How-to Guide: Planning a Bentonite Hills Elopement

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With the Mars Desert Research Station on their lands it is no wonder the Bentonite Hills are considered one of the most uniquely beautiful sites in central Utah. Located just outside Capitol Reef National Park, this place is otherworldly in its beauty, with rolling hills of blue, red, and purple hues offering a backdrop for your elopement that is as stunning as it is striking. The Bentonite Hills are absolutely perfect for couples who want to elope somewhere epic yet secluded!

As an adventure elopement photographer who has traveled all over the world, I can honestly say the Bentonite Hills have never ceased to amaze me. Every single one I have photographed has been an epic adventure and I cannot wait to share my best insider tips on how to plan your own!

Frequently asked questions about eloping at the Bentonite Hills:

How do you elope in the Bentonite Hills?

After over a decade of elopement photography, the Bentonite Hills remain one of my favorite spots to take couples! The process of eloping there can be a bit tricky to navigate due to changing weather conditions, so here is a general break down of what you need to know to make it happen:

Pick a Ceremony Location & Date

Since the Bentonite Hills don’t include any officially designated ceremony sites, the entire area is at your disposal! Just be sure to practice Leave No Trace so the area remains as beautiful for future generations as it is for you!

I have a section below outlining the best times to visit the Bentonite Hills, but generally, spring and fall are ideal for weather and convenience. Those months offer cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, allowing you to fully appreciate everything this stunning place has to offer.

Finalize Your Guest Count

The guest count is really going to rely on whether or not you require a permit for the ceremony. Technically no permit is necessary because the Bentonite Hills are actually under the Bureau of Land Management’s jurisdiction and they typically don’t require a Special Recreation Permit for small group gatherings, but if you’re planning on having more than 25 people at your elopement, then you may need one and will have to reach out to the local BLM field office.

Henry Mountains Field Station is closest and run by David Mortensen, Richfield Field Manager, whom you can reach at (435) 896-1500 or utrfmail@blm.gov. The next closest office is Moab Field Office, which is run by Jill Stephenson, Acting Field Manager—you can reach her at (435) 259-2100 or utmbmail@blm.gov.

Get Your Marriage License

For the Bentonite Hills, the best place to get your marriage license will be from the Wayne County Clerk’s Office. You’ll need to download and complete the application (which I’ve linked here for your convenience!), then bring it to your in-person appointment at the office. Keep in mind, the office is open only Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Once there, you’ll pay the $40 application fee and receive a copy of your license which will be valid for 30 days. You’ll also need to provide the name of your officiant at your appointment and that person will be responsible for signing and returning your license to the Wayne County Clerk’s Office within 30 days of your ceremony!

The officiant needs to be someone pre-approved to perform Utah ceremonies, but if you want to be married by a friend/family member, they can also be designated by a County Clerk to perform a single ceremony or get ordained through websites like the Universal Life Church. Before making a decision on this front, I would suggest checking with the Wayne County Clerk to make sure you’re adhering to all the necessary protocols! You can contact them at felicia@wayne.utah.gov or (435) 836-1300.

Plan the Day & Pick Your Photo Locations

The best thing about the Bentonite Hills is that once you’ve parked, there’s no additional hike required to reach them. The entire area is yours to explore (as long as you’re respectful of the fragile clay terrain) and an experienced elopement photographer (like me!) can help you plan a day that is filled with epic views and unforgettable adventures, while capturing every single moment of it.

Get Married!

All that’s left is to exchange your vows with the beautiful Bentonite Hills at your back and enjoy every single moment of it!

When’s the best time to visit the Bentonite Hills?

The best time to visit the Bentonite Hills is during the spring or fall. That way you avoid the extreme temperatures of the winter and summer months, allowing you to explore the hills and appreciate their beauty more comfortably. Those periods are also more likely to provide light showers rather than larger storms, which means the hills become more accessible since the unpaved roads leading into them can become difficult to navigate during heavier rainfall.

The best time for photos, though, is blue hour, so just before sunrise or just after sunset. During that hour, the hills come alive—their colors more vibrant and unique, creating an absolutely stunning backdrop for your elopement photos.

Bentonite Hills Fall Elopement

A person lies on their back in the center of a vast, reddish-brown, circular rock formation, creating a striking contrast between their light clothing and the textured, layered earth around them. The scene is viewed from above.

If you want to elope somewhere uniquely stunning and striking in its beauty, look no further than the Bentonite Hills! With their endless layers of swirling colors, these hills will make you feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet, especially in the fall when a recent rain shower can saturate the minerals in the rocks, making their bluer hues appear even more vivid and intense. A fall elopement at the Bentonite Hills is perfect for couples who want a ceremony that feels simple, yet otherworldly at the same time.

How do you get to the Bentonite Hills?

