An Adventure Elopement in the San Juan Mountains

When Claire & Matt first reached out about their elopement, they told me two things: they were planning a summer campsite celebration with family and friends and they dreamed of exchanging private vows in the mountains with their dog by their side. The best part? They didn’t have to choose between the two.

They planned a weekend celebration at a campsite with family and friends in August, but kicked it all off with a private adventure elopement deep in the San Juan Mountains — their favorite place to be.

These two are no strangers to early mornings and big hikes, so we threw on headlamps and started up the trail before sunrise, chasing alpenglow through a quiet basin off Ophir Pass. Claire knows the San Juans like the back of her hand, and we picked a spot that had everything: an alpine lake, rugged peaks, and total solitude. Just them, their dog, and the wild beauty of southwest Colorado.

As the first light hit the tops of the mountains, we paused at the lake to soak it in and take some portraits in that dreamy sunrise glow. Then we continued hiking up a grassy ridgeline that opened up to jaw-dropping views — the kind of place that feels both massive and intimate at the same time. That’s where Claire & Matt exchanged their vows, with their dog by their side and the San Juans stretching out around them.

Fun fact: this hike marked over 1,000 miles hiked together. Just one more reason this day felt so true to who they are.

Later that weekend, they got to celebrate with family — proof that you really don’t have to choose between an elopement and a wedding. You can have both.

As a Colorado adventure elopement photographer, helping couples plan days like this — where you don’t have to compromise and every piece of it feels like you — is one of my favorite things. Whether it’s a quiet summit, a lakeside ceremony, or a weekend filled with both adventure and connection, I’m here to help you bring it to life.