Table of Contents:
- Best Outdoor Washington Mountain Elopement Locations
- Best Washington Mountain Wedding Venues
- Beautiful Hikes for a Washington Mountain Elopement
- Where to Stay for Your Washington Mountain Elopement
- What to Pack for Your Washington Mountain Elopement
- Sample Washington Mountain Elopement Itinerary
- Washington Mountain Elopement Photographer
- Washington Mountain Elopement Packages
- Washington Mountain Elopement Planning Resources
When I say Washington state is every mountain-lover’s dream, I could not mean it more. From the rolling hills of the North Cascades to the snow-capped peaks of western Washington, outdoor enthusiasts travel from across the country to experience the phenomenal landscapes that this beautiful state has offered up to us. And if you’re an engaged couple looking to promise forever to each other somewhere in the middle of the mountains – somewhere you can breathe in the crisp mountain air you love so much, where you can admire the wildflowers and look out at gleaming alpine lakes – then a Washington mountain elopement may be exactly what you need/want/are dreaming of.
As a pretty dang well-versed Washington adventure elopement photographer (if I do say so myself), I’ve photographed countless mountain elopements – which means I know all of the best mountain elopement locations around the state. I hope you enjoy this Washington mountain elopement guide where I’ve included all of my favorite elopement spots, hikes, places to stay, a packing list, & more!
Best Outdoor Washington Mountain Elopement Locations
We’ll start off with probably the most important aspect of your adventure elopement: choosing your location(s). Remember that you can absolutely visit more than one location for your elopement (as long as they’re in close proximity) – who says you can’t have a first look next to a lake, say your vows in the rainforest, and then hike up to a mountain top for sunset portraits? Answer: absolutely nobody 😉
Here are the best Washington mountain elopement locations that I’d highly recommend considering!
1. Mount Rainier National Park
Of course, we have to start off with one of the most iconic places in Washington state, the beautiful Mount Rainier National Park! This active volcano boasts some of the most picturesque landscapes in the northwest, featured on many a Washington postcard. Located approximately 2 hours southeast of Seattle (depending on which park entrance you drive to), Mount Rainier National Park encompasses nearly 240,000 acres of land, highlighted by vibrant subalpine wildflower meadows, lush green forests, and a wide array of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. It’s truly one of the most phenomenal locations you could have your elopement at, no matter which part of the park you visit, or how long of a hike you’d like to take!
For more tips to help plan your elopement in the park, visit my Mount Rainier Elopement Guide.
2. North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is definitely the most underrated out of Washington’s three national parks, spanning across more than 500,000 acres of the northwest region of the state. From Seattle, it’ll take you between 1.5-3 hours to drive to the North Cascades, depending on where you go, as there are a wide variety of wilderness areas + little mountain towns you can explore! The vast wilderness boasts jagged mountain peaks, bright white glaciers, breathtaking turquoise alpine lakes, and an incredible amount of outdoor opportunities, from hiking to mountain biking to kayaking & so much more. Whether you’d like to walk up to a stunning viewpoint to take in the scenery of the Cascades, drive along the scenic highway to enjoy the views, or backpack through the valleys, adventure truly awaits every visitor in the North Cascades.
For more tips to help plan your elopement in the park, visit my North Cascades Elopement Guide.
3. Olympic National Park
If you’re looking for not only a location with breathtaking mountain views, but also stunning lakes, enchanting forests, glistening waterfalls, and moody PNW beaches, Olympic National Park is the place! I truly will never get over the magnificence of this park and the incredible amount of diversity it has to offer when it comes to landscapes, outdoor activities, & hiking trails. Olympic National Park is located at the tip-top corner of Washington, covering almost a million acres full of jaw-dropping scenery. Trust me – you do NOT want to miss out on the chance to elope in Olympic National Park!
For more tips to help plan your elopement in the park, visit my Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
4. Mt. Baker
Mt. Baker is the highlight of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (who knew, right?), which is located along the west side of the Cascades. Simply drive up I-5 north from Seattle and onto WA-542 E, and you’ll get to Mt. Baker in about 3 hours! Mt. Baker has plenty of options when it comes to elopement locations: choose from a variety of hiking trails, scenic mountain views, and blue alpine lakes – this is one of the dreamiest mountains in Washington that’s fairly easy to access, even for couples who don’t want to venture on a long hike.
5. Leavenworth
Finally, Leavenworth is not actually a mountain or part of a national or state park itself – it’s a little Bavarian-style village about 2.5 hours east of Seattle, nestled in the heart of the Cascade Mountains. It’s one of the best places to visit & explore thanks to the crazy amount of opportunities for outdoor adventure super close by, so you can stay in town, eat at one of the many delicious local restaurants, do a little shopping, and have easy access to gorgeous mountain + lakeside locations!
