Gulch can be incredible.
Chautauqua
Chautauqua Park is the single busiest trailhead in Boulder County. And when you pull up and see the epic views of the Flatirons right from the parking lot, you can see why. Like Lost Gulch, Chautauqua is part of Boulder OSMP, requires a permit, and has restrictions around the available days and times, but can be an epic place to elope on a weekday in the slow-season. No matter the time of day and year, you’ll always see other hikers here, but Boulderites are used to seeing couples in wedding attire on the trails, and you’ll end up with a lot of “congratulations!” yelled from strangers.
Sunrise Amphitheater
Sunrise Amphitheater is the most iconic wedding venue in Boulder, and can be reserved through Boulder OSMP. The stone platform stage is best suited for elopements with guests, but it can also be epic for a couple who wants a reserved space without hikers in the background. As the name suggests, this place is best first thing in the morning when the sun rises over the plains in the east, right behind the stage.
Artist Point
Artist Point is close to Sunrise Amphitheater at the top of Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, and good for small elopements with no or few guests. It’s also part of Boulder OSMP. It’s more tucked away into the trees than nearby Lost Gulch, but in exchange the location offers more privacy, and there are a few spots where the trees open up and give you the full mountain views. Artist Point is only available from May through October (unless you want to hike in), as the road to the Flagstaff summit is closed Oct 31-April 30 every year.
Halfway House
Halfway House is another of the shelters and facilities that can be rented from Boulder OSMP. The main stone hut has a patio that can be used for ceremonies, but the highlight of this location is the meadow with views of the Flatirons. Halfway House sits halfway up the road from Chautauqua to the Flagstaff summit, and can be accessed year-round. It’s also conveniently located right across the road from Flagstaff House – one of the best restaurants in Boulder. (More on that venue later!)
Red Rocks Trail
The Red Rocks trail is part of the Boulder OSMP trail system, and located centrally in Boulder. This is the perfect elopement location for couples who love rock climbing and bouldering (or just climbing around on cool rocks without calling it a sport—hi, that’s me). The rock formations are really fun to play around on for photos, and provide hidden spots to tuck away to get more privacy. Red Rocks is best for elopements without guests, as there are not many options for getting off the trail without stepping on the vegetation.
Brainard Lake
Brainard Lake is a high alpine lake located at 10,300′ in the mountains west of Boulder. This is one of the most popular destinations in the Boulder Ranger District of Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest. It’s different from the other Boulder locations on this list because of the high altitude, but a great option for big mountain views without a long drive or hike. The road to the lake is open from mid-late June until mid-October, as it’s completely covered in snow the rest of the year. In the summer season, you can drive up to the trailhead close to the lake, but the easy access means that it’s always busy up here. You will need a timed entry reservation to enter Brainard Lake when the road is open.
Gross Reservoir
Have you been picturing eloping on the shores of an alpine lake? Gross Reservoir is the closest big lake to Boulder, and a great option for elopements with no guests. The lake looks its best earlier in the summer, as the water level is drained pretty heavily toward the end of summer, and leaves the lakeshore looking kinda gross. You do need a permit from Denver Water to elope here (cost varies by group size), and there are restrictions on the group size and dates/times allowed. (Permits are temporarily on hold while the dam expansion project is undergoing.)
Boulder Falls
Easily one of the coolest winter elopement locations in the Boulder area. The falls freeze over in winter, so you can walk out onto the ice (at your own risk!). This is a short, easy, and popular hike, so be prepared to see other people here. There’s not much space to move around away from the base of the falls.
Hidden gems across Boulder
Not sold on any of the locations I’ve named here? I put together custom lists for all my booked couples with my very favorite Boulder elopement locations—the ones where we’ll have the mountains to ourselves without all the restrictions. If you’re open to driving up to an hour outside of Boulder, west into the mountains, it opens up so many incredible trails. So if you’re interested in having me as your photographer, reach out and let’s schedule a time to chat more!
Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks Permits
You’ve seen me reference Boulder OSMP a lot in this guide, so I wanted to include some more information on how to rent one of their facilities, get a special use permit, and make sure your photographer has a commercial use permit to legally photograph your elopement.
Shelter & Facility Rentals
There are six different picnic shelters and facilities that can be rented for weddings and elopements through Boulder OSMP: Sunrise Amphitheater, Stone Shelter, Wood Shelter, Halfway House, Bluebell Shelter, and Green Mountain Lodge. Sunrise Amphitheater and Halfway House are my favorite options for good ceremony views, but the others are great if you’re interested in something a little more private, and don’t mind trading in open views for cozy forest feels.
You cannot rent any of the shelters on Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. The shelters on the summit of Flagstaff (Stone Shelter, Wood Shelter, and Sunrise Amphitheater) are closed for rentals from October 31 to April 30 every year, as the road to the summit is closed, and the parking at Halfway House is closed from late November through December when the Flagstaff Star is lit up.
Rental fees range from $50-400, depending on the facility, time block, and whether you’re a Boulder resident or not (as residents receive a discount). You can easily check availability and make a reservation online. Read more from Boulder OSMP.
