How to Plan Your Ouray Elopement (Updated for 2025)
Ouray is a little mountain town located in the San Juan mountains near the southwest corner of Colorado most known for its hot springs and the many Jeeping trails located right in town. Ouray is about 6 hours from Denver, so it’s much less crowded with people than towns in closer proximity to Denver. Whatever extra driving time it might take to get here from Denver makes it all the more worth the trek when you get to say your vows completely alone among the most beautiful mountains in Colorado. If you’re considering getting married in Ouray, here’s everything you need to know!
Table of Contents
Wedding venues in Ouray
Jeeping trails
Hiking trails
Locations that don’t require a hike or Jeep rental
Why elope in Ouray?
No Permits Needed
Most areas around Ouray don’t require any permits to marry on the land, so you can just embark on an adventure and say your vows anywhere you want. Always double check with whatever forest or park you’re planning on eloping at, but more often than not, you’ll be good to go as long as your group has less than 10-15 people and no structures like chairs or arches.
Endless hiking and Jeeping trails
The hiking trails in Ouray are mostly pretty long and steep, but they’re worth the effort, believe me. If you aren’t down for the effort a hike to a blue alpine lake would require, then try renting a Jeep instead- there’s tons of trails in and around Ouray where you can be at the top of the world with no one other than you and your love.
No Crowds
Unlike the more popular destinations closer to Denver, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods, or areas around Breckenridge, Ouray and other towns the San Juans is very quiet and the crowds are far more sparse. There’s no timed entry systems, reservations, or parking fees needed to get anywhere, you’ll likely be alone wherever you are if you plan the timing right.
Tons of Adventure Elopement Activities
Off roading is the biggest activity in Ouray, but there’s tons of other things to do if you’re up for something adventurous. You want to incorporate a via ferrata, ice or rock climbing, hot springs, or visiting one of the neighboring towns like Telluride or Dunton for a soak or a fancy dinner.
Unbeatable Views
Ouray is called The Switzerland of America for a reason, and it’s because the peaks in the San Juans are so craggy and steep, full of green grass and wildflowers just like the alps. Volcanic activity from long ago created these mountains, which is why they’re so unique compared to the rest of colorado and why there’s so many spots with blue water, red mountains, and steep shale rock faces.
How to get to Ouray
To get to Ouray, you can either:
Fly to Denver and drive the 6(ish) hours to get there, which is the longest route, but the views really do make it worth it. If you’ve never been to Colorado before, it’s a stunning drive that shows you tons of other mountain towns along the way. Local Coloradan tip: Take the route that goes through Gunnison instead of the route that takes you through Grand Junction — it’s prettier in my opinion and you spend less time in traffic on I-70.
The second option is to fly into Montrose. Montrose is a small regional airport, so is usually a tad bit more expensive than flying into DIA, but in my experience, the prices haven’t been wildly different from flying into Denver. Prices will, of course, vary on the time of year and when you book. Montrose is just outside of Ridgway and about a 45 minute drive from Ouray.
Best time of year to elope in Ouray
Summer: Late June-August
Summer is my personal favorite time of year in Ouray- the snow has melted, the wildflowers are blooming, and everything is green and warm. Keep in mind that the snow doesn’t melt until later in the summer, so late June is often the earliest you can go up jeeping trails or high altitude hikes because many trails are still inaccessible. If you want to elope high up in the mountains, plan for June or August.
Fall: September-early October
The weather in fall is more predictably sunny than any other time of year- it can still rain or snow, but there’s not as many afternoon showers as there are in the summer time. September is also a great time for waterfalls- the water has calmed down and you can stand near them without getting all wet and cold from the mist and without the waters being muddy from summer rains and mudslides. If you want to catch the fall colors in full swing, the window to do so is last week of September and the first week of October are the time to plan your elopement.
Winter: November-March
Winter isn’t as great in Ouray as it is in Telluride or other ski town resorts, because most things are closed down. Most scenic areas will be inaccessible, trails will be closed, and many businesses close for the season. However, this is the time to catch ice climbing, which is a always a fun time. Prices will be lower, and there is one (1) tiny ski run (that’s free) if you’re looking to learn how to ski or board for the first time.
Spring: April-early June
To be perfectly honest, I just don’t recommend springtime in Ouray or anywhere in Colorado for that matter.. There’s nothing to do, everything is closed, there’s no accessibility on the trails or roads, the weather is extremely unpredictable, and it’s what’s called “mud season”- everything is muddy and dirty because the snow is melting and no plants have began to bloom or spout yet. Spring lasts until early June almost everywhere in the mountains, so keep that in mind while picking a date for your elopement.
Activities for your Ouray elopement
Jeeping/Off-Roading
The main attraction in Ouray is the Jeeping trails, which is the best way to reach a remote location without having to hike. These companies are ones my couples have used in the past: Switzerland of America Jeeps, Colorado West rentals, Alpine Scenic Tours. If you don’t want to rent a Jeep, I’d recommend staying in Silverton or Ouray, as the whole attraction of Ouray is really Jeeping, and there really aren’t many places you can get to near town without one!
Via Ferrata
A via ferrata is like an obstacle course created out of the natural features of cliffs and mountains. It involves a bit of rock climbing, balancing, and no fears of heights. You’ll probably have to hire a guide if you’re not familiar with them, but if you want something that’s a bit easier than rock climbing, but more technical than other outdoor sports, this is a great option!
Ice climbing & rock climbing
There’s several great rock faces in and around town to ascend as well as waterfalls perfect for ice climbing in the winter. There’s even an ice festival in January you can check out if you want!
Hiking
There are some amazing hikes outside of town that lead to bright blue water and wildflower meadows with drop dead gorgeous mountain views. The mountains around Ouray are very steep, so very few of these hikes will be easy, but they will be worth the effort!
Hot Springs
Ouray sits on top of a hot spot with several developed hot springs in town and nearby, my favorite being Orvis Hot Springs. There’s also a secret natural hot spring near town I can show you if you want to incorporate that into your day (but you can’t tell anyone where it is!)
Where to elope in Ouray
My favorite Ouray wedding venues
If you’re having a wedding of more than 15 people, you need to reserve a wedding venue. If you’d like to see a full list of various venues for elopements and micro weddings all over Colorado, check out my 100+ Small Wedding Venues in Colorado blog.
Ouray elopement locations
Jeeping Trails
Yankee Boy Basin
Corkscrew Gulch
California Pass
Hiking Trails
Blue Lakes
Island/ice Lake
Locations that don’t require hiking or a Jeep
Owl Creek Pass
Crystal Lake
Cascade Falls
Secret Waterfall
If you want to check out other locations in the San Juans, check out my San Juan mountain elopement guide here or my Telluride elopement guide here
Accommodations In Ouray
Need A Photographer For Your Ouray elopement?
I was born and raised in Colorado and still spend my summers camping all around Ouray and the San Juans in my van- I basically know everyone in town at this point. There’s nothing I love more than exploring all the trails around Ouray with my couples and showing them my favorite little spots. If you still need someone to help you plan your day, send me an email and we can figure it out together.
