It will never be lost on me that my job is to climb mountains and spend time with quality people and pursue my passion of capturing the beauty of this world. Diego + Marbel’s adventurous elopement at a fire lookout in the North Cascades was a dream come true from beginning to end – what a world!! What a life!!

📍Land Acknowledgement: Taken on the stolen ancestral land of the Nooksack peoples.

A Magical Summer Mountain Elopement at a Fire Lookout

A steep hike to an old fire lookout

Phew we barely made it up to the trail for this one. Just kidding – we were just fine, but the road up to the trailhead is CRAZY and borderline qualifies as an off-roading road! I bucked up and drove Diego and Marbel up even though I was a little nervous, but it all worked out great and we made it up fully alive 😉 Thank god for Subarus, am I right?

It was the perfect late August day in the North Cascades, despite it being a pretty hot day. Making the 4-mile, relatively steep climb up & down the mountain was a little harder and sweatier than we expected, but we all agreed it was way worth it for the scenery we were going to get at the top!

Diego + Marbel’s spectacular fire lookout elopement ceremony 

After a sweet first look in the warm sun, with the mountains trying their damndest to be in the spotlight (and fully succeeding), Diego and Marbel exchanged vows atop this scenic peak in private. It was truly a gift that we had the entire fire lookout & space to ourselves, and Diego and Marbel chose to have a private ceremony with no guests – so it was nothing but serene, quiet, & peaceful. A beautifully present ceremony full of love, promises, and simplicity, taking in the moment and the awe-inspiring views surrounding them.

Big shoutout to Joey with Urbanista Weddings for making Marbel look like even more of a queen than she already was with the most beautiful hair & makeup, and creds to Lulu’s for her lovely gown!

A meaningful collection of personal touches by the bride & groom

Diego and Marbel’s adventure elopement had no shortage of small, yet special touches incorporated into it from top to bottom!

Matching Nikes, AKA the coolest couple

Did you notice the sneakers these two cuties are wearing in their photos? Diego is a sneakerhead, so they wore matching custom Nike’s for their elopement. I’m telling all my couples from now on that matching sneakers are a totally, 100% viable option for elopement shoes! He also wore a snazzy green suit that paired perfectly with Marbel’s bright white dress – you truly can never go wrong with emerald green in the mountains of Washington. 

A mountain top pizza dinner? Say no more!

When a couple wants to eat (and feed each other) pizza at the top of a mountain after they exchange their vows, you let them. Once they wrapped up their sweet ceremony, they found some uber-comfy rocks to sit on for some sips from a flask of whiskey + bites from a pizza box – what better way to end this mountain adventure? Other great options for food to snack on during a hiking elopement, or during a mountain top picnic, include portable charcuterie boards, picnic dinners, or pre-packed sandwiches!

One of the best fire lookout trails in Washington

Once we completed the hike and got to the top, where the fire lookout stood, we realized right away that the stunning, 360° views were worth every scary turn on the windy road, and every sweaty step up the mountain. I meannn just take a glimpse at those cloud-speckled, wide-open blue skies shining over the jagged peaks of the North Cascades, the lush green trees covering the valleys – what more could you ask for? 

Plus, not only do you get some of the most phenomenal mountain views in all of Washington state – you also get to peer down at two vibrant blue alpine lakes, glistening in the sunshine, surrounded by unbelievable landscapes. You can actually camp at these alpine lakes, which sit at the base of this trail. This location would be perfect for a more accessible ceremony location with family at the bottom, next to the lakes, followed by an adventure session at the top of the mountain! Or, turn it into a backpacking/camping elopement where you sleep under the starry skies with your friends & family at the lakes themselves.    

Another reason this fire lookout is a fantastic option for adventure elopements: it’s a great, easy distance from the towns of Deming & Glacier, where there are lots of awesome cabins to stay at (which is exactly what Diego and Marbel did)! Below is a list of some of the coziest cabins available to rent in Deming & Glacier, near Mt. Baker, that would be perfect to come back to for a relaxing, romantic evening after your hike.

Cozy Airbnbs/Cabins in Deming & Glacier, WA

• The Greybird Retreat | Deming
• Mt. Baker Cabin | Deming
• Rustic 70’s A-Frame | Deming
• Luxury Mt. Baker Escape | Glacier
• Mountainview Lodge | Glacier

Washington Fire Lookout Info:

I truly can’t recommend eloping at a fire lookout enough – Washington has so many lookouts with views that simply cannot be beat, and the hikes make for the perfect elopement adventure! Bring your family members along if they’re ready to make the trek with you, or meet them back down at the base after your private mountain top ceremony. You could even make it into a backpacking trip & camp at the base of the trail. Or, take it up a notch & find a lookout that you can stay in overnight – yes, those exist!

Browse through the massive selection of 93 historic fire lookouts that Washington has to offer, or take a glance at this handy-dandy Washington fire lookout map (thanks for making it, Trail Chick!) to see how they’re spread across the state.

If 93 is just too many for you to look through, and you’d rather take a glimpse at some of the most popular lookout hikes, check out this Seattle times article, where they feature 8 of the best fire lookout tower hikes in western Washington! 

Or, let me know in your inquiry that you need some help picking the right location for you, and I’d be absolutely thrilled to help out 🙂

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Grateful for these little mountain moments with Diego & Marbel for their Washington fire lookout elopement in the North Cascades – it was sure one to remember❤️

Looking for more Washington mountain elopement inspiration like this one? Take a look at some of my beautiful couples & their adventures below!

Breathtaking Hiking Elopement at Mt. Baker

A 12-Mile Elopement Adventure in the Central Cascades

Washington Mountain Elopement Guide: Best Locations & More