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tips for planning your hiking elopement in Colorado’s rocky mountains

Table of Contents

  • Colorado hiking elopement planning guide | colorado elopement photographer
      • How to choose your hike…
      • Should you choose an all day elopement photography package?
      • How should you prepare to hike at high altitude in Colorado?
      • What should you wear?
      • Hiking Gear List

Colorado hiking elopement planning guide |
colorado elopement photographer

Colorado is home to some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains in North America. People come from all over the world to elope here. Colorado has 15 separate mountain ranges with the San Juan Mountains (my personal favorite) being the largest. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are made up of fifty-eight peaks exceeding 14,000 feet, over seven hundred 13,000 ft peaks, and more than one thousand mountains above 12,000 feet. And more 10,000 feet peaks than can even be counted. With that many mountains it has any and every kind of hike you can imagine, plus some. Hiking is very special here as it can get you to some of the most epic locations that can’t be accessed any other way. That’s why I put together this Colorado Hiking Elopement Planning Guide to help you get started!

a couple hikes under the alpenglow in American Basin near Handies Peak for their adventure photography session

How to choose your hike…

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains are full of beautiful hikes that can be the backdrop of your epic elopement. There are trails for every level of hiker. But choosing your hike is as much about your hiking level as it is about the rest of your vision for your elopement experience. You want to choose a hike in an area that fits your stamina and the rest of your activities. You don’t have to limit the rest of your elopement day just to get to hike. Here are few things to take note of us when choosing a hike for your elopement.

a couple hikes through tall pine trees together along a trail near Turquoise Lake in Colorado
  1. What is your hiking time? How long does it take you to go a mile and at what gain is that time covering?
    • Make not of the various times that you have from past hikes so you can keep those notes while you’re researching different hikes. Or just choose a hiking elopement photographer (like me) that does this step for you!
  2. Will you be having guests who are hiking with you?
    • You’ll want to take into consideration each of their average hiking paces when choosing a hike.
  3. What area are you wanting your elopement day to take place?
    • Choose a mountain range, mountain town or a mountain resort that is your favorite. This way you have a reference for where to look for hikes as well as an idea where your base camp will be. If you want to rent a cabin or stay at a fancy mountain resort this will help you narrow those down as well.
  4. What other activities do you want to include on your elopement day?
    • Maybe you want to hike your paddleboards to a lake for sunset paddle. Or have a chef meet you at the top of a 14er to make you breakfast after your sunrise ceremony.
  5. How much time do you have with your photographer?
    • Hiking time is generally included in the hourly coverage from your photographer. So you want to use your average hiking time that you figured out in #1 to make sure you aren’t choosing a hike that will take too long for your elopement photography package.

Should you choose an all day elopement photography package?

a couple crosses a creek together at their Breckenridge Elopement in Colorado

For most hiking and adventure elopements I suggest all day elopement coverage. The last thing you want on your elopement day it to feel rushed. You don’t even want to have to look at the clock at all this day. When you’re hiking to your ceremony location you want it to be like many of your other outdoor adventures; laid back, wandering, exploring and fun. Your average hiking pace along with the kind of hike you choose has a big affect on just how much time you’ll need. Before the ceremony you’ll also want to factor in time to change into your wedding wear, maybe write your vows, do a first look and just take in each and every moment together. After your ceremony, you might want to celebrate with a dance, sharing your favorite beverages, having a picnic and maybe even reading some letters from loved ones who aren’t there but want to be part of your perfect day.

A lot of couples want to do another activity that is dear to them along with their hike. For example some couples may hike to an alpine lake to paddle board in the summer or go ice skating in the winter. You may want to have a sunset picnic and enjoy the gorgeous stars under the dark skies Colorado has. Or maybe you want to take your 4×4 vehicle up to a trailhead and camp under the stars before hiking in the dark to have your ceremony on a peak at sunrise the next morning. There are so many options for you on your elopement day and they all play a role in what package is best for you. Talking through everything with your photographer and getting their expert advice is important.

a couple hikes back to the trailhead hand in hand after their Colorado hiking elopement on a mountain top near Boulder

How should you prepare to hike at high altitude in Colorado?

  • Hydrate: make sure to stay hydrated with water in the weeks leading up to your high altitude elopement. Add in electrolytes and minerals to make sure you aren’t flushing them out with the additional hydration.
  • Eat Well: eating healthy and nutritious meals in the months before your hiking adventure can help ensure better functioning body processes. You want your muscles to be ready to carry you and your stuff on your hike to your ceremony.
  • Train For It: adding weights (or heavier weights) to your workouts can help grow your leg muscles which is a great way to help lessen the chance of muscle fatigue and strain on your elopement day.
  • Research Your Hike: knowing just how high in elevation you’ll be, how far you’ll be hiking and how much elevation gain is important. Don’t sign up for a hike that is beyond your abilities. At least not on your elopement day.
  • Hire a Professional Hiking Elopement Photographer: hiring a pro who knows what they’re doing is so valuable. They’ll guide you to the right hikes for your abilities. They’ll give you gear recommendations. You’ll get logistics plans and an accurate but flexible timeline. Well, that’s what you get when you hire me anyways. ** Not every photographer who will book a hiking elopement in Colorado is an experienced hiker in Colorado. Do your research and invest in someone who is.
a groom kisses his wife on the cheek after their hiking adventure elopement near Breckenridge, Colorado

What should you wear?

