Ice Castles in Colorado

The Ice Castles is one of the coolest places to to visit in Colorado in winter. It’s a popular destination, so if you want to do wedding, elopement, proposal, or engagement photos at the Ice Castles, read this guide for tips on how to get the best experience and photos, without a bunch of tourists in the background.

2025 update: the Ice Castles will be back in Colorado this year, but in two new locations—Cripple Creek and Eagle. The Ice Castles used to be in Dillon, but that location closed in 2023.

About the Colorado Ice Castles

The Cripple Creek Ice Castles are located in Cripple Creek, about an hour west of Colorado Springs, and two hours south of Denver. The address is 339 Irene Avenue, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, and you can find it on Google Maps. Cripple Creek is a very small town, so there’s not much else going on here, but it’s a fun little day trip out from the Springs if you’re excited for the Ice Castles. This location also has the “Polar Pub” where you can buy winter-themed alcoholic beverages.

The Eagle Ice Castles are located in Eagle, about 2.5 hours west from Denver, half an hour west from Vail, or two hours east from Grand Junction. The address is 794 Fairgrounds Rd, Eagle, CO 81631, and you can find it on Google Maps. This is a new location for the 2024-2025 winter season, and I’m super excited to see the Ice Castles back in the mountains and close to a ski resort!

Ice Castles in other states

You can also visit the Ice Castles in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Utah. Ticket prices vary from location to location, so use the links for each location to read more about visiting them. I’ve only been to the Ice Castles in Colorado, so this guide will focus on that—but many of the tips for photography will apply to all of them.

Tickets to the Ice Castles

You need tickets to visit the Ice Castles. Ticket prices range from $16-29 depending on peak vs off-times. As they sell a limited number of tickets for each entry time slot, you should plan to purchase tickets online before your trip. They may have tickets available at the gate, but they’re often sold out, and advance ticket holders also get priority entry.

Sign up for the Ice Castles newsletter via their website, and you’ll be the first to know when they announce a new location, opening dates, and when tickets go on sale.

Photography at the Ice Castles

Professional photography at the Ice Castles is allowed during regular operating hours, as long as you adhere to these rules:

• You must talk to the Event Manager when you check-in at the box office, to let them know you’re doing a photo shoot. They’ll give you a brief spiel on the rules.
• You must purchase tickets for everyone involved, including the photographer and clients.
• You can only bring cameras—items like tripods, flashes, artificial lighting, etc. are not allowed at the Ice Castles. That includes bringing an assistant to handhold a flash. Make use of the natural light!
• You cannot block off any areas of the Ice Castles for photography.
• You cannot ask other Ice Castles guests to leave an area or move for your photography purposes.
• There are no guarantees that you’ll be able to get photos without other guests in the background. (Although I have some tips on this, if you keep reading!)
• For full photography rules, visit the Ice Castles’ FAQ page here.

The Ice Castles can’t accommodate special requests like allowing a photographer in before they open to the public.

Elope at the Ice Castles

If you want to elope at the Ice Castles, the best way to do that is to reserve the Arctic Alcove. This is a private, roped-off area that’s exclusively yours for the rental time. The cost is $450/hour, and includes 6 tickets for yourselves, any guests, and your photographer. This area is small though, so while it’s perfect for something like an elopement ceremony or a proposal, you’ll still want to visit the main area that’s open to everyone for some of your photos.

You can also elope somewhere in nature nearby, then head to the Ice Castles for photos afterwards. If you want ideas for where to elope near either the Cripple Creek or Eagle locations, book a local elopement photographer (hi, that’s me!) who can help you with the logistics.

Best time to visit the Ice Castles

The Ice Castles always try to open before Christmas, since the holidays are a popular time to visit, but the exact opening dates are dependent on the weather for obvious reasons. January through March is the safest time to plan a visit, as the castles are guaranteed to be open.

The best time of day to visit the Ice Castles is around sunset, so that you can see the ice sculptures in daylight first, then watch the transition to artificial light after the sun goes down. It’s the best of both worlds, and will give you the most unique photos.

If you’re able to go on a weekday, you’ll have a more quiet experience than on the weekends. Monday through Wednesday is especially nice, and the only time I would recommend going for elopement photos.

No matter what day of the week or time of day you visit the Ice Castles, you should be prepared to share the experience with anywhere from 20-100 other people. It’s incredibly unlikely that you will ever be the only people there.

Insider Tips for visiting the Ice Castles

Get tickets for the earliest entry time slot of the day, and arrive at least 15-20 minutes before they open. If you are first in line, you’ll have the best chance of getting wide angle photos without other visitors in the background.

For photographers, start with the epic wide angle photos, then move into closer up photos as the Ice Castles start filling up with other visitors.

Wear good shoes! High snow boots like Sorel or Kodiak are perfect for visiting the Ice Castles, because the surface you’re walking on is made up of crushed ice and snow. It kinda feels like you’re on a sandy beach, except a lot colder—and you will get snow in your shoes unless they go above your ankles.

Bring a warm coat to wear in between photos, or even better, warm clothes that you’re okay with being photographed in so you don’t have to keep taking off layers. If you’re wearing a dress, wear leggings or tights under your dress to keep warm.

Photos from the Ice Castles

Are the Ice Castles worth the hype?

I personally think so! The whole ice structure is unlike anything you can find in nature, and you can get some incredible photos there. It is a bit touristy, and there will always be other people around, but everyone’s friendly and excited to be there. And if you’re visiting the Ice Castles in wedding attire for photos, be prepared to hear congratulations from everyone.