Dog-Friendly Colorado Elopement Locations
We love dogs more than just about anything else, and we can completely understand why so many couples want their furry friends to be a part of their wedding day. But as much as we all wish this wasn’t the case, dogs aren’t allowed in all locations, so it can be difficult to know what your options are. That’s where we come in! Here are some of our favorite elopement locations in Colorado that allow dogs.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links in our elopement planning blog posts. This does not cost you anything, but it helps support the creation of these free, informational blog posts. Thank you for your support!
Updated April 7th, 2023
The Best Dog-Friendly Elopement Locations in Colorado
Sapphire Point Overlook
Located outside of Breckenridge, Colorado, Sapphire Point is a popular ceremony site for both elopements and small weddings and is available year-round. The site can accommodate 35 people, and sits on the edge of Lake Dillon and has gorgeous lake and mountain views.
The three-hour permit costs $128, and can be reserved online. Permits for Sapphire Point open up exactly six months in advance at 8:00 am Mountain Time. We recommend getting yours as soon as you can because it books up quickly!
Piney River Ranch
Located about an hour up a bumpy dirt road from Vail, Colorado is Piney River Ranch. The venue is a glamper’s paradise and tucked away in the wilderness and sits on a lake surrounded by some of the most beautiful views in the state.
The ceremony is held on an outdoor deck at the edge of the lake with towering mountains in the background. After the ceremony, couples can relax by a campfire or take a canoe out on the lake. We’ve even seen moose on the lake after sunset.
Crested Butte Land Trust
As the name suggests, these ceremony sites are located in Crested Butte, Colorado. The CB Land Trust offers three different options for ceremony sites Woods Walk, Peanut Lake, and Gunsight Bridge. We find that our couples most often choose Woods Walk because of the easy access mountain views, and beautiful aspen trees.
All three of these ceremony sites cost $1,500 (plus a $500 refundable deposit) and are available to rent year-round. You can apply for a permit directly through the Crested Butte Land Trust website.
Maroon Bells Amphitheater
Located outside of Aspen, Colorado, the Maroon Bells are one of the most iconic views in the entire state. Ceremonies are held at the Maroon Bells Amphitheater and are permitted on weekdays from the beginning of June until the beginning of October. Dogs are allowed at the ceremony site and on trails as long as they are kept on a leash.
Permits for the Maroon Bells Amphitheater cost $200, and become available exactly 12 months in advance at 8:00 am Mountain Time. Because of its popularity, we recommend getting yours as soon as you can!
The Lodge at Breckenridge
If you’re looking for a ceremony site that is easily accessible, conveniently located only a few minutes from downtown Breckenridge, has gorgeous mountain views, and allows dogs, check out The Lodge at Breckenridge.
There, you can rent out their Sky View Deck for two hours, which is the perfect amount of time for a ceremony, a champagne toast, and a first dance. The great thing about The Lodge at Breckenridge is that chairs are included, and you can add champagne and appetizers to your package!
Public Land
This is our favorite option! Many locations on National Forest Land or in State Parks allow dogs. And in Colorado, we are lucky enough to have almost 23 million acres of public lands. So you’ve got a lot to choose from!
Some locations may require a little bit of hiking or off-roading, while others are easily accessible in any vehicle. Each individual region will have its own rules for dogs as well as permits, so it’s important to do some research on any specific location you are interested in.
How to be Responsible in Nature with your Dog
We are big believers in Leave No Trace Principles. But there are a few special things to think about when it comes to bringing your dogs along on your adventure!
Many locations have rules against bringing dogs. The reasoning behind these rules is to protect fragile vegetation, keep your dog safe from predatory animals (such as coyotes and mountain lions), and to keep other visitors (as well as wild animals) safe and comfortable. We recommend keeping these in mind when bringing your dog with you on your wedding day, but here are a few basic rules:
It should be a no-brainer, but it is extremely important to pick up your pet’s waste.
Unless specifically noted otherwise, dogs are required to be kept on a leash (many counties require leashes to be less than 6ft long).
Protect vegetation by keeping your dog on the designated trail.
Event-Friendly Rentals
Colorado is packed full of amazing house rentals! Some of them are on a large piece of land, while others offer huge outdoor decks for entertaining. Depending on the house, you may be able to host multiple parts of your elopement day, such as your ceremony and reception, all in one place.
Most rental websites allow you to search based on their pet policy. We recommend always reaching out to the property owner in advance to get approval for your event. Some may require an additional fee or deposit for the event as well as pets.
Dog and Event-Friendly Vrbo Listings in Colorado
We provide the couples who book with us an even longer list of rental options, but here’s a couple to get you started! Be sure to double-check each listing’s pet and event policy prior to booking in case they’ve changed since this blog post was published.
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• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 8 (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 6 (4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed with Fee
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 8 (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 6 (4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 10+ (5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed with Fee
• Events Allowed with Fee -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 16 (4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 22 (8 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed with Fee
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 25 (5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 10 (6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 12 (7 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed with Fee
• Events Allowed with Fee -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 15 (6 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 32 (7 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed
• Events Allowed -
• Click here to view the listing on Vrbo
• Sleeps 10+ (5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
• Pets Allowed with Fee
• Events Allowed with Fee
Other Dog-Friendly Elopement Options
Moraine Park Discovery Center Amphitheater | This is the only dog-friendly ceremony site within Rocky Mountain National Park. In order to bring your dog to your ceremony, you must make note of it on your initial application and they must be kept on leash. It is important to note that there are strict rules for bringing your dog into the National Park, so it is important for you to decide whether it is a good fit for you. This site can be reserved by submitting your application up to one year in advance.
Windy Point Campground | Have your ceremony on the shore of Lake Dillon and then celebrate at the covered pavilion with lake views. The site can easily be reserved online and costs about $250. You can reserve it up to 12 months in advance.
Point Park | Located in Grand Lake, Colorado, this is a ceremony site that you can reserve online for free. With the reservation, you can have your ceremony on a dock overlooking Grand Lake with mountain views, you also have access to a picnic area.
Aa Bar Ranch (Aa Barn) | This is a group picnic site in Grand Lake, Colorado that can be reserved online for $100. This site has space for an outdoor ceremony next to the river as well as an indoor or outdoor reception.
Sunrise Amphitheater | This is a popular ceremony site located in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado that can be reserved online for $150 per 1-hour rental or $400 per 3-hour rental.
Need more location ideas for your Colorado elopement?
Check out our Colorado Elopement Guide
Check Out Some Colorado Elopements with Dogs
Packing List for Your Dog-Friendly Adventure Elopement
Dog Elopement Attire
Collars + Leashes
Succulent and Floral Dog Collar (view on Etsy)
Floral Dog Collar (view on Etsy)
Custom Floral Dog Collar (view on Etsy)
Bow Tie Dog Collar (view on Etsy)
Bow Tie Tuxedo Dog Collar (view on Etsy)
Tuxedo Dog Bandana (view on Etsy)
Bow Tie Tuxedo Dog Harness (view on Etsy)
“Dog of Honor” Dog Bandana (view on Etsy)
Personalized Velvet Dog Bandana (view on Etsy)
Floral Cotton Rope Dog Leash (view on Etsy)
Floral Satin Dog Leash (view on Etsy)
Human Attire
Custom Dog Portrait Pocket Square (view on Etsy)
Dog Hiking Elopement Basics
Dog First Aid Kit - From paw injuries, to ticks, to thorns, it can be just as important to have a first aid kit made specifically for your dog!
Our Favorite Dog First Aid Kits
Adventure Medical Kits Dog First Aid Kit (view on Amazon)
Adventure Medical Kits Dog + Human First Aid Kit (view on Amazon)
Cooling Apparel - If you’ll be hiking with your dog in a hot climate, consider buying your dog a cooling vest. We have the Jet Stream Vest for our dog and it keeps her cool and comfortable, even on hot days.
Our Favorite Dog Cooling Vests
Ruffwear Jet Stream Vest (view on Amazon)
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Vest (view on Amazon)
Warming Apparel - If you’ll be hiking in cold temperatures, it’s important to keep your dog warm too!
Our Favorite Dog Jackets
Ruffwear Stumptown Insulated Jacket for Dogs (view on Amazon)
Ruffwear Fernie Fleece Jacket for Dogs (view on Amazon)
Packable Food and Water Bowls - When hiking with your dog, they’ll need water too! Having a bowl that packs down will make hiking with it much simpler.
Our Favorite Travel Bowls for Dogs
Ruffwear Trail Runner Bowl (view on Amazon)
Dog Backpack - If you think your dog might have trouble completing the hike on their own, consider carrying them in a dog backpack. We have the K9 Sport Sack Knavigate for our dog and we love it!
Our Favorite Dog Backpacks
K9 Sport Sack Knavigate (view on Amazon)
K9 Sport Sack Air (view on Amazon)
K9 Sport Sack Custom Velcro Patch (view on Amazon)
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links in our elopement planning blog posts and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not cost you anything, but it helps support the creation of these free, informational blog posts. Thank you for your support!
Are you ready to start your elopement adventure?
We’re Lisa + Alex (those goofballs in the photo above). We are photographers and videographers who focus solely on elopements. We are passionate about giving our couples the most incredible elopement day possible. We work closely with each of our couples to offer location options, vendor recommendations, and fun ideas to personalize their wedding day.
Each couple who books with us will receive their own, collaborative Elopement Planning Portal. We know that planning your elopement can seem overwhelming, but we’re here to make the planning process easy and fun.
