How to Plan a San Juan Mountains Elopement (Updated for 2026)
The San Juan Mountains are nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado and it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful and least crowded place in Colorado, making it the perfect backdrop for a gorgeous and intimate San Juan Mountains elopement.
So many people skip over this area in favor of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Springs, Breckenridge, or other areas closer to Denver. Many people who live in Colorado have never visited or even heard of the San Juans, which is lucky for you, because that makes it the best place in Colorado to elope!
Whatever extra driving time it might take to get here makes it all the more worth the trek when you get to take in the craggy peaks of the pristine mountains that surround this paradise. If you’re considering getting married in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, here’s everything you need to know!
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Why Elope In The San Juan Mountains?
No Permits Needed
Generally speaking, most elopement locations in the San Juan mountains don’t need any permits or reservations for a small elopement of 15 people or less, which makes planning your elopement much more simple, and also FREE. All national and state parks in Colorado as well as many areas closer to Denver require some sort of special use permit or reservation of some kind in order to elope on public land.
Stunning Accommodations
The most beautiful cabins and hotels with the most amazing views are nestled in every little town in the San Juans, which just adds to the overall experience of the day. You can wake up with your love in a secluded mountain chalet nestled at the base of a mountain peak, or maybe spend your evening in a chic hotel with an excellent bar run by climbers and snowboarders, walking down the block to an old saloon in an old mining building for a cocktail. Every town has its own charm and beautiful stays that can accommodate your taste.
Endless Hiking and Jeeping trails
Because of the mining culture in these towns in the 1800s, there are tons of trails old miners used to use to get into the mountains, which are now used as Jeeping and off-roading trails by people today. These trails will lead you to jaw-dropping mountain views, next to red iron mountains, and past marmots that squeak as you pass by.
Additionally, the San Juans are home to some of the brightest, bluest alpine lakes in all of Colorado. There are several trails that will lead you to water that looks like it’s straight out of the Caribbean.
No Crowds
Unlike locations like Rocky Mountain National Park, Maroon Bells, or Garden of the Gods, there are basically no crowds in elopement spots in the San Juans. Sometimes Jeeping trails can be a little busy during the day, but most people come down before dinner and have to return rentals before 5pm.
Even popular hiking trails are still pretty secluded compared to anything within a 3 hour radius of Denver. I’ve never seen more than a handful of people at any of my favorite spots to shoot.
Tons of Adventure Elopement Activities
There are so many different activities to do in the area from hiking, jeeping and off-roading, to ice climbing or climbing a via ferrata. Whether it’s something you want to incorporate into your elopement or just something you want to take part in for your honeymoon afterwards, the San Juans just have so much to explore and so much to do.
The Most Stunning Places To Get Married In The Colorado Mountains
This is a personal opinion, but I think the San Juan Mountains are the most beautiful mountains in all of Colorado. Ouray is called “The Switzerland of America” because the mountains in the area are just so steep and green, just like the Alps.
There are wildflowers in the summer, gatorade blue alpine lakes, hot springs, hidden waterfalls, and stunning golden colors in the fall. It’s just a stunning hidden gem that beats every other place in Colorado by a wide margin in terms of beauty and the vast amount of trails you can explore.
Where Are The San Juan Mountains?
The San Juan mountains are located in southwest Colorado in a mountain range formed by volcanic activity. For this reason, the San Juan mountains have a different look compared to the rest of the Rockies in Colorado. The geology is totally different than the rest of the state, which is what creates the bright blue alpine lakes, the meadows full of wildflowers, and all the many mining roads that are now Jeeping trails today. The San Juans are so unique, which is why they’re perfect for an elopement.
Additionally, because the San Juan mountains are so far from Denver, this part of Colorado is much less crowded compared to other popular mountain towns in the state. The remoteness makes it worth it when you can say your vows totally alone in the wilderness.
How To Get To The San Juan Mountains for your elopement
To get to the San Juans, you can either:
Fly to Denver and drive the 6(ish) hours to one of the below towns to get there, which is definitely the longest route, but as someone who’s made this drive many times, it’s stunning and lets you see much of the most beautiful parts of the state if that’s something you’ve never done before. Local 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 on I70.
The second option is to fly into Montrose. It’s a small regional airport, so sometimes this can be a little bit more expensive, but in my experience, the prices haven’t been wildly different from flying into Denver. Prices will vary on the time of year and when you book. Montrose is just outside of Ridgway and about an hour from Telluride.
The third option is to fly into the even smaller regional airports, like Durango, Telluride, or Gunnison. Durango is also a little regional airport to the south of the San Juans, about an hour from Silverton. I’d recommend Montrose airport over these airports typically, because these airports are usually more expensive and have less flight times, but this is another option if the other two don’t work out.
Mountain Towns in the San Juans
Telluride- $$$$
Telluride is probably the best fit if you want a mountain town that still feels alive year round. The only bad season really is spring, but summer is amazing and warm, fall is drop dead gorgeous with the turning aspens, and winter is full of skiing, since there’s the resort in town. It’s bigger than Ouray and Silverton, so there’s a lot more options for places to stay, good food, coffee shops, bars, all of that, and it’s a little less tourisy than Ouray.
