Mountain Elopement Guide for 2023 [Locations + Packages]

From the jagged peaks of Alaska to the fall-colored caps of Vermont, there are a variety of different mountain locations to choose from for your elopement. Whether you’re looking for the best mountainous locations or simply wanting to know more about the weather in high altitude areas, you’re in the right place. This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about planning your very own elopement in the mountains. From elopement packages and permits to locations and weather, this guide truly has it all.

Ultimate Mountain Elopement Checklist

1. Choose your mountain elopement location
2. Choose the best time of year to elope
3. Hire your vendors
4. Apply for your marriage license and permits
5. Book your activities
6. Create your timeline
7. Mountain elopement packages

Can I Elope on Top of a Mountain?

Yes! Whether you’re open to hiking 10 miles or simply looking for an accessible location, it’s totally possible to elope on top of a mountain! Check out some of the best locations below.

10 Best Mountain Elopement Locations in the U.S.

Before choosing your elopement location, think about the scenery you want. Are you looking for dramatic, jagged peaks covered in snow? Prefer something more subdued like rolling hills? Not all mountains are created equal! Below are some of the best mountain elopement locations in the United States.

North Cascades National Park

You won’t be able to find mountains as big and grand as those found within North Cascades National Park located in Washington State. Home to mountains like Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan make this location hard to beat. Plus, the park offers numerous hiking trails, lookout points, and lush forests. And don’t even get me started on the adorable Airbnbs nearby!

See a complete guide all about how to elope in North Cascades National Park here!

Olympic National Park

One of the most stunning mountain ranges, the Olympic Mountains, can be found in Olympic National Park located in Washington. The variety of scenery this park offers is insane, and the mountain views are incredible, especially during sunrise and sunset.

See an epic Hurricane Ridge elopement (pictured below) here!

See an entire guide about how to elope in Olympic National Park here!

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is probably one of the first locations that come to mind when thinking about mountains. The park itself is huge, making finding a secluded spot very easy. Due to the popularity of the park, I always recommend eloping here during the fall season.

See a super in-depth Grand Teton elopement guide here!

Northern California

Northern California (my home), is one of the most underrated elopement locations in the U.S.! If you’re wanting an adventure elopement in the mountains, look no further. It’s especially beautiful during the fall months. Being home to Mt. Shasta and Lassen Peak makes this place hard to miss.

Check out my Northern California elopement guide!

Check out the elopement pictured here!

Denali National Park

I couldn’t make a mountain elopement guide and not include Denali National Park. One of the most rugged and wild places in Alaska. Filled with endless mountain ranges, wildlife, and glacial lakes makes this location one of the best. If you want a huge mountain during your elopement, consider checking out Denali National Park, though you truly can’t go wrong eloping anywhere in Alaska!

See an Alaska elopement guide here!

Utah

One of the fastest growing states in the U.S., Utah, is home to some of the most beautiful and accessible mountains such as Mount Timpanogos, Desert Peak, and Mount Peale. What’s unique about this area is the variety of mountainous terrain. You can have either a forested mountain area, or a desert one!

Mount Rainier National Park

Another mountainous area located in Washington State is Mount Rainier National Park. Due to its proximity to Seattle, this national park gets very busy during the summer, which is why I always recommend eloping here during the spring or fall. There are dozens of hiking trails that will take you up close and personal with Mt. Rainier herself.

Check out this awesome Mt. Rainier elopement guide!

San Juan Mountains

The San Juan Mountains are another super underrated location for mountain elopements. Located mainly in Colorado, this location is perfect for couples wanting a true off-the-grid experience. It’s way less popular than places like Rocky Mountain National Park, yet it offers the same stunning views.

Learn more about locations in the San Juan Mountains here.

Glacier National Park

Located in Montana, Glacier National Park is quickly becoming one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. It’s also very popular for couples wanting an epic mountain elopement. There are numerous hiking trails and mountain views all around the park, though this park has recently been a bit busier than most.

Check out how to elope in Glacier National Park here!

Mount Hood

Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon that sees millions of visitors each year! There are tons of hiking trails and forested areas to explore around the mountain. Plus, the Airbnbs that are nearby are some of the cutest I’ve ever seen! The area is also covered in forests and waterfalls!

Learn more about locations and how to elope in Mt. Hood here!

Other Notable Mountain Elopement Locations

• Yosemite/Sierra Nevadas, California
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
• Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee
• Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
• Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho
• White Mountains, New Hampshire
• Telluride, Colorado
• Kauai, Hawaii

What Time of Year is Best for a Mountain Elopement?

While eloping on top of a mountain during any time of the year would be amazing, unfortunately it’s not possible in most locations.

Because mountains are at a higher altitude, they have a short snow-free season. July – September is going to be the best time of year for a mountain elopement. In some locations, you can stretch that time into the beginning of October (when the fall colors are at their peak). While most people consider eloping in June, the trails in 90% of these areas are still going to have lots of snow. I personally recommend eloping during the end of September. This is the least busy time during the peak season, and the weather is usually still very nice!

If you can, avoid visiting most mountainous locations in the winter. The amount of snow and ice can make getting to these locations very difficult, dangerous, and usually impossible with closed roads. Plus, being freezing cold on your elopement day is never fun!

