There are so many gorgeous spots in the Rocky Mountains for engagement photos. Whether you’re a Rocky Mountain native or just visiting the Mountain States, the range offers dramatic natural beauty. From National Parks and towering Aspen trees to red rock formations and rolling white sand dunes, you have an endless number of options. But where are the best of the best spots featuring stunning views for your perfect engagement photo session? We’ve curated an all inclusive guide to go through the top Rocky Mountain engagement photo locations.
Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country! With soaring peaks in every direction, glaciers, alpine lakes and wildlife roaming the valleys, it’s no wonder couples choose this idyllic backdrop for engagement photos. Keep in mind, Rocky Mountain National Park does require a photography permit fee of $50. Check with your photographer about requesting a permit prior to your engagement photos, the permit allows free entry for the day of the photo session and can be found here.
Great Sand Dunes National Park open 24/7 year round, this magnificent sandbox encompasses 30 square miles of soft sand and the tallest dune towering 750 feet high! The magic moment happens at dusk when the light gives the sand a rich gold color and shadows snake across the wind sculpted ridges.
Maroon Bells is touted as the most photographed place in Colorado, and it’s pretty obvious why! Twin mountain peaks rising more than 14,000 feet stripped with snow all summer long and a reflective lake mirroring the Aspen trees that drape the hillsides, truly set the scene for a beautiful photoshoot. Autumn is especially dreamy, when the trees turn amber yellow. Since this natural landmark is so popular, there is restricted access during the summer and fall, so keep this in mind and discuss visiting mid-week with your photographer when there are fewer crowds.
Located just north-east of Colorado Springs near Calhan, Colorado is the unique and colorful Paint Mines Interpretive Park. The Paint Mines are named for their clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint for use on their bodies, horses and pottery. The canyons and rock formations have eroded over time displaying colors like purple, orange, pink and blue. If you’re looking to have a golden hour session, Paint Mines in the evening is the way to go! The golden light makes the beauty of this natural area glow.
The Boulder Flat Irons consist of five large flatirons ranging from north to south along the east slope of Green Mountain. These striking, slanted, reddish-brown sandstone formations make up a portion of Boulder’s foothills on the west side of town. They are the city’s most iconic landmark, which you’ll see throughout town. Whether frosted with snow, cloaked in fog, or glowing warm and red under sunny skies, the Flatirons offer a quintessential engagement session.
Garden of the Gods is Colorado Springs’ very own paradise featuring panoramic views and raw scenic beauty, giving so many opportunities for lovely photos. Imagine dramatic views nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, massive red rock formations jutting into the air accompanied by brilliant blue skies.
A timeless location in the city. Set in the heart of downtown Denver, the beautifully restored Union Station is one of Denver’s most iconic and historic landmarks. String lights illuminate Larimer Square at night and elegant Victorian buildings line the busy streets. Talk about pure romance!
With stunning alpine and mountain vista scenery, this ruggedly beautiful lake in Dillon, Colorado offers 25 miles of shoreline nestled in the Rocky Mountains. A destination for lovers of land and water!
Vermilion Lakes or Lake Vermilion reflect the iconic Mount Rundle that looms over the town of Banff. The series of three lakes are situated west of Banff and are fed by the Bow River in the Canadian Rockies. One of the prettiest spots to observe the sunset in Banff is on this particular lake!
The prairies of Alberta meet the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in Waterton Lakes National Park. Clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, rainbow-colored streams, colorful rocks and mountain vistas await those who visit. Waterton packs a big natural punch into a relatively small area!
The heart of downtown Vancouver offers a mix of historic and modern buildings lining the business-filled blocks between Fifth Street and East Mill Plain Boulevard. Public art can be spotted on almost every corner and year-round events keep Esther Short Park humming with activity.
Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park established in 1885. Located in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, discover beautiful mountainous terrain, turquoise glacial lakes, ice fields, a picture-perfect mountain town and village, abundant wildlife and vast alpine landscapes.
The Kananaskis Valley is a year round playground for outdoor adventurers. This area is truly spectacular and surprisingly quiet considering the proximity to both Calgary and Banff.