There are Bentonite Hills located both inside and just outside of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. There are plenty of beautiful spots within the hills worth visiting, which means there are also multiple routes you can take to reach them.

One of the more popular areas to visit is the Cathedral Valley Loop, thanks to its stunning views of the Bentonite Hills. To reach it, you’ll head east on UT-24 then turn left onto S-2540, fording the Fremont River (which will require a 4WD), keep going for about 0.4 miles, then turn right onto Hartnet Cathedral Rd. About 8.5 miles down the road, you’ll start seeing the Bentonite Hills, so feel free to pull off and park anywhere along the road where you find space!

Pro Tip: Since road conditions can vary with the season and even become impassable when there’s a storm, it’s always a good idea to double check them ahead of time, which you can do by calling (435) 425-3791 just before your visit! That’s the official line for the Capitol Reef National Park Service and they should be able to provide you with an up-to-date weather forecast.

How much does it cost to elope in the Bentonite Hills?

Assuming you have less than 25 people present and don’t need a permit to elope at the Bentonite Hills, it will only cost you about $40 total, which is just the cost of the marriage license!

Since there is no entrance fee or other paid entry requirements, your total elopement/wedding budget can be whatever you want it to be! It usually depends on your guest count, what vendors you choose, whether or not you have a reception, travel costs, etc. Most of the couples who hire me prioritize having an adventure in an epic location like the Bentonite Hills and capturing every memorable moment of it, which is why they spend a lot of their budget on photography.

If you want more details, feel free to check out my full cost of eloping guide here!

Are dogs allowed in the Bentonite Hills?

Yes, leashed dogs are allowed in the Bentonite Hills. Just be sure to pick up after your pup and practice Leave No Trace so the area remains as beautiful for future generations as it is for you!

Bentonite Hills Elopement & Wedding Photos

Cassandra & Haleigh’s Bentonite Hills Fall Wedding

Cassandra & Haleigh had crazy amounts of style.

Haleigh works in hair & makeup for weddings, so as a couple, they were really determined to stand out from the crowd and focus only on what they wanted.

When we were first talking, they threw out the idea of eloping in Utah—which I happened to be in at the time! I got to work scouting locations for them immediately and sent along photos and thoughts. They also had a whole aesthetic in mind for their day (and a Pinterest board ready and waiting for me) which made it easy for me to recommend lodging that matched their vibe!

Cassandra & Haleigh wound up basically doing a “greatest of Utah rocks” tour with their day, and one of their stops along the way was Bentonite Hills! They loooved the striated rock in this area. They had a blast climbing hills and chasing colors to the top. There are so many stripes and hues out here—it’s pretty unbelievable.

This spot sits right outside Capitol Reef National Park, which they hit first in the day, making it super easy to pair with visits there.

This was actually the last location they visited before going and changing into their formal wedding attire and doing a first look!

Stops after this included: a crazy cool rock tower, an insane view or two, and an epic overlook that I set up like the eclectic boho altar of their dreams (which we then flipped into a super cool picnic spot after the sun went down).

They finished their day with a firepit and a toast outside of the really awesome geodesic dome stay I found in the area!

Layered, multicolored hills with shades of red, white, and brown rise under a partly cloudy sky in a desert landscape dotted with sparse vegetation and small bushes.

A red Jeep drives along a dusty trail surrounded by rocky desert terrain, large boulders, shrubs, and sparse vegetation under a partly cloudy sky.

A long, empty road winds through a dry, rocky desert landscape with tall cliffs on the left and distant hills under a clear blue sky. Sparse vegetation covers the ground.

Steep, rugged ridges of eroded, layered rock, with sharp peaks and deep grooves casting shadows, displaying shades of brown and gray. The landscape appears dry and barren.

A red off-road vehicle drives on a dusty dirt road past large rocks and layered, brownish-red desert hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Two women in white attire walk together across a rocky, desert landscape with layered, colorful hills under a blue sky. One woman holds a bouquet of flowers. The scene is bright and serene.

Two people dressed in light clothing walk across a barren, multicolored landscape with red and beige hills under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Two people stand close together on sandy ground; one wears white pants and loafers, the other wears a sheer polka dot dress with white high-top sneakers and has a tattoo on their calf.

Two women sit close together on rocky ground in a desert landscape, one kissing the other's cheek. They wear white outfits, and dried flowers lie beside them. Red and beige hills are visible in the background under a blue sky.

Two women in white outfits sit closely together on the ground in a desert landscape, gently touching foreheads and holding hands, with a bouquet of dried flowers and grasses resting beside them.

A couple dressed in white relax on a rocky, colorful desert landscape. One person lies with their head in the other’s lap, both appearing content and affectionate, surrounded by dried pampas grass.

