Brainard Lake Recreation Area is one of the most popular locations for elopements and engagement sessions near Boulder, and has only gotten busier since introducing timed entry reservations during the pandemic. As a local photographer I want to share my experience and insider tips, whether you’re a couple considering eloping at Brainard Lake or a photographer doing research on permits.
It’s obvious why Brainard Lake has become so popular among Colorado photographers—you’ll have the most incredible views looking west towards the mountains from the moment you step out into the parking lot, and it only gets better as you make your way down to the lake. If you want to be in the mountains without having to hike anywhere, and you don’t mind if the trade off is that there will always be other people around, Brainard Lake might be perfect for you.
Best time to elope at Brainard Lake
The road to Brainard Lake is open from mid-June through mid-October, although the exact dates always change based on snowfall and road conditions. During these months, you can drive right up to the main trailhead parking lot, and from there it’s a quick five minute walk down to the lake. You can also camp at Pawnee Campground from the end of June through mid-September.
Early in the summer, the water level is quite high from snow melt, and there’s not much of a beach or lakeshore area to walk around the lake. This can be limiting for photos, as I encourage you to practice Leave No Trace principles and stay on trails and durable surfaces. Walking around on the vegetation quickly leads to creating social trails, and fragile alpine flowers can take decades to regrow. While you can still manage good photos here early in the season, I’d recommend against any elopements with guests when there’s no shoreline.
While Brainard is beautiful all summer long, I’m personally partial to fall, both for the leaves changing colors and for the decreased visitation numbers once the campground closes for the season. There’s always a chance of colder temperatures, and I’ve even seen it snow here in early September, but the softer light in fall makes it worth the risk of being cold if you ask me!
Brainard Lake in winter
When the road to Brainard Lake closes in mid-October, you can still hike to the lake along the closed road, but it’s a 5-mile round-trip. In winter, there are also snowshoe and cross-country ski trails that you can take, if you want something a bit more adventurous than following the road. While the area is popular for winter recreation, it’s often super windy up here, so be prepared for a cold day, and don’t be afraid to turn around or change plans if the weather is too much.
Best time of day for photos at Brainard Lake
Brainard Lake is beautiful for photos at both sunrise and sunset. The biggest views are towards the mountains to the west, and on clear mornings they’re lit up with alpenglow first thing in the morning. After that the light gets harsher as the sun climbs higher, and unless there’s cloud coverage it’ll remain bright until the late afternoon when the sun comes from behind the lake. Golden hour here is always beautiful, and the sky often lights up in spectacular sunset colors.
Because Brainard Lake sits at an elevation of 10,396 feet, it’s important to check the forecast and be prepared for quick changes in the weather. It can go from sunny and nice to thunderstorms and hail in half an hour on afternoons in the summer!
With being one of the easiest places to access great views with little effort close to Boulder and Denver, there’s always a chance you’ll run into other photographers here for engagement sessions or elopements. Just be kind, share the space, and remember that everyone has the same right to be here.
Brainard Lake Reservations
Brainard Lake Recreation Area has required timed entry reservations since 2020, and I personally think this is a good thing. Instead of wondering whether you’ll be able to get a parking spot, you have a guaranteed space at your trailhead of choice—as long as you remember to make your reservation in advance. All reservations are done through recreation.gov, and you’ll need to get it before heading up there as you likely won’t have cell phone service once you get close to the entrance station.
Timed entry reservations cost $16 for a personal vehicle, but only $2 if you have an America the Beautiful annual pass. (The interagency annual pass for the National Parks Service and US Forest Service.) There is no fee in winter, when the road is closed at the gate.
Brainard Lake Photography Permit
After the EXPLORE Act passed in January of 2025, there is finally clarity around photography permits for the US Forest Service, which includes Brainard Lake that’s managed by the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forest.
You do not need a permit for most photography sessions at Brainard Lake. It no longer matters whether you are paid for the photos or not, or whether you’ll be using the photos to market your business, as permits are now based on impact rather than commercial vs non-commercial activity. As long as you don’t have a photo/video crew of more than 6 people (not including your clients), you don’t need a permit for photography or videography here.
One important part of this is that you can only photograph legal activities. Setting up chairs, an arch, or decorations for a ceremony goes against the normal use of the area, and you would need to apply for a Special Use Permit for an event. (And it would most likely be denied, as there’s no way to have a big ceremony in a location like this without having a negative impact on both the land and other people recreating here.)
Looking for a photographer for your elopement or engagement session at Brainard Lake? As a local photographer based right in Boulder, I’d love to see if we’re a good fit. Check out my elopement collections and engagement session pricing, then contact me to schedule a call if you’re interested in learning more.
