Lake Isabelle Elopement - A Simple Guide

Lake Isabelle is an iconic place to Elope in Colorado and by far a top recommendation. If you’re looking for a short, straight to the point guide to help you plan your Lake Isabelle Elopement, you’ve come to the right place.

When to elope at lake isabelle

1. Fall (cooler temps, earlier sunset, and fall colors)

2. Summer (depending on TOD it can be busy, pack bug spray, wind breakers, etc)

3. Late Spring (plan for snow packed trails)

What time of day to elope at Lake Isabelle?

Sunrise and sunset are great options but I’ll generally recommend a sunset elopement! If you’re curious about why and a sample timeline that works really well just reach out and I can share more information!

How far of a hike is it?

Distance: The hike from the trailhead round trip is just about 4.2 miles

Elevation gain: 374 ft

Elevation:L about 10,868'

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

What to pack for your lake isabelle elopement

1. hiking boots

2. sunscreen

3. water

4. snacks

5. vow books

6. rings

7. picnic

8. Sunglasses

9. Jacket (water proof) z

10. Headlamps (for sunrise or sunset elopements)
    

Fun ways to make your elopement extra special

1. Bring letters from loved ones to open and ready day of

2. Pack a small BT speaker to do a first dance (as long as we are not disturbing other hikers trying to enjoy nature, might sound over the top but something we need to be mindful of)

3. Bring a small gift to exchange

4. Pack a bottle of champagne to pop!

5. Bring inflatable rafts or paddle boards to get out on the water

6. Pack a disposable film camera to take photos (leave it with me and I’ll get it developed as a gift)
   
   

Important things to know

1. You’ll need to purchase an entry ticket for your time of day [ here ] (this is something that I will help you with as generally time slots book up really quickly with the recreational area having limited parking)
   
   

2. You NEED to be prepared for possible weather changes and your photographer should have advice on how to do this
   
   

3. Be EARLY there’s a parking lot outside of the main gated entrance where you can park and wait till your time slot is available. Depending on the time of day and time of year sometimes there can be a long line of cars trying to get into the recreational area.
   
   

Permit requirements

You don’t need a permit to get married at lake isabelle but for certain group sizes to enter the recreational area you do need a permit and certain times of year might require a permit as well. *always best to research and contact the local park ranger or agency to confirm permit requirements.

June 1 – September 15:

• Visitors in groups of 1-7 DO NOT need a day use permit.

• Visitors in large groups of 8-12 NEED a Large Group Day Use Permit for EACH Backcountry Zone they plan to visit.

  • Purchase Large Group Day Use Permit

• September 16 – May 31: 

  • Visitors in groups of 1-7 DO NOT need a day use permit.

  • Visitors in large groups of 8-12 DO NOT need a day use permit.

Ready to plan your Lake Isabelle Elopement?

Whether you’re planning to work together or just have questions about Lake Isabelle I am always happy to help!