You can fly directly into Telluride, but most of my couples fly into Montrose and drive into Telluride from there, because it’s a bit cheaper and there’s more flights than the teeny tiny airport in Telluride. The drive is beautiful and pretty easy compared to some other places in the San Juans. You’re in the mountains almost the entire time, and once you finally drop into Telluride, it really does feel tucked away from everything else.
Telluride is also one of the easiest places for an elopement if you want incredible scenery without needing to hike or take a Jeep up a bumpy mountain road. There are alpine lakes, waterfalls, mountain overlooks, aspen groves, and trails all really close to town, which makes the whole day feel a lot more relaxed. There’s even a free gondola to the top of the ski resort where you can take in beautiful views. You can actually slow down and enjoy where you are instead of spending the entire day in the car.
It definitely leans more luxury than the other San Juan towns, so it can get expensive depending on the time of year, but there are a ton of really beautiful places to stay. Cozy cabins, nice Airbnbs, small boutique hotels, places tucked into the mountains. It’s a really good option if you want your day to feel adventurous, but still comfortable and easy or if you want a more elevated, luxury feel for your day.
You can check out more info about how to elope in Telluride here.
Ouray- $$-$$$
Ouray is the more affordable option to Telluride, a little less lush forest right in town. The majority of beautiful views and amazing wilderness is outside of town up Jeeping roads, with a few adventures to be had in town like box canyon falls, a waterfall right in town, a via ferrata, and hot springs.
You can get to Ouray by flying into Montrose airport and More people come to Ouray for adventure, so the town is filled with people getting off from a full day of riding around the mountains in the Jeeps and side by sides. The restaurants and accommodations are less upscale and embrace more of an Old West feel.
Ouray is best for couples looking for a real adventure for their day. Ouray isn’t super luxurious the way Telluride is, it has more of a western vibe to it, and Jeeping is definitely the big adventure here. There’s not a ton of hiking trails in this area, so off roading is definitely the activity of choice for most people.
Silverton- $$-$$$
Silverton is the smallest and quietest town in the San Juans, and it’s usually the town I opt to stay in with my built-out van. Silverton is a cute little mining town on the million dollar highway, about 45 minutes from Ouray. Silverton is quieter and less touristy than Ouray and Telluride and is mostly populated by more hardcore ski bums, climbing dirt bags, and the like.
You can get to Silverton by flying into the Durango airport, or you can fly into the Montrose airport, both of which are about 1.5 hours away. Most of my couples fly into Montrose, because it’s usually a bit cheaper and has more flights everyday since it’s a bit bigger of an airport.
Most people come to Silverton for Jeeping, though there are really amazing hikes in the area and a few spots you can go without needing a hardcore off-roading vehicle or a long hike. There are fewer restaurants and shops, but still some cute places to stay in the area, and a really great bar/hotel with great drinks called the Wyman. Silverton is great for couples who want to really be alone where they’re saying their vows and a more authentic, less touristy, more local vibe.
Ridgway- $$
Ridgway is a little more affordable, and a good option if you’re looking to elope in Ouray or some areas near Telluride. This is a good option for couples who would like somewhere quieter and less touristy than Ouray, but still want to be close to the locations in the Ouray area.
You can get to Silverton from the Montrose airport, which is about 40 minutes away, and Ridgway is only about 15 minutes from Ouray and a little less than an hour from Telluride.
Dunton- $$$$
Dunton doesn’t have too much in the town itself except for Dunton Hot Springs, which is a beautiful place to stay as well as a stunning wedding venue. Rooms there give you your own personal hot springs in the room, which is so unique and fun for a really special elopement day. Dunton is also home to a small waterfall and Colorado’s only geyser, which is a fun little thing to check out if you’re in town.
Dunton is best for couples who want to stay somewhere quiet, unique, and luxurious. Dunton is a bit further from everywhere else in the San Juans, so I recommend marrying on the property of the hot springs, or leaving an bit of time to travel to locations in Telluride (about 1-1.5 hours away) in your elopement timeline. If you book a full day elopement with me, there should be plenty of time to be able to travel from Dunton to get ready and do a first look.
Lake City- $$-$$$
Lake City is a quaint town that still hasn’t been overrun with tourists, but likely won’t stay that way forever. Lake City has more affordable accommodations. I wouldn’t stay here if you want to elope somewhere near Ouray, Silverton, or Telluride as the driving time will take too long to get to- Lake City is the most remote town of all the mountain towns in the San Juans. There’s less locations to elope in, as there’s less hiking or Jeeping trails, but there are a few off-roading trails you can take up into the mountains.
You can get to Lake City by flying into Gunnison airport, about 1 hour away, or Montrose airport, which is about 2 hours away. Montrose is the more popular airport with cheaper flights and more flight times.
Best Time Of Year To Elope In The San Juans
Summer: Late June-August
Summer is always my favorite time. I love the green mountains, the wildflowers, the warm weather. The only drawback of summer is the weather, which can be unpredictable and stormy in the afternoons.