Spend your day exploring some of Idaho’s best terrain. Bogus Basin is a premier mountain for anyone in the Boise area. Just 16 miles from downtown, it’s an easy escape to the wonderful outdoors.
Ponderosa State Park covers most of a 1,000-acre peninsula that juts into beautiful Payette Lake near McCall. The scenic overlook at Osprey Point offers a spectacular view of the lake. The park features wildflowers, especially along the trail that winds around the Meadow Marsh.
Sun Valley is a resort town located in central Idaho, where most of the action takes place around the Sun Valley Resort and its two mountains, Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. In the summer, the resort has miles of mountain trails, equestrian routes and wildflower filled meadows! Discover the best of Sun Valley by reading our local wedding guide filled with 50-pages of inspiration!
While it may sound like a French village, Coeur d’Alene is decidedly all-American. Located in northern Idaho, this lakefront resort offers five-star amenities in a beautifully rugged setting. Flip through our Coeur d’Alene Wedding Guide, here!
Glacier National Park is a 1,583 square mile wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. Known for its seemingly endless acres of rugged and breathtaking landscapes, Glacier was established in 1910 and stands today as a monument to wild natural places.
Nestled against the Beartooths, Montana’s highest mountain peaks, Red Lodge is a place of extraordinary beauty and wherever you turn, you’ll be greeted with genuine warmth, real smiles and welcoming Western hospitality!
Beehive Basin boasts some of the most breathtaking views Big Sky has to offer. This picturesque trail sits in a towering glacial cirque. At 9,200 feet, the trailhead will lead you into alpine wildflower meadows, through tall forest, and past creeks.
The White Sand Dunes National Park is like no place else on earth! Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders, the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed the 275 square miles of desert, creating the largest dune field. You have to see this striking landscape for yourself!
Historic Old Town has been the heart of Albuquerque since the city was founded in 1706. More than 300 years after its founding, it remains a center for culture, architecture and art with numerous museums and more than 100 shops, galleries and restaurants. Find the best of Albuquerque with 100% local inspiration in our wedding planning guide, here!
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in Taos is a steel deck arch bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge. Roughly 600 feet above the Rio Grande, it is the tenth highest bridge in the United States, offering spectacular views and a great place to spot bighorn sheep.
Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital, sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It’s renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and as a creative arts hotbed. Check out our Santa Fe Wedding Guide, right here!
The American Fork Canyon is a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains known for rock climbing, camping, fishing and hiking. The Alpine Loop Scenic Backway, Cascade Springs and Mount Timpanogos Cave National Monument are all hidden gems within the canyon.
While Utah may be best known for its snowy peaks and red rock cliffs, those are just some of the diverse landscapes to be found in the state. The Little Sahara Sand Dunes is 60,000 acres of sagebrush flats, juniper-covered hills and free moving sand dunes in the northeast corner of the Sevier Desert. This sandy slice of heaven is such a fun place for a session!
Rich in scenic beauty and natural features, Antelope Island State Park is the perfect place to capture the Great Salt Lake and get a taste of the vast open country found in the Great Basin.
The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake.
Moab, Utah, home to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, is surrounded by some of the most stunning red rock landscapes on Earth. Moab’s unique combination of small resort town hospitality, beautiful scenery and the cool waters of the Colorado River has made it one of the most sought after destinations in the Southwest. Learn more about Moab in our exclusive wedding planning guide, here!
The Teton Range are mountains of the imagination! Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming is home to abundant mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers and historic structures dating back to the 1800s.
Mormon Row may be one the most picturesque spots of Grand Teton National Park. With rustic, wooden structures surrounded by open fields against the backdrop of the Tetons, this rural destination offers a glimpse of the past while enjoying the present.
Looking for an adventure engagement session around Wyoming? Discover the magic of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone. This incredible and inspiring wild location is the perfect place for couples who love nature. Yellowstone features canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests and hot springs, including the famous Old Faithful.
This last real mountain town is a place like no other! Home to three ski resorts, Jackson Hole offers the perfect mix of rustic adventure and luxury amenities. Learn more about Jackson with our Jackson Wedding Guide, here!
