Eloping in Loveland Pass, Colorado is one of the best spots for many reasons. It’s easily accessible in several ways: only an hour from Denver and close to popular mountain towns like Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Lake Dillon. It’s also accessible in the sense that it’s really easy to get to with very little hiking involved so it’s a GREAT spot to bring friends and family. The views at Loveland Pass are also unbeatable.
You get the choice of two main areas where both are so easily accessible. One spot is great for lake views and feeling like you’re tucked away more in the mountains, where the other location is perfect for getting the best view of a golden hour sunset which is rare to find in Colorado. AND if you want to turn this location into more of an adventure, there’s an incredible ridge-line hike that’s only about a mile round trip with 360 degree mountain views feeling like you’re on top of the world and a killer view of the sun set. Have I convinced you yet? Let’s dive in!
Loveland pass is only an hour away from Denver. This would make it one of the closest and most easily accessible spots by car to get to for your elopement. You can fly into Denver, rent a car, and make Denver your main hub OR drive a little further into the mountains past Loveland Pass to Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon, Silverthorne, or Frisco and surround yourself more into the mountain experience vs the city. Take your pick!
Loveland Pass is also really easily accessible when it comes to hiking. Mountain passes in Colorado make some of the best elopement spots because you can drive up to the top of the pass and get some of the best views with little to no hiking at all. This makes Loveland Pass an amazing spot if you’d prefer not to hike at all for your elopement. OR if you want to bring a handful of friends and family that can’t hike far.
Loveland Pass is great for it’s easy access, but there are also options of turning it into a bigger adventure. It provides a lot of variety and options for what kind of scenery you’re looking for. There are two spots that have little to no hiking involved, more like wandering/frolicking areas! One spot is Pass Lake that has a great little parking lot. You feel tucked deeper into the mountains, surrounded by great views of small lakes, scattered pine trees, and towering peaks. This is NOT a good spot for sunset. Being so close to the mountain, you’ll see the sun dip behind it early. Pass Lake won’t get a good golden hour.
But it is one of my favorites for wild flowers in the summer, the beautiful lake reflections, the green hills in the summer and colorful orange hills in the fall as well as a beautiful winter wonderland when the snow comes.
The second spot that’s also really easily accessible is right off the parking lot of the summit of Loveland Pass. This spot isn’t ideal for a group of people for your ceremony, but it’s an amazing location for taking the two of you to frolic in the hills! It has a much better view of the sunset vs Pass lake, so I love to start our photos at Pass Lake and then head to this second spot which is a very short drive away and finish the session with those golden hour photos.
All of the photos above is the summit of Loveland Pass. This is also the trailhead of the ridge-line hike that goes all the way to the top of the mountains. This hike is steep but short and only about a half a mile to get to the top. I would say it’s a fairly easy hike if it wasn’t so steep and at such a high altitude. Don’t underestimate this hike! You might hear that it’s only half a mile, but because we’re starting around 12,000 feet, the lack of oxygen will get to you if you’re not used to the high altitudes.
I do highly recommend going this extra mile for your elopement to get the breathtaking 360 degree views of all the mountain peaks around the area. If we’re lucky we’ll also get a KILLER sunset, one of the best sunset views I’ve found in Colorado. It is rare to get to see sunsets like this in Colorado! Since so many locations in Colorado, the sun will set behind the mountains so early making it impossible to get the golden hour.
This location is also accessible in the early winter season. If we time it just right before too much snow comes in then it could be the perfect winter location! As long as we’re prepared with the proper winter gear, it makes for an epic wintery scenic location.
Check out the trail on All Trails to get an idea of the hike! This link shows the full hike which is 3 miles round trip. But we don’t need to do the whole thing to get the most out of the trail!
You do not need a permit to elope at Loveland Pass! Which means if it’s just the two of you or a small group of people, then go for it! However, rules and regulations can always change and it is your responsibility to make sure that you are not responsible for getting a permit. I highly recommend calling the Dillon Ranger District and get the most up to date information.
Yes! Colorado is very dog friendly and your dog can come with you to almost any location we choose! If you’re hoping to bring your pup and include him/her in your photos, please bring them! I have a dog of my own and love working with dogs, it makes it so fun.
If you want epic, majestic, and jaw dropping mountain views for your elopement mixed with the perfect amount of alpine lakes, pine trees, meadows, and plenty of boulders to climb around, and 360 mountain views this location has all the variety! I’ve got all the tea, tips, and advice on how to plan your elopement here. So don’t wait! Plan your Loveland Pass Colorado Elopement with me! Reach out and let’s get started.