Telluride Elopement Guide — Your Guide to the San Juan Mountains
Step-by-step how to elope in one of the most magical locations in all of Colorado—Telluride. This will cover how to plan your dream day, find your amazing vendors, why Telluride is a great choice, and more.
Find out why couples choose this location time and time again, and how to make your elopement day just as magical in the San Juan mountains!
Contents of this Guide
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Why Elope in Telluride?
Telluride is nestled in the San Juan Mountain Range of Colorado, and it’s simply one of the most spectacular places you’ll ever visit in your life.
When I refer to Telluride, I am referring to all the mountain towns surrounding Telluride, which includes:
Telluride
Ouray
Silverton
Durango
Ridgeway
& more!
Being the off-roading and jeeping capitol of Colorado, the summertimes when you can expect to have the most fun out here. High alpine off-roading with incredible views 360 give you the feeling that you’re on top of the world.
Since there are so many locations you can off-road to, many people can’t access those areas without an off-road vehicle and experienced driver, so you’ll find yourself having an entire place to yourself a lot of the time.
One thing to note is the small-town feel, as well as the sense of community. Everything you see is small business owned, from the coffee shops, to the restaurants, to the gas stations. If you’re looking for somewhere with an exciting small town vibe, delicious food at some of the 5 star restaurants in town, or a crazy adventure off into the mountains, Telluride is right for you.
Things to do around Telluride
Explore the outdoors (more casual)
There are plenty of amazing locations to take a beautiful afternoon stroll, or just marvel at the beauty outside your car window. Here are some of my favorite ideas:
Take the Free Gondola with panoramic views — view info here
Take a drive on the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray down to Silverton
Check out one of the many ghost towns in the area
Explore the outdoors (in adventure mode)
There are tons of incredible activities to partake in while exploring the area apart from just hiking (although the hiking is INCREDIBLE). Here are some more activity ideas, and where you can rent equipment from:
Climb the Telluride Via Ferrata — info here
Off-road to some crazy beautiful places, or hire someone to take you there — info here
Paddle board or kayak or any local lakes — info here
Stargaze at any of the campgrounds near by. The night sky is so vibrant out here.
Grab some food from local small businesses
Please note —Telluride & Ouray are having an affordable housing crisis, so many restaurants cycle out and close.
Best Time of Year to Elope in Telluride
Summer
Summer is by far my favorite time of year in Telluride. The warm air, wildflowers, vibrant greens of wilderness, turquoise alpine lakes, waterfalls, and sunshine all hit different this time of year. Summer elopements in Telluride are best from early July to late August. August and July are my favorite months for elopements. In other parts of the US, you can expect 90+ degree weather, but in high-altitude mountain towns, you can expect lovely 65-75 degree days.
Fall
The San Juans are one of the most beautiful spots in all of Colorado to view the changing aspens. The vibrant yellows and oranges are incredible to witness. Fall elopements in Telluride are best from mid September to early October. Be aware that winter conditions are unpredictable, and snow may come earlier. Keep that in mind when selecting your fall date.
Winter
Winter is by far the most unpredictable time of year anywhere in the Colorado mountains. I have learned to love the unpredictability of it over the years, so if you are adventurous and love the winter chill, winter is for you. Winter conditions in the mountains are from roughly early October to April, March being the snowiest month statistically. The photo above was taken on October 3rd, for example. Christmas time in snow mountain towns are spectacular, so don’t miss the opportunity for a sleigh ride in fresh pow.
Spring
Following close behind in the unpredictability scale is spring. Spring happens at all different times depending on the altitude. In Denver, spring happens in April with some random freezes here and there. However, the mountains are a completely different story. The photo above was taken in July at 12,000+ ft altitude. As a rule of thumb, late June is when you can expect most winter conditions to be melted away, but still prepare for snow well into July in higher elevations (12,000+ feet). Spring elopements are essentially mud, snow melt, and brown vegetation. Proceed with caution!
Where to Stay
Telluride has some of the most beautiful AirBNB/s and lodging that I’ve seen. Comfy rooms, gorgeous views, and some places where you have an entire view to yourself, with no one around for miles.
Here is a list of my favorite places to stay in the Telluride area.
AIRBNBS
Fox Farm Lodge — Entire chalet in Telluride, Colorado
8 guests
4 bedrooms
4 beds
3.5 baths
Architectural Masterpiece | Best View in Telluride — Entire home in Telluride, Colorado
8 guests
3 bedrooms
5 beds
2 baths
HOTELS
A couple enjoying the natural hot springs after their elopement — Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs in Ouray, CO
Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs — Ouray
Mountain Lodge Telluride — Telluride
The Hotel Telluride — Telluride
Telluride Locations
While I reserve most of my specific locations for my couples, here are some inspiration images around Telluride to help convince you this place has everything.
Alpine Lakes
Of all the alpine lakes in Colorado, the San Juan Mountain Range holds some of the most spectacular in the country. I’m talking turquoise water that is so vibrant it looks other worldly, and views around them that are simply unparalleled. There are some secret gems high up in the mountains that require a 4x4 vehicle and an experienced driver, or a long hike, but you will not regret the extra effort to see these spectacular lakes and waterfalls.
Wildflowers
The San Juan Mountains are home to some of the most gorgeous wildflowers you’ve ever seen. From late June to early August, wildflowers of all kinds paint the mountains with a rainbow array of colors. This breathtaking phenomenon is one of the most incredible things to witness, and makes for a gorgeous elopement backdrop.
Aspen Groves
Fall in the San Juans is absolutely breathtaking. One thing about early fall in these small mountain towns is that you can expect to see and feel all four seasons in a one week stay. While this grove of aspens pictured was nestled in gorgeous fall colors, 20 minutes up the road was a blizzard. Talk about adventure!
Hiking Trails
Crested Butte is one of the most popular hubs for hiking in western Colorado. All seasons tend to bring people into CB, but summer and fall are the best times to hit the trails out here.
Rivers
Telluride and Ouray hold some pretty notable rivers and waterfalls in the surrounding areas. Many are incredibly popular, like Bridal Veil falls, but others, like the river above, are secret little groves tucked away from the general public.
Activities Galore
Airplane tours, horseback riding, fly fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking of all levels, off-roading, and even more outdoor sports to choose from! For those wanting a little more chill of a time, there are plenty of accessible areas with pretty views, so you don’t have to adventure if you don’t want to (but you should)!
Telluride Elopement Photographer Galleries
I photograph more and more Telluride elopements every year, and have become a bit of an expert on the area. Want a local expert to be a part of your elopement day? Make sure to check out my pricing page, and fill out my contact form so we can get started planning your day!
Carrie + Kelvin’s Summer Alpine Lake Ouray Elopement
Sam + Ashley’s Fall Ouray Elopement
Chelsea + Luke’s Off-Road Summer Silverton Elopement
Savannah + Dustin Winter Jeeping Ouray Elopement
HEY You!
I’m Emily, a Colorado Elopement Photographer with a passion for giving joyful, badass couples the ultimate adventure-filled elopement! I’m ready to help curate your adventure and get our boots dirty in the process. Are you?
I build a custom elopement experience for every couple (yes, even you!!!) that makes you feel on top of the world.