For more tips to help plan your elopement in this adorable little town + its surrounding areas, visit my Leavenworth Elopement Guide.
Best Washington Mountain Wedding Venues
Now if you’re looking to plan something a little different, and you want to celebrate at an actual venue of some sort, I’d recommend checking out these Upscale Summer Camp Wedding Venues for Your Elopement. (Yes, you heard me right – I said summer camp!)
This guide features some of my favorite summer camp-inspired venues in the western United States, including multiple Washington mountain wedding venues that would be perfect to host your mountain wedding, including one of my all-time favorites – Crystal Sky Camp. What are you waiting for? Go check ‘em out!
Beautiful Hikes for a Washington Mountain Elopement
I’m not sure if you could tell quite yet, but I’m somewhat of an avid hiker 😉 I feel most at home when I’m trekking through the stunning landscapes that Washington has to offer, breathing in that fresh mountain air while documenting a lovely couple by my side. Washington is a hiker’s dream, boasting an enormous menu of options when it comes to trails – from quick 10-minute walks to 3-mile loops all the way to multi-day backpacking trips, there are options galore. So whether you’d like to simply take a quick walk to a pretty viewpoint, enjoy a couple of hours out on the trails, or spend a whole weekend making a trek, below is a list of some of my favorite trails that are perfect for a Washington mountain elopement!
Best hikes for a Mount Rainier National Park elopement:
Trail of the Shadows
Hike distance: 0.7 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 39 ft
Trail type: Loop
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? No
Best hikes for a North Cascades National Park elopement:
Rainy Lake | Stehekin
Hike distance: 2 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 70 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes
Washington Pass Overlook Trail | Stehekin
Hike distance: 0.3 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 108 ft
Trail type: Loop
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes
Cutthroat Lake | Winthrop
Hike distance: 3.8 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 479 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? No
Dog-friendly? Yes
Gorge Lake Overlook | Rockport
Hike distance: 0.53 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 70 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? No
Dog-friendly? No
Best hikes for an Olympic National Park elopement:
Hurricane Hill | Olympic National Park
Hike distance: 3.4 mi
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 826 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? No
Best hikes for a Mt. Baker elopement:
Picture Lake | Artist Point
Hike distance: 0.5 mi round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 0 ft
Trail type: Boardwalk with railings, gravel, natural surfaces
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes
Fire & Ice Trail | Artist point
Hike distance: 0.5 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 100 ft
Trail type: Out & Back
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? No
Best hikes for a Leavenworth elopement:
Colchuck Lake
Hike distance: 8 mi
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Elevation gain: 2,280 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? No
Dog-friendly? No
Icicle Ridge
Hike distance: 6 mi
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Elevation gain: 1,800 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? No
Dog-friendly? Yes
Lake Valhalla
Hike distance: 7 mi
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Elevation gain: 1,500 ft
Trail type: Out & back
Wheelchair-friendly? No
Dog-friendly? No
Enchantment Park
Hike distance: 0.7 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 13 ft
Trail type: Loop
Wheelchair-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes
If you’re specifically looking for hiking trails that are more easily accessible for you & your guests (think: wheelchair-friendly, kid-friendly, etc.), head over to my blog post featuring 15 Accessible Hiking Trails in Washington for Your Elopement & Guests.
For a complete guide to having a hiking elopement that includes my best tips for hiking with your elopement attire, step-by-step instructions to picking your perfect hike, & an in-depth hiking packing list, check out my guide to How to Have an Epic Hiking Elopement in Washington State!
Where to Stay for Your Washington Mountain Elopement
Now that you’ve got a better idea of potential locations for your Washington mountain elopement, the next important step is finding a place to stay near your location of choice. I wholeheartedly believe that the place you stay for your elopement plays a crucial part in how your celebration turns out, and in bringing your visions for your ideal elopement to life. Whether you’d like to celebrate in a cozy cabin where all of your friends & family can stay with you, you’d rather camp under the stars and enjoy Mother Nature to the fullest, or you’d be happiest in a lovely resort in the middle of the mountains, choose what feels right to you & where you’ll feel the most peace.
Luckily, Washington is jam-packed with incredible Airbnb’s, lodges, resorts, & more – so I’ve compiled a list below of all of my favorite places to stay near each of the locations we’ve been talking about! And if you decide you’d rather tent camp than stay indoors, I’ll be more than happy to help you find the right campground for you once we start planning your elopement details, too.