Two women relax together outdoors on rocky terrain. One woman lies on the other's lap, wearing sunglasses and white clothes, while the other, in a sheer top with pearls, gently touches her. Red and brown hills are in the background.

Two women in white outfits relax on rocky terrain; one lies with her head on the other's lap, smiling and wearing sunglasses, while the other looks down at her with affection. The background features layered, colorful hills.

A couple poses on a rocky hillside in a desert landscape; the woman sits upright, smiling and holding dried grasses, while the man reclines with his head on her lap. Layered red and tan hills are visible in the background.

A person in a white dress with sheer, pearl-studded tulle sits on gravel, showing a tattooed leg, white Converse sneakers, and a hand with a ring resting on their knee.

A close-up of a hand with a square-cut engagement ring resting on a white dress. The person has manicured nails and a visible tattoo on their wrist. Another arm is gently wrapped around them.

A person in a white outfit lies on their back at the center of large, circular patterns in the sand, viewed from above. The rings create a striking contrast with the figure's white clothing.

A person stands next to a dog on top of a large, rounded, striped hill in a vast, arid desert landscape with muted tones of brown, red, and white. The terrain features layered rock formations under a clear sky.

Aerial view of a person and a dog sitting on the concentric, colorful rock layers of a large, striped geological formation in a desert landscape.

A person standing at the center of large, circular, layered rock formations with brown and beige tones, seen from above. The geological patterns resemble a bullseye or target.

Aerial, black-and-white photo of two people standing at the center of a large, circular, textured landscape resembling a bullseye or ripple pattern in the ground.

Aerial view of layered, colorful rock formations in a desert landscape, with concentric circular patterns and two small figures walking on a path across the scene.

Three people stand on top of large, round, layered hills with reddish and beige tones in a barren desert landscape under a pale sky.

Two women in white outfits hold hands and walk outdoors on a rocky, mountainous landscape. One wears a long dress and veil, the other wears pants and sunglasses, holding a bouquet. The scene is in black and white.

Two women in white outfits pose on layered red and beige rocky terrain. One stands holding a sheer cape, while the other kneels holding a bouquet of dried flowers. The sky is partly cloudy above the colorful landscape.

Two women in white outfits pose on a rocky, desert landscape with colorful layered hills. One stands holding her dress, the other kneels holding a bouquet, both looking confidently at the camera.

Two women in white outfits stand close together, smiling and embracing on a scenic, colorful desert landscape with layered hills in the background. One holds a bouquet of dried grasses.

Two women in wedding attire kiss passionately against a backdrop of colorful, layered desert hills. One wears a white suit, the other a dress with sheer, beaded sleeves and holds a bouquet of dried flowers.

Two women embracing outdoors, smiling closely at each other. One wears sunglasses and a white outfit; the other wears a sheer, beaded top and gold jewelry, gently touching her partner’s chin with a hand showing a ring.

Two women embrace outdoors, smiling warmly. One wears sunglasses and a white outfit, while the other has long dark hair, a sheer beaded veil with visible tattoos, and a white dress. Rocky terrain is visible in the background.

Two women embrace closely and smile, one whispering in the other's ear. Both wear white; one has a tattoo and a sheer polka-dot shawl. The moment is warm and intimate, suggesting affection and happiness.

Two women stand close together outdoors in a rocky, desert landscape. One woman in sunglasses leans toward the other, who smiles softly. The woman on the right wears a white dress with sheer, beaded sleeves and has a visible arm tattoo.

Two people in light clothing walk hand-in-hand through a barren, rocky desert landscape with reddish hills and a partly cloudy sky.

Two people in white outfits walk along a narrow path through reddish and brown layered hills under a partly cloudy sky in a desert landscape.

Two people in white clothing walk along a narrow path through colorful, layered rock formations in a desert landscape under a partly cloudy sky.

Two people in white outfits walk hand in hand across a sandy, barren landscape under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Two people dressed in white climb a rocky, reddish hill under a partly cloudy sky; one holds a bundle of dried grass or flowers. The photo is taken from behind and below them.

A person in white pants and flats walks up a rocky, reddish hillside, holding a bouquet of dried grasses. Another person in a white dress with a veil follows behind. The scene is outdoors under a blue sky.

A couple dressed in white stands on a sandy hill under a vast blue sky with wispy clouds, holding hands and facing each other, creating a serene and romantic scene.

A bride and groom in wedding attire lay side by side on a large, textured, brown earth surface, photographed from above, creating a striking contrast against the barren landscape.

Two women in white outfits lie on a textured, sandy ground. One wears a lace dress and sneakers, while the other wears pants and a bralette, holding a small bouquet of dried flowers. They face each other, touching heads.

Aerial view of two women in white outfits lying on a sandy ground, facing each other and holding hands, one wearing a sheer veil and the other with long blonde hair.

Aerial view of striking rock formations with layered patterns in shades of brown, red, and gray, creating a dramatic, abstract landscape reminiscent of painted desert terrain.

Two women in white wedding attire walk down a sandy hill hand in hand under a blue sky with wispy clouds, holding a bouquet, in a desert-like landscape.

A landscape of rolling, layered hills in shades of red, orange, and beige, set under a partly cloudy sky. The terrain is dry and rocky, evoking a desert environment.

Two women dressed in white, smiling and laughing together in a desert landscape. One wears a sheer, beaded cover-up; the other a white blazer and glittery top. They hold hands and look happy under a bright sky.

Two women dressed in white stand close together, smiling and holding hands in a desert landscape with colorful, layered hills under a blue sky with wispy clouds. One holds a bouquet of dried flowers.

Wide view of layered, reddish and white striped rock formations under a partly cloudy sky in a dry, desert landscape with scattered stones in the foreground.

Two women dressed in white walk across a rocky, sandy landscape. One holds a bouquet of flowers. The image is black and white, and sunlight casts long shadows on the ground.

A red Jeep drives along a dusty, rocky trail surrounded by large desert boulders under a partly cloudy blue sky.

A wide desert landscape with reddish-brown rocky hills under a blue sky with scattered clouds; distant mountains are visible on the horizon.

In their words

“My wife and I knew that a traditional wedding route was not going to be for us. Our main focus was that we were celebrating our love and for the entire process to be about us. No one else. With that in mind, we knew an elopement style was the best fit. Little did we know that an adventure elopement would be waiting for us to stumble upon.

When we found Adventure Instead, it was a no brainer. This was exactly what we were looking for without even knowing it. Heck, we didn’t even know this was an option! The entire process was so effortless, seamless, easy, and FUN! Maddie Mae kills the game on all fronts. This gal is a rockstar!!! She’s your planner, your guide, your officiant, your literal everything.

Every single detail was covered throughout her process. Literally from the temperature of potential locations, to timing of sunrise and sunsets, to elevation height, to easy or hard hikes, to helping you find the best lodging, packing details, and other vendors. She didn’t miss a BEAT! Quite literally she covers everything and more than you will need to know/do for your special day.

Cassandra and I are still in awe of our day. It was everything we dreamed of and everything we had yet to dream of! We would do this over and over and over again. I’ve already mentioned doing it again for an anniversary down the road because the experience was that incredible.

Maddie Mae has created the BEST way to celebrate you and your other half. Anywhere in the world. Anything you want to do. Maddie Mae is there ready to capture it all and doing so with the brightest personality. So, if you’re thinking of doing an elopement. Do yourself a favor and do one better by doing the ADVENTURE INSTEAD ELOPEMENT! The experience. The photos. Ugh…. The photos. We seriously can’t stop looking at them. We’re a little obsessed. The memories. The laughs. It’s an experience you will never forget.”

Hey I’m Maddie Mae

Bentonite Hills Elopement Photographer

If you’re looking for someone with years of experience photographing adventure elopements around the world, then look no further! I have been designing, planning, & photographing elopements for over a decade across 7 continents and more than 40 countries, so I can help you navigate the logistics of planning one for yourself and make sure it’s the most stress-free experience possible.

A woman with long brown hair and glasses smiles at the camera. She wears a black blazer, a black top, and a pendant necklace. The background is a plain light gray wall.

Bentonite Hills Elopement Packages

Contact me here to check my availability and for a free planning consultation—I promise to help you plan the adventure of a lifetime!

Always included:

8+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae with relaxed sightseeing & exploring

The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™

Unique & secluded locations, bespoke activity ideas with pre-vetted guides, fun & luxurious lodging options, an experience-focused timeline, mood board & personalized styling suggestions, travel advice, VIP Planning Guide, and customized packing checklists

Free initial planning consultation call, direct access to Maddie Mae via text & email, unlimited planning consultations, unlimited collaboration & revisions, pre-vetted local vendor recommendations, and advice &and help with permits & marriage licenses

Guided + FUN photography experience, empathetic posing & directing, creative GIFS &and drone photography, hand-crafted editing, full-resolution image files with printing rights, digital gallery to view, download, & print, complementary album design, and convenient print ordering

My travel costs are covered and included to anywhere in the U.S.A (including Alaska & Hawaii)

$9,800 for all of the above including 8-hours of photography

Full-day, multi-day, and custom packages available.

No added travel costs. No hidden fees of any kind.

INQUIRE FOR AVAILABILITY & MORE INFO

Hey there!

I’m Maddie Mae

Your Elopement Photographer, Experience Designer & Planning Consultant  

For the last 14 years I’ve traveled to 40 countries, all 7 continents, and planned & photographed over 300 elopements all over the world.

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