If exchanging vows surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, exploring rugged mountain roads in a Jeep, and paddleboarding on an alpine lake sounds like your kind of wedding day, you’re going to LOVE this Ouray elopement adventure.
We spent the day exploring two incredible locations near Ouray, Colorado: California Pass and Velocity Basin. Between the mountain views, lakeside picnic, and time spent out on the water, this adventure was such a fun example of how an elopement can be so much more than a ceremony and portraits.
And the best part? You don’t have to choose between having those meaningful wedding moments and spending the rest of the day doing something you actually enjoy.
Starting the Day With a Jeep Adventure in Ouray, Colorado
We kicked off the morning in Ouray before heading into the San Juan Mountains with Switzerland of America Jeep Tours.
Instead of driving straight to a ceremony spot, we made the journey part of the experience. Ouray is known for its rugged mountain roads and incredible scenery, and exploring by 4×4 gives you access to areas that you wouldn’t necessarily reach in a regular vehicle.
As we made our way higher into the mountains, the views just kept getting better.
And that’s one of my favorite things about an adventure elopement in Colorado. The day doesn’t have to revolve around arriving at one pretty location, exchanging vows, and heading home. The drive, the stops along the way, and everything happening between locations can be part of the story too.
Exchanging Vows at California Pass Overlooking Lake Como
Our first destination was California Pass, a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains with some seriously incredible views.
With Lake Como below and mountains surrounding us, the couple exchanged vows and rings before we spent some time exploring the overlook and taking photos.
It’s hard to beat a setting like this for an Ouray elopement. The rugged peaks, colorful mountain scenery, and alpine lake below create such an amazing backdrop without needing a long hike to reach the overlook.
And because we were already up in the mountains, there was no reason to rush through everything. We had time to explore the area, take in the views, and create some beautiful portraits before heading off on the next part of our adventure.
That’s something I love about building an elopement day around multiple locations. You can choose one incredible place for your vows and still have plenty of time to experience somewhere completely different afterward.
Exploring Velocity Basin in the San Juan Mountains
After our time at California Pass, we headed to Velocity Basin for a completely different part of the day.
This area has gorgeous alpine scenery, mountain views, and a beautiful lake that made the perfect setting for a more relaxed afternoon.
And instead of spending the entire time taking traditional portraits, we incorporated activities into the experience.
Because why not make your elopement day FUN?!
A Lakeside Picnic
After spending the morning exploring the mountains, a picnic beside the lake was a great way to slow things down.
I love the idea of building time into an elopement for couples to simply hang out together. Whether that’s having a picnic, enjoying some drinks, or taking a break somewhere beautiful, those moments are just as much a part of the experience as the ceremony itself.
And from a photography perspective, they create opportunities for some really fun, natural images that tell more of the story.
Paddle Boarding on an Alpine Lake
Now THIS was one of my favorite parts of the adventure.
The couple headed out onto the water with paddleboards, surrounded by the mountains of Velocity Basin.
Paddle boarding might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture a Colorado elopement, but that’s exactly why I love it.
Your wedding day doesn’t have to be eight hours of standing in beautiful places taking photos. You can actually spend time doing things you love, trying something new, or exploring somewhere you’ve never been before.
And yes, we can absolutely photograph all of it.
Whether you want to paddle board, canoe, hike, go off roading, or simply enjoy a picnic by the lake, there are SO many ways to turn your Colorado elopement into an experience.
Why Ouray Is Such an Incredible Place for an Adventure Elopement
If you’re dreaming about an adventurous Colorado elopement, Ouray deserves a spot on your list.
Located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, Ouray is surrounded by towering peaks, waterfalls, mountain passes, alpine lakes, and some pretty incredible off road adventures.
One of my favorite things about this area is how much variety you can incorporate into a single day.
You could exchange vows overlooking an alpine lake, explore rugged mountain roads, spend time by the water, and finish your adventure back in town.
And you don’t necessarily have to hike miles into the backcountry to find incredible scenery.
For couples who love the outdoors but want to experience more than one location, an Ouray Jeep elopement is such a fun option.
What to Know About Planning an Off Road Ouray Elopement
As incredible as these locations are, there are a few things worth thinking about before planning your own adventure.
Mountain road access: Many of the high elevation roads around Ouray are seasonal, and conditions can change. If California Pass or another backcountry location is on your wishlist, your date and transportation plans are going to matter.
Transportation: These aren’t your average paved mountain roads. Hiring an experienced local Jeep tour company can be a great option if you want to explore without having to drive the trails yourself.
Weather and elevation: Even during summer, temperatures can be chilly at higher elevations, and afternoon storms are something to plan around. Bringing layers, rain protection, water, and appropriate footwear is always a good idea.
Activities: If you want to include something like paddle boarding or a lakeside picnic, we’ll need to think about equipment, transportation, weather, timing, and whether those activities are appropriate and permitted at your chosen location.
Permits and restrictions: Ceremony, photography, commercial tour, and recreation requirements can vary depending on the specific location and land manager. These should be checked before finalizing your plans.
This is also why I love helping couples plan their elopement beyond just showing up with my camera. Figuring out the logistics ahead of time gives us more freedom to enjoy the adventure once we’re out there.
Your Ouray Elopement Can Be More Than Just a Ceremony
One of the biggest things I hope couples take away from this adventure is that your elopement doesn’t have to revolve around taking photos all day.
You can have a beautiful ceremony surrounded by mountains AND spend time doing things you actually enjoy together.
For this Ouray adventure, that meant exchanging vows at California Pass overlooking Lake Como, then heading to Velocity Basin for a picnic and paddle boarding.
Your day could look completely different.
Maybe you want to explore more mountain passes, include a longer hike, spend time around Ouray, or slow things down with a scenic drive and a picnic.
There isn’t one right way to do it. The important part is choosing locations and activities that make sense for the kind of day you actually want.
Planning Your Own Ouray Colorado Elopement?
You don’t need to know which Jeep trail to take, where to exchange vows, or how to fit everything into your timeline before reaching out.
As a Colorado elopement photographer, I help my couples find locations, figure out the logistics, and build a day around what they actually want to experience.
Whether you’re dreaming about an adventurous Ouray elopement in the San Juan Mountains or something a little more relaxed, I’d love to help you put it together.