Photography / Commercial Use Permit
If you are planning to elope on Boulder OSMP lands and trails without renting a facility, your photographer needs a commercial use permit from Boulder OSMP. The permit is cheap, either $50 or $300 depending on how often the photographer plans to work in Boulder during the calendar year.
Elopements without a facility rental are generally limited to quick vow exchanges without guests, and cannot occupy or block one area for too long. You cannot use chairs, ceremony arches, rugs, or any other furniture or decorations outside of the shelter rentals.
The same rules also apply if you are just planning to take pictures without an elopement ceremony, like for engagement photos, family photos, senior portraits, etc. Any time you are paying for a professional photographer, the photographer has to have the commercial use permit. If you’re just going out to take pictures with friends, or asking a friend to take a family photo for your holiday cards, you do not need the permit. Boulder OSMP has a handy “do I need a permit” quiz online if you’re unsure.
Whether you’re reading this as a couple about to get married, or a photographer doing research on how to work in Boulder, please please please make sure that the photographer has a permit. Eloping or taking photos without a permit can get you a hefty fine by a park ranger, and makes this more difficult for everyone in the future.
Boulder Elopement Venues
If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a nice meal or celebrate with your favorite people after your elopement, Boulder has lots of great options. Many restaurants have private dining rooms for anywhere from 12-40 people, and there are also dozens of more traditional wedding venues in the area. Many offer cheaper rentals for weekday or morning events, perfect for a smaller reception. I have written more about all my favorite venues in Boulder here.
How to get a marriage license in Boulder
The rules for getting a marriage license in Boulder are pretty straight-forward if you’re local to Colorado:
- Apply online.
- Schedule a video call appointment for ID verification.
- Your license will be mailed to you via USPS.
- Complete the certificate on your wedding day.
- Return the completed license either through the mail or their drop box in Boulder or Longmont.
If you’re visiting Boulder from out-of-state, it gets a bit more complicated. You’ll still need to apply online first, then contact the recording office for further instructions on how to pick up your license. Learn more from the Boulder County Recording Division.
(If you’re rushed for time or can’t get a pickup time that works for you in Boulder, nearby Larimer, Gilpin, Broomfield, and Jefferson counties all offer in-person appointments to get a marriage license.)
Insider tips to eloping in Boulder
Sunrise and sunset are the best times of day to elope. Sunrise is popular for hikers, trail-runners, and other athletes, while sunset can be busy with tourists, casual visitors, and photo shoots. Avoid mid-day if possible, since the Colorado sun is very harsh, and not the most flattering for photos. The trails are also busiest from 9am-2pm, so before or after that is ideal for privacy.
Avoid weekends if possible. Saturday and Sunday each see about 25% of the weekly trail traffic, while the five weekdays each get about 10%. That can make a huge difference if you’re hoping for a private elopement without other people around.
Boulder is epic all year round. I have a whole post on the best months to elope in Colorado, but let’s be real—there’s no bad time. That being said, the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is high season for tourism in Boulder, and also the busiest time of year on the hiking trails. If you want warm weather and green grass and trees, you’re pretty limited on staying within that period in Boulder, but if you’re open to cooler temperatures you can gain a lot of privacy (and better deals on lodging) by eloping between mid-September and mid-May.
Avoid these dates. The first week of May is graduation for the University of Colorado at Boulder (go Buffs!), and best avoided for elopements. Every restaurant in town is packed, and every easy-access trail is covered in students in graduation caps and gowns taking their last mountain-photos before leaving town. Memorial Day weekend is another busy one, because of the Bolder Boulder 10K that sees over 50,000 people running through the streets of town.
Boulder Elopement Vendors
One of the best parts of living and working in Boulder is the incredible venue community we have here! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are some of my very favorite people that I’ve worked with over the past seven years.
Hair and Makeup Artists
Where to stay in Boulder
Are you traveling to Boulder for your elopement? This town has a huge variety in lodging, from bougie vacation rentals in historic neighborhoods, to modern, luxury hotels downtown. Wherever you choose to stay in Boulder, I have two tips for you:
- Book your lodging early. The summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) is very busy here, and lodging fills up fast.
- Look at the map before booking lodging. You most likely want to stay within the city of Boulder, and not in nearby Longmont, Superior, or other towns east of the mountains.
Best hotels in Boulder
Boulder has no shortage of beautiful hotels, so you are by no means limited to staying in vacation rentals when visiting. The St Julien is my personal favorite, for the convenient location downtown, cocktail bar, spa, and excellent service—but you can’t go wrong with any of these.
Best vacation rentals in Boulder
If you prefer staying in vacation rentals while traveling, you’ll love the options available in Boulder. There are so many unique, well-designed homes here, and there’s something in every price range. I have gathered all of my favorites into this post on the best vacation rentals in Boulder.
Boulder elopement galleries
Looking for a photographer?
If you’re looking for a local photographer who can help you plan and capture the perfect elopement, I’d love to hear from you. You can see my full elopement pricing here, and if I’m in your budget we’ll schedule a video consultation so we can talk more about how I can help you elope in Boulder.
