Eloping in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Trail Ridge Road is one hell of a choice for couple’s portraits during your RMNP elopement! With the most stunning views of the mountains in Colorado, it’s a no-brainer that this should be on your list of places to go to for adventurous and romantic elopement photos! 

Truth is, if you’ve decided to say, “I do,” in Rocky Mountain National Park, views like these are probably what drew you in in the first place! But, where do you actually go for these gorgeous mountain top views? 
Here is everything you need to know for your Trail Ridge Road elopement!

Disclaimer: Trail Ridge Road cannot be used as a ceremony site for your Rocky Mountain National Park elopement, however, it can be used for portraits before or after the ceremony! Refer to the section “Ceremony Sites near Trail Ridge Road” further down to learn about the nearest ceremony sites in RMNP!

What is Trail Ridge Road?

Trail Ridge Road is kinda like the highway that connects the East side of the park near Estes to the West side of RMNP near Grand Lake. The road stretches for 48 miles with 11 miles sitting above 11,500 feet. That 11 miles of 11,000+ feet of elevation is where the money is!

Where is the Best View for Elopement Portraits Along Trail Ridge Road?

Truthfully, anywhere along that 11 mile stretch of road has amazing views! There are plenty of small pull-offs along the road where you could have a jaw-dropping mountain view behind you while standing in a parking lot (although, I do recommend stepping into the grass so you have that in the peaks vibe!) 

However, my favorite view is 500 feet away from the UTE Trailhead parking pull-off! Out of all the hiking trails that run along the road, UTE Trail is one of the least busiest which is great for avoiding photo bombers. 

Ute Trail sits at under 12,000 feet with an ethereal mountain view on one side of the road and a golden tundra on the other side, making this a very accessible area for amazing elopement photography! However, I do highly suggest grabbing a can of Boost Oxygen before hitting the trail. Due to the elevation, the air becomes thinner. You should be fine, but having that oxygen is always recommended! 
If you like visuals like me, click here for a bird-eye view of the Rocky Mountain National Park to help you plan your Trail Ridge Road elopement!

Ceremony Sites Near Trail Ridge Road!

Alrighty, so like mentioned above, you can’t use UTE Trail or any of the Trail Ridge Road pull-offs for your ceremony site (super sad), but, it can be used for photos before or after! Luckily, two of the most beautiful ceremony sites are located near UTE Trail and Trail Ridge Road!

Hidden Valley:

This is the best possible site for your Trail Ridge Road elopement! Hidden Valley ceremony site is located 7 miles (a 20 minute drive) from UTE Trailhead. Tucked into a secluded meadow, this site is perfect for your Rocky Mountain National Park elopement or intimate wedding!

3M Curve:

If you prefer mountain views behind you during your ceremony (or if Hidden Valley doesn’t work out) 3m Curve is also a great site for your RMNP elopement ceremony! 3m Curve is located about 3 miles from the Beaver Creek Meadow Visitor Center (which also has a nearby ceremony site) and is about a 35 minute, 12 mile drive from UTE Trailhead.

Ready to Embark on Your Adventure of a Lifetime?

Planning your dream elopement and finding the perfect Colorado elopement photographer to document this romantic adventure shouldn’t be hard. Luckily, simplicity and authenticity is at the core of Rooted Photo & Film Co. and the experience I provide to my amazing couples. Click here to learn more about what your journey with me will look like and inquire here to book a commitment free discovery call so we can speak face to face and begin to curate an emotive elopement photography experience to align with exactly what you envision your day to look like! 🙂

More Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Resources!

Haven’t quite found what you’re searching for? I gotcha covered! Here are three more info-packed articles about what it takes to seal the deal in RMNP! 

Planning Your Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement

5 Beautiful Places to Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park

7 Reasons Why You Should Elope in Rocky Mountain National Park!