Your outfits are completely up to you and your individuality and personalities. Wear a dress or don’t, wear a black dress, wear a suit, have flowers, wear a veil or don’t. There are only a few things I surely recommend to wear when it comes to hiking in Colorado.

Layers, Wool Socks and Hiking Shoes

Layers are crucial in Colorado because the weather here is wild. It can be 20 degrees in the morning and 70 in the afternoon. I always suggest having a pair of thermal leggings for underneath your dress and dress slacks that you can put on and take off it needed. Depending on the season you’re hiking/eloping in and the time of day the amount and type of layers you’ll want can vary. If you’re doing a sunrise hike then you’ll definitely want a warm layer for your upper body as well. I really like my puffy jacket that is lightweight but super warm and can be packed down really tiny into my hiking pack.
Wool socks are a staple to hikers in Colorado for their warmth and their ability to wick away sweat and water. If you are doing a summer hike in the middle of the day you may not want them to be very thick or tall. But you will still want them to be wool because feet are more susceptible to blisters when they get wet.
I always suggest some kind of hiking shoe because well, you’re going on a hike. Having the proper footwear is a safety precaution. The soles help grip on possible slippery surfaces. Hiking boots that have ankle protection help you walk more safely over uneven surfaces to serve in case of a misstep and rolled ankle. If you are the type to wear heels or fancy speciality shoes that’s totally fine, just bring them in your pack to change into for the ceremony. If you wear a pair of white boots just be prepared for them to get dirty. But if you’re choosing a hiking elopement you’re likely prepared to get dirty anyways.

Hiking Gear List

  • hiking day pack with 2+ liter water bladder compartment
  • H2O
  • headlamp
  • hiking boots
  • microspikes
  • outer rain/wind shell jacket
  • thermal base layers
  • wool socks
  • snacks- lots of snacks
  • hiking poles
  • sunblock
  • sunglasses

Feral Mountain Co is a great place to buy and rent outdoor adventure gear in Colorado! Check out my beginner’s guide to hiking that’s linked below for more places to purchase or rent gear.

Nat Moore Photography hiking the knife edge on Kelso Ridge to Torreys Peak in Colorado

Check out my
Beginner’s Guide to Hiking in Colorado

to get started with hiking or for the best places to buy new and used gear, how to prepare for altitude, signs of altitude sickness and so much more!

If you’re looking for a hiking photographer to adventure with you on your elopement day in Colorado
I’D LOVE TO HELP!

Filed Under: Colorado Adventures & Hiking, Elopement Planning Resources

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It’s almost ice skating on frozen alpine lakes s It’s almost ice skating on frozen alpine lakes season!!! Did you see the mountains got their first snow near Alma last night?! Okay, we have a little while before the high alpine lakes freeze but still. I’m ready to freaking snowboard and capture all your winter adventures!!! 

Who’s eloping or adventuring this winter? I’m ready to make some snowy, wintery, magical goodness with y’al! 

Hit me up at the link in my bio to get on the books for a winter adventure! 

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Whatever it is I’m sure glad it’s legal 😁🫶🏔🥾

I’ve got a shoot tonight and it’s right by my favorite short and quick hike.. thinking I’ll hike before my shoot. 🤩
And I’ve got an elopement tomorrow and I’m thinking I’ll go for a sunrise ridge hike. I really need me some “outdoors” right now. ⛰🙏🙌🫶
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cover photo by the always amazing & lovely @blueflamestudioco (edited by me)
Photographers don’t deliver raws for a few reaso Photographers don’t deliver raws for a few reasons..

- raws aren’t what most people think they are. They aren’t just an unedited jpeg. JPEGs are actually slightly edited version of the photos. They’re just edited automatically by the camera for the photo to look the best. iPhone’s use AI to edit their jpegs so it’s an upper level of editing. Raw photos are just that, raw, with no adjustments done by the camera (or smartphone) at all. It takes a little bit more editing to a raw image to get it to look like an edited jpeg. 

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Most photographers will sell their raw photos for an additional price. This is often done in the commercial photography industry so the company can edit the photo how they need to and have creative control. 

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you two deserve to celebrate big! Your elopement you two deserve to celebrate big!  Your elopement with just the two of you (or a few people) deserves the same grandeur of a large wedding! It’s just looks and feels different. 

People think elopements mean just an hour or two of coverage because it’s so small. But elopements are just as special and important as a big wedding.

Let’s normalize couples making the most out of their elopement day and celebrating in ways that are as adventurous and unique as you are! You might not be spending as much as a big day would cost but that doesn’t mean your day deserves less of a celebration. You just get to choose to spend your time and money in different ways, ways that are based on your experience and not a party for 150 people. 

Think big when you’re eloping! A question I like to ask couples is if money was no issue, what would you do on your elopement day (wedding day- this is still your wedding day!)?! 

Or I also like to help them shift their mindset a little.. by letting them know to think of your elopement day as your honeymoon. Your elopement experience can and should be crafted like your honeymoon. Start romanticizing your elopement!! 

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