Named for its resemblance to the famous street in New York City, Park Avenue is nature’s answer to the concrete jungle. Rather than skyscrapers made of steel and glass, this canyon has soaring spires of red rocks and towering sandstone walls that seem to create their own skyline of sorts in the middle of the vast desert landscape surrounding it. Cinematic and breathtaking, this place is perfect for couples who want to elope somewhere unique and untouched by the modern world.
Honestly, I’ve done countless elopements at Arches National Park and Park Avenue remains one of my favorite places to photograph thanks to its distinct rock formations and the way light filters through the canyon, transforming it into a breathtaking backdrop for elopements. Given that, here are some of my best tips on how to plan your own so you can experience the magic of Park Avenue for yourselves!
Frequently asked questions about eloping at Park Avenue:
How do you elope at Park Avenue?
No matter the season, Park Avenue is a truly unique and beautiful place that never ceases to amaze me. I’ve walked so many couples through the process of eloping there, so here is a breakdown of what you’ll need to know to make it happen:
- Pick a Date
Only one ceremony per day per designated site is usually allowed at Arches National Park, so I suggest booking a year in advance in order to secure your date, since spots can fill up quickly!
Pro Tip: Applications for permits (see Step 3 for more details) open a year out from your chosen date (i.e. if you want to get married January 3rd in 2027, you can apply for your permit starting January 3rd, 2026).
- Finalize Your Guest Count
Ceremonies at Park Avenue are capped at 15 people and this number includes the both of you, your photographer, your officiant, guests, and any vendors. There is no maximum number of vehicles allowed per group, but parking is restricted to your selected site which could make it limited, so I strongly recommend carpooling!
- Get a Permit & Marriage License
Arches National Park only requires a Utah marriage license and a Special Use Permit for elopements.
You can get the $50 marriage license from the county clerk’s office nearest to the park, which would be the Grand County Clerk’s Office. You’ll need to download an application from their official website and bring it to your appointment at the Clerk’s Office, in person, as well as provide your choice of an authorized officiant. If you want someone who isn’t ordained, you can have them designated by the Clerk for your ceremony—they’ll just need to fill in the Single Ceremony Designee Form, and join your appointment at the Clerk’s Office.
Regarding the permit, you can visit the Arches National Park Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies webpage and download/fill in the application form (I’ve also linked it here), then head over to Pay.gov and pay the $185 permit fee. When you receive confirmation of your payment, just email that along with your permit application to SEUG_CommercialServices@nps.gov, and you should be good to go!
Pro Tip: Permit applications can take a while to process, so it’s better to apply sooner rather than later!
- Plan the Day & Pick Your Photo Locations
The Special Use Permit allows you to take portraits not only at your designated site but also elsewhere in the park before or after your ceremony! As an experienced elopement photographer who knows the park inside and out, I can guide you to the best spots for the most beautiful photos and help you design a day that feels every bit as epic as it looks.
- Get Married!
Congratulations, you made it! Just remember to bring a copy of your permit day-of, just in case, and soak in every moment of your big day.
When’s the best time to visit Park Avenue?
While Arches National Park is beautiful during any season, spring and fall are generally considered the best times to visit. Winter brings colder temperatures and summer brings larger crowds with intense heat, so the shoulder seasons offer a happy medium with lighter foot-traffic and temperatures that range from low 60s to high 80s!
For the best experience, I suggest visiting the park on a weekday to avoid crowds even further—sunrise and sunset, in particular, offer more privacy and dynamic lighting. Watching the shadows of the towering red-rock spires shift around you as you stroll along Park Avenue Trail is a truly surreal experience. The soft light that filters through the canyon during those hours will lend your elopement photos an ethereal glow while also illuminating the entire area in a way that will stay with you forever!
How do you get to Park Avenue?
In order to get to Park Avenue, you’ll enter through the Arches National Park Entrance Station, which is located at 38°36’59.6″N 109°37’10.1″W. Continue down Arches Nat’l Pk Rd (or Arches Scenic Dr on some navigation apps) for about 2.5 miles until you see an open-air parking lot to your left, located at 38°37’27.7″N 109°35’58.8″W. There, you’ll find the trailhead for the Park Avenue Trail which serves as the entrance to one end of the almost 2-mile-long trek!
Starting at the Park Avenue Trailhead means you’ll be traveling downhill along the trail, but if you want more of a challenge, you can also start the trail from the other side which begins by the Courthouse Towers Trailhead. To access that entrypoint, the easiest place to park would be in the lot located at 38°38’13.0″N 109°36’00.5″W, which you can reach by continuing down Arches Nat’l Pk Rd for a little over a mile after passing the Park Avenue Trailhead lot.
How long is the walk to get to Park Avenue?
Park Avenue is essentially a 1.8-mile-long trail that passes through a canyon, offering stunning views of the towering red-rock spires that are featured throughout the park. The trail stretches from the Park Avenue Trailhead to the Courthouse Towers Trailhead. You can either start the hike at one trailhead and have someone pick you up with a car at the other, or do the approximately 3.6-mile roundtrip trek—whichever you prefer! Just keep in mind there is an elevation gain of about 300 ft. and going from the Park Avenue Trailhead to the Courthouse Towers Trailhead will be mostly downhill as opposed to the uphill trek you can expect by doing the opposite.
Personally, I recommend parking at the Park Avenue Trailhead, since the actual ceremony site is right next to that lot. That way, the site remains accessible to anyone driving in and you can always hike the full trail before or after your ceremony for an extra dose of adventure!
How much does it cost to elope at Park Avenue?
The cost of getting married at any of the wedding sites in Arches National Park will be about $265. This includes the Special Use Permit fee ($185), a Utah marriage license ($50), and the park’s Standard Entrance Pass for a vehicle ($30). If you have more cars, each one will have to pay the $30 entrance fee—I suggest purchasing your pass online ahead of time, which you can do on the park’s official website here.
Beyond those costs, your total elopement/wedding budget can be whatever you want it to be! It will likely depend on your guest count, whether or not you have a reception, travel plans, etc., but the couples who hire me tend to prioritize having an adventurous experience in an incredible location, which is why they often invest most of their budget in photography to document it.
For more details, you can take a look at my full cost of eloping guide here!
Are dogs allowed at Park Avenue?
Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed at Park Avenue or on any of the trails around the park, they are allowed on established roads and in parking areas, as well as in established campgrounds and picnic areas, as long as they’re leashed!
Park Avenue Elopement & Wedding Photos
Jennie & Mike’s Park Avenue Spring Elopement
Jennie & Mike lived blocks away from each other in an entirely separate state—but they didn’t meet until they wound up on the same mountain in Colorado after they had both recently relocated.
For folks who want wide vistas, room for an intimate gathering, and tons of space to spread out and find their own chunk of land, the Utahan Park Avenue is perfect.
March is a great time to visit Arches National Park because you’re out of the busiest times of the year and there’s still the lightest dusting of snow on some reaches of the red rock, which makes the contrast pop that much more.
Jennie & Mike actually didn’t have their ceremony at Park Avenue—they saved that for a different point in Canyonlands—but they made a point to stop here for some exploring and seriously cool portraits before their 4X4 drive to the ceremony! In March they got a great view of snow-capped mountains to one side and insanely tall skyscrapers of red rock to the other.
How can you beat that?
Hey I’m Maddie Mae
Park Avenue Elopement Photographer
For over a decade I’ve designed, planned, & photographed adventure elopements all around the world, so if you’re looking for someone with years of experience under her belt, then you’re in the right place! I can help you navigate the logistics of planning a destination elopement and make sure it’s as stress-free as possible so you can have the wedding you always wanted.
Park Avenue Elopement Packages
To check my availability, just contact me here for a free planning consultation and we can get started!
Always included:
8+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae with relaxed sightseeing & exploring
The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™
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.
