A Rocky Mountain Elopement is Full of Adventure!
It's no secret, that Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible experience. Towering mountains that leave every visitor in awe. Rushing waterfalls. Lakes that sparkle in the prettiest shades of blue. Towering trees. No matter which direction you look, there is something beautiful to see.
Summers are rather mild in Rocky Mountain National Park. Very low humidity. Be sure to always plan for rain. You never know in the mountains! RMNP is wonderful for many outdoor activities. There is an abundance of trails that can be used for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. It's important to note that Rocky Mountain National Park is a very large park. It takes a few hours to get from one side to the next.
Starting in May of 2024, the timed entry system will return to Rocky Mountain National Park. The will be two types of reservations available. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure. To find out more information about this you can click on the link here.
There are a variety of options within the park. If you are a lover of trees and meadows, there are so many wonderful spots. For those who want the mountain views, Trail Ridge Road is for you! Keep reading to learn more about how to elope in Rocky Mountain National Park!
When should you elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?
I recommend eloping in RMNP in the summer.
When planning to elope in RMNP, you should first start by setting a date. The weather is gorgeous in the summer. Summer is RMNP's busy season, however, the weather in this area can get questionable in the fall-spring. Blizzards can start happening as early as October and come as late as May. Some roads throughout the park are closed during winter. If you are wanting a winter elopement, you will need to plan your locations carefully.
Here are some average monthly temps (highs/lows) in RMNP to help you plan your date, my most recommended dates are in bold:
January 27/13
February 28/13
March 36/18
April 42/23
May 51/30
June 63/39
July 69/45
August 66/44
September 59/38
October 46/29
November 34/20
December 25/12
I recommend eloping on a weekday
There's no right or wrong day of the week to elope. If your schedule will only allow you to elope on a weekend, that's fine. If your schedule is more flexible, I would recommend eloping on a Tuesday-Thursday. There are fewer crowds. Finding accommodations will be easier (lodging fills up fast in RMNP). All the top vendors will have more availability.
What time of day is best?
Eloping during sunrise or sunset is the best time of day to elope. If you want the views all to yourselves, sunrise is the way to go. I will say, that some spots in Rocky Mountain are just magical at sunset. Trail Ridge Road has some incredible spots.
Where to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park?
How to decide on a ceremony location for your Rocky Mountain elopement
Once you have settled on a date, the fun part comes. Picking a ceremony location! This might feel overwhelming. Rocky Mountain National Park is a large area. There a so many amazing spots. It's hard not to go wrong!
When you choose to get married in Rocky Mountain National Park, you are required to have your ceremony at one of their twelve permitted sites. This rule applies even for two-person elopement ceremonies or vow renewals. For more information on these locations click here.
You will need a permit to elope in RMNP. That is where I come in. If your location requires a permit, I will walk you through the entire process. I help all my couples choose a ceremony location. There are a lot of things to keep in mind. Some locations will be better suitable based on needs. Some factors we will consider are the number of guests, parking, bathrooms, accessibility, pet friendly, hiking, or no hiking. If you are wanting to combine the ceremony location with a few others, we can work that into the day as well.
Where to stay?
For the best experience, I recommend staying in Estes Park. There are plenty of wonderful camping spots, lodging, and gorgeous Air B&B.
What to do on your elopement day?
Ideas for what to do on your elopement day in Rocky Mountain
Recommended activities:
-Hiking
-Rock Climbing
-Horseback riding
-Biking
-Going on a Pic-Nic
If you are interested in eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park, make sure to contact me for more info! I am frequently in the park, so I'd love to connect and help plan your Rocky Mountain elopement!
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