Why You Should Elope in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
The San Juan Mountains in western Colorado are a unique & beautiful location for an elopement in Colorado. While areas such as Rocky Mountain National Park tend to be very popular, the San Juans are a much less visited place while offering even more unique beauty!
Where are the San Juan Mountains?
The San Juan Mountain range is located in southwestern Colorado & run throughout the southwestern part of the state into northwestern New Mexico. The San Juans run from Norwood, Telluride, Ouray, & Lake City down to Dolores, Durango, & Pagosa Springs in Colorado. The San Juan Mountain Range then goes into northern New Mexico. The San Juan Mountains go through the Uncompahgre National Forest & San Juan National Forest in Colorado & the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.
Unique & Rugged Mountains
The rugged mountains that make up the San Juan Mountain range are just amazing! The mountains in western Colorado are steep, high, and have many unique formations. Mountains such as Mount Sneffels, the Dallas Divide, & the Cimarron Ridge are unique features of western Colorado. No matter what time of year you decide to elope, the San Juan Mountains are always impressive!
Lakes that are Bluer than the Sky
If you haven’t seen our lakes in western Colorado, you have GOT to check them out! The first time I’ve seen these lakes, I was absolutely blown away! I only thought the lakes were this blue in Canada around Banff. But these lakes can be more blue than the sky & though not as big as the lakes in Canada, they are more private and look even bluer.
Fall Colors to Die For
The San Juan Mountains sure know how to show off during the fall season. People actually come from all around to see the fall colors in western Colorado. The combination of the rugged mountains, blue lakes, open skies, and fall colors come together to make the most beautiful combinations of colors for an adventure elopement.
Waterfalls, Wildflowers, & Sunsets
The San Juans have so much to offer in terms of natural beauty! There are valleys of waterfalls that remind you of exotic, far away places like Iceland. Wildflower festivals are held every year to celebrate the amazing colors that decorate the mountainsides. Our rainy season during the summer creates thunderstorms that quickly dissipate & the cloud formations create the most incredible sunsets.
The Best Mountain Towns are in the San Juan Mountains
The towns of Telluride, Ouray, Ridgway, & Silverton are some of my favorite mountain towns in the state. Telluride is one of the bigger tourist attractions & offers a lot of events, hiking, & great places to stay & great places to eat. Ouray offers easy access to a lot of off road trails, amazing hikes, & other forms of adventure. Ridgway is down the valley a little ways & is close to some great trails & beautiful county roads. Silverton is located in the heart of the mountains off the Million Dollar Highway with a ton of options for adventure for everyone.
Less Crowds
The San Juan Mountains are still a tourist destination but don’t get near the traffic of places like Rocky Mountain National Park. And the San Juans are so much better in my opinion! Even during the busiest times of year we receive less visitors than many other more popular areas. Less crowds means more privacy for your small wedding or intimate elopement.
Great Opportunities for Adventure for Everyone
No matter what your level of adventure is, there’s something for everyone. Whether your idea of adventure is taking a Jeep tour or climbing the Via Feratta in Telluride, there are various degrees of adventure for people just wanting a taste of adventure to the people who want the ultimate adventurous experience.
Interested in learning more about an elopement in the San Juan Mountains?
While photography is my specialty, I love helping couples plan each & every aspect of their elopement. Photography is important to document the full story of your elopement day, but you also just need to have fun & enjoy the whole experience! Learn more about planning your Colorado elopement & contact me to learn more about how I can help you plan locations, book vendors, apply for permits, & help with elopement packages for your day!
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR DAY!
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