Colorado Elopement at South Colony Lakes, in West Cliffe
Colorado Hiking Elopement at South Colony Lakes, in West Cliffe
Bri + David’s alpine lake mountain elopement was an absolute dream!
Colorado is filled with amazing places to elope! You can elope at the top of a mountain, the sand dunes, open fields and mountain range foothills. There are literally endless options and this one was by far a favorite. And it’s a place where Bri + David have hiked and explored before, you can’t beat that. And if you love adventure and get stoked on epic views surrounding secluded alpine lakes, then this is the place.
South Colony Lakes is located near Westcliffe, Colorado which is a little town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The trail to the Colorado Alpine Lake is rated as difficult, buuuut if you’re active and someone that hikes regularly South Colony Lakes isn’t a bad hike, it’s in fact beautiful and just 8.9 miles in and out. If you have a 4x4 vehicle you can knock off some of the trip by taking the trail up, but it’s legit a 4x4 trail and no way to make it in a low clearance vehicle or 2wd car. It was fun to haul up the trail in my Toyota 4Runner with Bri + David in the front driving Bri’s lifted Toyota Tacoma.
I met up with Bri, David and a few of their closest friends around mid-day! Bri was getting ready in her friends camper van and Dave was doing a gear check and final packing. We took off on the hike pounding granola bars, water and a few brewskis on the way up. We also were accompanied by very friendly mosquitoes, so (pro-tip) ALWAYS bring a light jacket and bug spray when hiking in the mountains at anytime of year except winter.
We made it up to the first South Colony Lake where we scouted the best location for Bri + David to exchange their vows. The views were unreal, Humboldt Peak is spectacular and the weather was so perfect. Of course there were some big ole gusts of wind blowing over the cliffs, but it all just added to the mood.
Bri + David got ready in the woods, (a true mountain elopement, man) then their good friend David lead them in a celebration where Dave + Bri exchanged handwritten vows. Their friends were cheering them on and of course the puppies were there to witness it all. Oh and did I mention that their pups was the ring bearer? Please more dog ring bearers, it was just to precious! The celebration was perfect and continued with more hiking, photos and a snowball fight. Yeah, it’s Colorado in the mountains so of course there was snow, even in the summer.
We all made the hike back down through the mountains, where Bri + David stopped in a beautiful valley to have their first dance; it was just the two of them, surrounded by Colorado Wildflowers and a few ground squirrels We rocked our headlamps, ate snacks, had great conversation on the hike down. Once we setup our basecamp, David got a fire going and cooked us all burgers over a an iron skillet. It was truly an epic all day adventure elopement and I speak for everyone when I say it was worth every mosquito bite and achy muscle.
I’m so blessed to document days like this and hang with the most genuine of people. Bri + Dave, thank you for serving our country. You have my biggest congrats and a warm invite for food and drinks anytime you’re in Northern Colorado.