Where to stay near Mount Rainier National Park:
Where to stay near North Cascades National Park:
Where to stay in Olympic National Park:
- Secluded Oceanfront Olympic Cabin
- Sol Duc Serenity Riverfront Cottage
- Lake Crescent Lodge
- Rialto Beach Getaway
- Rain Forest Home
- Beaver’s Den
Where to stay near Mt. Baker:
Where to stay in Leavenworth:
What to Pack for Your Washington Mountain Elopement
I’m a sucker for a well-prepped, organized backpack – especially when it comes to hiking & spending time in the great (but unpredictable) outdoors. Below is a basic packing list of key items you won’t want to forget to bring along for your Washington mountain elopement to help you be prepared for whatever weather + situations we may run into!
- Hiking boots
- Hiking attire
- Hats
- Gloves
- Warm layers
- Light rain jacket
- Jackets (fleece, sherpa, etc.)
- Quick-dry towel
- Snacks
- Water
- Extra change of clothes
- Extra pair of shoes
- Multiple pairs of socks
- Garment bags
- Bear spray
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- First-Aid kit
- Hiking safety kit
- GPS
- Elopement attire + accessories (jewelry, ties, etc.)
- Rings
- Marriage certificate + a pen to sign
- Vow books
- Emergency elopement kit (stain remover, extra makeup, deodorant, safety pins, etc.)
Sample Washington Mountain Elopement Itinerary
By now, you hopefully have a solid idea of where in Washington you might want to elope, and are starting to dream about all the possibilities! But it can be hard to start mapping it all out when the time comes: How long will everything take? How much time should you allot for X part of the day?
Luckily, I’m a total pro at all things elopement timelines simply because I’ve created so many of them over the years. I’ve guided countless couples through their elopement planning, helping to create timelines that allow time to be flexible + adapt, to relax and take it easy, and to truly enjoy the day instead of trying to rush it all. I’ve seen every possible thing go “wrong” or run late under the sun – so you won’t have to worry about handling unexpected situations on your own!
Below is an example of what a 12-hour mountain elopement timeline could potentially look like, to give you guidance. Keep in mind that your timeline will depend on a number of unique factors: lighting, sunrise/sunset times, the time of day you have your ceremony, activities you’re doing, how many guests you have, locations you want to go, etc. This is a super basic outline to simply help you get started!
12-Hour Sample Elopement Timeline
5:45 – Begin getting ready at your Airbnb
8:00 – Drive to the trailhead
8:30 – Take a few photos around the trailhead area
9:00 – Begin the hike up to ceremony spot
10:30 – Last-minute touch ups
11:00 – Mountain top elopement ceremony
11:40 – Celebratory champagne pop + sign marriage certificate
12:00 – Take photos with guests
12:30 – Hike down
2:15 – Leave from trailhead + begin drive to second location
3:15 – Couples portraits at a lake, in a forest, etc.
4:30 – Head to a final location for a lovely little picnic out in nature
5:45 – Say our farewells & you leave to meet your guests, go back to your Airbnb, etc.
If you’d like to learn more about how to create your own personalized elopement timeline, don’t miss out on my recent blog post dedicated entirely to How to Create an Elopement Timeline!
Washington Mountain Elopement Photographer
Hi, I’m Emma – your friendly neighborhood Washington mountain elopement photographer! I’m an elopement photographer based out of Washington who is not only ready to document your one-of-a-kind, intentional, adventurous elopement (seriously – my bags are packed & ready to go), but ready to help guide you through the entire process of planning your ideal day. I’m passionate about encouraging couples to create a day that looks and feels right to them, not what the wedding industry tells them or what their well-intended parents want them to do.
I’ve photographed more mountain elopements in Washington than I can count at a long list of incredible locations, so I can promise you that I’ll bring all of my expertise, knowledge, and heart to planning + capturing your adventure elopement. You can learn more about me here, and if you feel like we may be a good match for your unique elopement, contact me & let’s get to know each other.
Washington Mountain Elopement Packages
Money plays one of the biggest roles in how you elope, and how you choose to plan your day in a way that aligns with your values + what’s important to you. As an adventure elopement photographer, I craft intentional elopement days so you don’t have to stress one bit, and that all begins with my custom-tailored elopement packages. Learn more about what your elopement with me could look & what’s included in every Washington elopement package here!
Washington Elopement Planning Resources + Inspiration
I’ve been in the adventure elopement game for a while now, so I’ve got plenty more good stuff up my sleeve – don’t miss out on more of my favorite Washington elopement planning resources & real-life inspiration below.