The Ultimate Guide for
Picking The Best Elopement
Locations In Utah

Moab

Endless red and orange canyons, steep cliffs, with a blue snow capped mountains in the background. There is so much room here to run wild, hike, off-road and not see another soul for hours. Not to mention the nearby state and national parks! This area is perfect for anyone who loves camping, hiking, climbing, off-roading, rappelling, and canyoneering. This is the mecca for adventure sports!

Arches National Park

Arches is iconic for a reason! It’s also less than a four hour drive from Salt Lake City and only about three from Telluride, making it convenient from a few different spots! You’ve seen the photos, but there’s no preparing you for the real thing. Elope here for mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, and hiking like you’ve never seen before. The park is busy March through October and you’ll need a reservation, but this is also a really great off-season pick. This park also has some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 as a certified International Dark Sky Park, so if you’re into stargazing, you’ll love it here.

Lake Powell 

Have you ever considered a houseboat elopement? Because this would be the most perfect place to do it!! Lake Powell is huge–stretching over 185 miles. It would be so awesome to find a secluded spot on the lake for a ceremony, dock up on shore, or visit one of the many overlooks like Alstrom Point. You can then make your way to secret cliff jumping spots, or weave your vessel through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Seriously loving the idea of a post-vow houseboat party.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Don’t let the name deter you. Dead Horse Point is sandwiched smack-dab in the middle of both Arches and Canyonlands and has the perks of both. With views of Moab and the Colorado River, the same Dark Sky Park accreditation as its national park neighbors, and 2,000 ft. red rock cliffs for you to look out over. This is a great one to tag onto a day in either national park or a good pick for a two-day elopement!

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is known for its towering red rock spires, called hoodoos. There are hikes in the park for all skill levels, including the very popular Queens Garden/Navajo Combination Loop. Natural rocky amphitheaters and switchback trails make this an easy spot to find dramatic views and jaw-dropping scenery. This park is higher in altitude than Zion or Arches at an average of 8,000 feet in elevation, so you can also find snow capped red rocks here!

Park City

Looking around Park City, it’s easy to see why something as cinematic as the Sundance Film Festival would choose a location like this to return to every year. Go bobsledding down a professional Olympic track from 2002, ski at one of the area runs, or jump on the alpine coaster to add a thrill to your elopement day. If you have a disability, Park City is a top-notch choice, as they have an assortment of adaptive outdoor recreation activities provided by the National Ability Center. Not an adrenaline person? Relax at the resorts and stroll down historic Main Street to make the most of the luxurious après-ski vibes.

Canyonlands National Park

This park is slept on, and it should not be! The least visited of all five of Utah’s national parks, this is a great spot to find a spot that feels secluded amidst the otherworldly landscape. Canyonlands is just a few hours out from Salt Lake City and offers the perks of an International Dark Sky Park (just like Arches, but with less crowds!). This park also has four total districts full of rivers, unique red rock formations, and plateaus overlooking dozens of canyons!

Amangiri Resort

For a truly luxurious getaway in the desert, Amangiri is an incredible choice. This spot is all serene aesthetic, with smooth walls, natural textures, and shimmering reflecting pools, and provides an oasis in the middle of the Colorado Plateau. Escape on the ultimate wellness retreat while keeping yourself in proximity to adventure, should you feel like venturing out. Every room has a private outlook onto the desert outside, making you feel like you’re the only person around in miles despite the five-star accommodations. Eloping here is a sure-fire way to make sure your day feels truly special.

Capitol Reef National Park

Existing in fairly close proximity to three (!) other national parks in the southeast corner of the state, Capitol Reef is not only worth the stop, but also seriously easy to fold into a trip. Cathedral Valley is full of bright red desert rock ready and waiting to give you your own altar out in the middle of the desert. You can also add on some fruit picking in the park for a unique elopement activity!

Zion National Park

Zion is the most visited of Utah’s national parks and the third most visited in the nation! Famous for world-class geologic wonders like The Narrows canyons and the sheer Angels Landing hike, this park sees 4.6 million visitors every year. If you’re not opposed to the cold, bundle up and make this an off-season pick to get all of the beauty with a fraction of the people

Salt Lake City

If you’re coming to Utah, you’ll likely fly into SLC via their international airport, but this city is so much more than a stopover! More than one million people live in the metro area around Salt Lake City, and there is so much to do here. Pop downtown for breweries, dining, theatres, and the Farmer’s Market. When you’re ready to get back into nature, the Great Salt Lake State Park is waiting for you with the “largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere,” where you can experience weightless floating or take advantage of white sand beaches. Also not to be skipped is Antelope Island State Park, which sits right on the lake! Nearby Park City is famous for its ski areas (and Sundance Film Festival!). If that’s not enough, the Wasatch Range and Uinta Mountains are also on hand for all your alpine needs. 

Bonneville Salt Flats

There is nothing like it anywhere else in the United States– a seemingly endless space of white salt cracked earth when dry, and a shallow pool of glass reflecting everything around it when wet. This area is easily accessible (you can even drive directly on the salt flats depending on the time of year!) making it an incredible place to elope with loved ones, or just explore, captivated, for hours yourselves.

Pro tip:

These are just a teeny-tiny sampling of what Utah has to offer—don’t forget about spectacular gems that are perfect for your adventure elopement like Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Antelope Island, Goblin Valley State Park, and so much more! We could talk nonstop about all the best places to elope in Utah—and if you give us a call, we might (you’ve been warned). All that to say, we’ve got a ton of intimate, unique, and jaw-dropping locations up our sleeve that we’d love to share with you!