Most times, if you just wait a little, the storm will pass, but occasionally, there will be torrential downpour/hail/lightning that will make hiking or jeeping at high elevations unsafe, so that’s something to keep in mind for your date.
Fall: September-early October
The weather in fall is usually much more predictably sunny than in summer, and if you plan your dates right, you can catch the aspens turning gold. Fall is also a good time for waterfalls because the snow runoff from the summer has slowed down.
The best time to schedule for leaf peeping is a narrow window in the last week of September and the first week of October. In the first couple of weeks of September, trees will still be green, and after the first week or two of October, the leaves will be gone. Access to some roads and trails will be closed after the first couple of weeks in October.
Winter: November-March
In winter, most unpaved roads and trails will all be closed and inaccessible, limiting which locations are possible for an elopement. If you like skiing and snowboarding, though, that’s when the slopes will be open.
January and February are the most reliably snowy months if you’re looking for a winter wonderland, but snow is unpredictable, and it melts off trees and patches of the ground quickly, since Colorado is so sunny and dry.
March is usually when Colorado gets the most snow, but spring snow is very off and on — blizzarding one day, and completely warm and sunny the following week after. Predicting when it will actually look like a winter landscape can be difficult.
Spring: April-early June
To be perfectly honest, I just don’t recommend springtime in Colorado. It can still blizzard out of the middle of nowhere after warm sunny days, there are still patches of snow on the ground, making everything muddy, and nothing is green or has bloomed yet. Very few to no trails or off-roading is open yet due to snow and mud.
Fewer people visit during this time but that also means many businesses are closed down or have limited hours. I’d suggest fall if you’re trying to beat the high season but still want accessibility and good weather.
Elopement Activities In The San Juan Mountains
Hiking
As I’ve already mentioned over and over, hiking in the San Juan mountains is supreme, with access to stunning lakes, wildflowers, and rugged peaks. I will say, there are not many trails in the area that are very easy because the mountains are so steep. Most trails are 5-8 miles round trip with steep elevation gain, but they’re totally worth it with the destinations at the end!
Jeeping/Off-Roading
If you don’t fancy getting sweaty, renting a Jeep or other off-roading vehicle and driving up a bumpy, rough, road to some of the most breathtaking views is a good alternative. There are tons of trails, with Ouray being at the center of most of them.
Via Ferrata
If you’ve never heard of a via ferrata, it’s sort of like an obstacle course mixed with rock climbing. There’s one in both Telluride as well as Ouray. It’s a workout, but less so than either hiking or rock climbing.
Skiing/Snowboarding
Telluride is the only town with a ski resort, and Purgatory Resort is just outside of Durango on the way to Silverton. There’s also a ski hill in Ouray and Silverton, but they aren’t resorts — they’re more for the die-hard ski bums that live and work throughout the year in the towns.
Horseback riding
Another good option if you don’t want to sweat on your elopement day is horseback riding. Telluride Wranglers offers horseback rides on some of the most stunning trails around Telluride, like Lizard Head Loop, as well as sleigh rides during the winter.
Ice climbing
This is only available in the winter, but both Telluride and Ouray are home to several large waterfalls that are perfect for climbing when they freeze over. Ouray even has an ice park with a climbing competition in January.
Festivals
Telluride has a bluegrass festival every year in June which is a fun time for anyone who likes bluegrass. If you want to avoid the crowds this festival draws, however, keep that in mind while choosing the date for your elopement.
Where To Elope In The San Juan Mountains
San Juan Mountains Wedding Venues
If you’re having a wedding of more than 15 people, you’re having more of a micro wedding ,not an elopement, so you need to reserve a wedding venue in the San Juan Mountains. 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.
These are my favorite small wedding venues in the San Juans:
Jeeping Trails
Yankee Boy Basin
Governor Basin
American Basin
Corkscrew Gulch
California Gulch
Secret basin with blue lakes (I only tell my couples where this is!)
Hiking Trails
Island & Ice Lake
Blue Lakes
American Basin/Sloan Lake
Columbine Lake
Hope Lake
Lizard Head
Cornet Creek Falls
Lower Bridal Veil Falls
Locations That Don’t Require A Hike Or Jeep Rental
Bridal Veil Falls
Secret waterfall (Ionly tell my couples where this is!)
Million Dollar Highway
Owl Creek Pass
Molas Lakes
Clear Lake
Secret basin with with a blue alpine lake (I only tell my couples where this is!)
Elopement Accommodations In The San Juan Mountains
San Juan Mountains Elopement photos and stories
View all of my San Juan mountains elopement stories here
Let’s plan your San Juan Mountains Elopement!
It can feel overwhelming trying to plan an elopement in an unfamiliar place, especially somewhere with as many options as the San Juan mountains. As someone who was born and raised in Colorado, I’m super familiar with all the nooks and crannies in the San Juan Mountains, and I’d love to show you all around my favorite spot in the whole state. We can plan everything together from start to finish- location scouting, putting together a timeline, help planning excursions, and other vendor recs. It won’t be so hard once you have someone to walk you through everything.
Reach out to me, so we can start planning a meaningful and intentional day based around you and your love, saying your vows somewhere breathtaking in the remote wilderness.