Hire Your Vendors

I’m a bit biased, but before you hire any other vendor, be sure to hire a photographer who specializes in elopements. More specifically, hire an elopement photographer who has experience shooting in the mountains. Elopement photographers can be extremely helpful during the planning process. They can let you know what locations are the best, find hidden trails, give great weather insight, let you know about popularity of an area, etc.

After hiring your photographer, consider hiring other vendors to help bring your magical day to life, such as an officiant, planner, hair and makeup artist, florist, cake designer, personal chef, etc.

Below are some of my favorite vendors who have experience working outdoors, specifically in mountainous regions.

• Brianna Parks (photographer) – Oh hey, that’s me! I live in the mountains of Northern California and specialize in outdoor elopements along the West Coast! I also send detailed vendor recommendations to every client.
• The Slow Cult (planner, stylist, and florist)
• Tapestry Event Co. (planner + stylist)
• Beauty by Kait Joy (hair and makeup)
• Anne Timss (hair and makeup)
• Millsweet Flower Co (florist)
• Historia Florals (florist)
• Officiant Jimmie (officiant)
• Ceremonies by Meredith (officiant)

Get Your Marriage License and Permits

If you’re going to be getting legally married, you’ll need to apply for a marriage license (I can help with this), as well as your special use permit (I can also help with this)!

Depending on where you get married, you’ll need what’s called a “Special Use Permit.” You’ll usually need this permit if you elope in a national park, national forest, or state park. This permit can be obtained, for example, through the national park or forest you’ll be getting married in. This permit essentially grants you permission to have a ceremony on the land. Failure to obtain a permit will result in a fine.

However, don’t be alarmed! Getting the special use permit is a very easy process. If you’re wanting to know how to get a special use permit, contact your elopement photographer and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Interested in any of the locations I talked about above? I have a guide for almost every mountain location listed that tells you exactly how to obtain a permit! You can view all my elopement resources here.

To get a better idea of what the process looks like, check out my Olympic National Park Elopement Guide and scroll to the permit section.

Pro tip: Most national parks limit guest counts. I recommend eloping with no more than 15 guests to have the most locations available as possible.

Mountain Elopement Activity Ideas

One of the best things about eloping in the mountains is the amount of activities you can incorporate into your day! I always recommend doing at least one activity that you two love doing together. You can look back in 50 years on your photos and see just how much fun you two had doing something you both love to do.

• Enjoy a mountaintop breakfast picnic while watching the sunrise
• Hike to the top of the peak just before sunset to pop champagne and enjoy some cake
• Go skiing or snowboarding
• Book a nearby campsite to have s’mores and read letters from family
• Hike and camp in an iconic fire lookout
• Hire a personal chef at your Airbnb to cook an intimate dinner with friends and family
• Catch as many waterfalls as you can
• Paddle-board, kayak, or canoe on an alpine lake in the mountains
• Go off-roading
• Take a private helicopter tour and land on an isolated mountain (definitely one of my favorite things ever, especially in Alaska!)
• Find a local hot springs
• Wait for the sun to go down to stargaze
• Bring your dogs and just enjoy the scenery
• Do yoga during sunrise (this is especially fun in Hawaii, trust me, I’ve done it)

Mountain Elopement Timelines

In a place as stunning as the mountains, I always recommend couples book more coverage than they think they need. For example, places like North Cascades and Olympic are littered with tons of hiking trails and different sceneries. Below are just a few example timelines to help you get inspiration for your own elopement.

Mountain Elopement Packages

I’m Brianna, an elopement photographer located in Northern California who specializes in mountain elopements across the U.S., mainly on the West Coast. I offer a variety of different packages, all which include planning assistance, to help you have the best elopement experience possible.

Mountain Elopement Package Pricing

• 4 hours – 3 days of elopement coverage anywhere in the world
• A personalized elopement planning experience with unlimited assistance
  • Personalized elopement location recommendations
  • Vendor, lodging, and activity recommendations
  • Assistance and information to help you with permits, licenses, etc.
  • 90+ page elopement planning guide filled with tips and tricks
  • Customized elopement timelines
  • Optional complimentary officiant services
• Online gallery with full resolution images and printing rights
• 24-48 hour sneak peeks to share with the world
• Travel fees to anywhere in the world are already included
• Starting at $6,000 for CA, OR, WA. $8,000 for the rest of the U.S.

Want more mountain elopement inspiration? Check out my North Cascades National Park elopement guide, this epic Hurricane Ridge elopement, and my Northern California elopement guide!

DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE ELOPEMENT GUIDE!

An all-in-one planning guide for all things elopements! Whether you’re hoping to hike through the mountains of Washington or sip a margarita on the beaches of California, this comprehensive elopement guide has everything you need to know about how to plan the perfect elopement.

GET YOUR FREE ELOPEMENT GUIDE

AN ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER

I’m Brianna, a Pacific Northwest elopement photographer who inspires, encourages, and empowers couples to push traditional boundaries and create experiences they’ll remember forever.

I help couples all around the world plan unique and unforgettable elopement days by providing personalized location lists, vendor recommendations, permits, guides, and so much more.

LET’S PLAN YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT