Are you recently engaged and looking for Colorado engagement photo locations for your session? This guide is for you! Check out some of the most scenic and easily accessible locations to take photos to celebrate this exciting time with your fiancĆ©. In addition, I also know a lot of less popular locations that I would love to share with you! Feel free to reach our here and let’s plan your engagement session!
List of Colorado Engagement Photo Locations
- Maroon Bells
- Sapphire Point Overlook
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Estes Park
- Garden of the Gods
- Lost Gulch Overlook
- Chautauqua Park
- Mount Falcon Park
- Guanella Pass
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park
- “Hidden” Gems
Maroon Bells
Best time of year: Summer-Fall
To start off the list, Maroon Bells are some of the most photographed mountains in Colorado! So, why wouldn’t you want to take your engagement photos here? My favorite time of the year to photograph the Maroon Bells is in mid to late July when the wildflowers are popping or in late September when the aspen leaves are changing! Sunrise and sunset are both absolutely stunning at Maroon Lake! One thing to keep in mind with this location is that parking reservations are required from May through October. You can get more information about reserving parking or taking a shuttle here.
Sapphire Point Overlook: my most photographed Colorado engagement photo location
Best time of year: All year!
Sapphire Point Overlook in Summit County is the perfect spot for an engagement session. It is very easily accessible all year! Winter sessions are my favorite here because it is usually less crowded than the summer months and undoubtedly beautiful! The variety of spots around the main overlook make it a nice spot for a full session.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Best time of year: All year!
Another favorite for engagement sessions is Rocky Mountain National Park! The park has so many spots that are perfect for photos. Whether you are looking for somewhere with a short hike or an easy walk from the parking lot, there are certainly plenty of options! While Rocky Mountain National Park is accessible all year, keep in mind that trails will be snow covered in the winter and can be pretty muddy in the spring. For this reason, summer and fall are perfect here. However, if you are willing to snowshoe or at least have microspikes for more packed trails, winter is absolutely magical in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Finally, it is important to realize that a photography permit is required for sessions within the national park. Additionally, you will need to cover the cost of entry into the park for yourself. I as your photographer will be sure to apply for the permit if you choose to have a session here and cover my entry with my National Parks Pass!
Estes Park
Best time of year: All year!
If you want rocky mountain views, but don’t want to pay for entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, there are a lot of beautiful spots just outside the park in Estes Park! I can certainly share some of these stunning areas with you!
Garden of the Gods: my second most photographed Colorado engagement photo location
Best time of year: All year!
Red rocks and mountain views make Garden of the Gods another stunning location for a Colorado engagement session! With so many spots around the park that you can walk right up to from the parking lot, or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous with a short walk, there are plenty of areas to explore for engagement photos! Of course, I would love to share some of my favorite spots with you!
Lost Gulch Overlook
Best time of year: Spring-Fall
If you’re looking for sweeping mountain views without a long hike, Lost Gulch Overlook is the place for you! I don’t recommend this spot on weekends because it can get pretty busy, but if you’re willing to have your session on a weekday, it is so worth it! While Lost Gulch Overlook is accessible year round, it can get a little slippery on the rocks in the winter, so I recommend it as a great location from late spring through fall, or in the winter if it has not recently snowed! Fun fact, I actually had my own wedding photos taken up here! Make sure your photographer has their OSMP permit to photograph at this location!
Chautauqua Park
Best time of year: All year!
When I think of Boulder, CO, I immediately think of the Flatirons. Chautauqua Park offers one of the best views of the Flatirons and is a beautiful spot for an engagement session. This is another location that I do not recommend on weekends because there are always a lot of hikers Friday-Sunday. Also, keep in mind that parking can be tricky here, so plan to arrive early for your session if you choose Chautauqua Park for your engagement photos! Just as with Lost Gulch Overlook, an OSMP permit is required to take photos here, so please make sure your photographer has one!
Mount Falcon Park
Best time of year: All year!
Mount Falcon Park is one of my favorite places to recommend if you want somewhere not too far from Denver for your engagement photos. There is such a variety of scenery here and you can visit either Mount Falcon West or Mount Falcon East depending on the vibe you are looking for! A photography permit is required for this location!
Guanella Pass
Best time of year: Summer-Fall
The road up to the Guanella Pass summit is one of the best locations for fall photos! Yellow aspens line the way up and there are beautiful spots to pull off for photos! Additionally, the summit of Guanella Pass also has incredible views of Mt. Bierstadt and wildflowers in the summer! Keep in mind that the pass is usually closed from the end of November through the end of May, so if you want summer of fall photos, this is the place for you!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Best time of year: Spring-Fall
Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of those places that is simply otherworldly! It is beyond stunning and has gorgeous views of the mountains as well! If you want to run around bare-foot in the sand and just have an all around fun time for your session, this is a must! While the national park is accessible year round, I don’t usually recommend it for winter photos because it can get extremely windy and cold in the dune field. Most of us don’t enjoy getting pelted with sand! In summer months, I also would only suggest photos at sunrise or sunset because the sand gets extremely hot! Finally, photography permits and paid entry are required in the national park.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
Best time of year: All year!
Last, but certainly not least, Paint Mines Interpretive Park is another location that feels out of this world! The colorful rock formations and unique shapes create a beautiful backdrop for photos! Permits to photograph here are required! Please also be sure to follow the rules in this park and don’t step on fragile areas!
“Hidden” Gems for Colorado Engagement Photo Locations
To conclude the list of locations for Colorado engagement sessions, I also need to let you know that these are just some of the more well known areas in Colorado! I would absolutely love to share some less popular locations with you if you choose to book a session with me!
All of these locations are absolutely gorgeous!! It would be so hard to pick just one with those photos showing them off and making them look magicalš makes me want to have engagement photos in every location!
All of these locations are absolutely stunning !! And the photos showcasing them are magical, I would want photos at each location just so I didnt miss out on one!!
Such a beautiful place to elope to! Colorado is definitely in my bucket list. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful state! I love Colorado. There are so many beautiful locations for Engagement Photos. Thanks for sharing!
Great list of front range locations along with the most popular spots in the mountain corridor. Iām sure couples will find this helpful in finding the perfect engagement session locale!