How to Get Married in Steamboat Springs in 2026 – Weddings & Elopements

Steamboat Springs’ perfect combination of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain views, naturally fed hot springs, and great skiing has been drawing visitors to the region from all over the country.

As a born-and-raised Coloradoan, I’ve always loved taking trips into Steamboat (i.e. “The Boat”) and it’s been an honor to get to photograph couples getting married here for the past decade! With over 10 years of experience here, I’m happy to give you all of my best insider tips.

Why Steamboat Springs is a great place to get married

Steamboat Springs is a super charming mountain town with tons of great amenities, stunning views of the mountains, and a historic Main Street. It’s also beautiful in every single season!

For folks who are interested in having plenty of activity options, Steamboat is a great place to be! This area is known for its naturally fed geothermal hot springs, with Old Town Hot Springs in town and Strawberry Park Hot Springs just a short drive away. Steamboat is also famous for its great skiing and “champagne powder” snow! 

 Steamboat Springs can get pretty popular, though, especially during peak seasons—so there are times you’ll have to work harder to find a slice of nature to yourself. It also has large variations in altitude, so if you’re prone to altitude sickness, you’ll want to proceed with caution

How do you get to Steamboat Springs? 

Steamboat Springs is located right off Highway 40, making it super easy to get to! You can find the town from any common map app. The coordinates for the center of town are 40°29’08.5″N 106°50’02.3″W. 

When’s the best time to visit Steamboat Springs?

Steamboat Springs has something going on year-round, but generally its most reliably nice months are between June and October. Highs in the summer usually top out in the high 70’s and low 80’s whereas temperatures in winter typically hover around the 30 degree mark.

Summer is a great time to find pleasant temperatures, wildflowers, and lots of open trails here. But fall in Steamboat Springs always has amazing foliage that gathers people from all over the state! The 2nd and 3rd weeks in September are usually when fall colors peak.

These are also some of the busiest times for crowds here, so plan for a weekday morning if you can. Not only will you get that great soft golden hour light that will make your photos look amazing, you’ll also likely be the only ones around!

Best places to elope in Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs has some truly incredible scenery, from the gorgeous Yampa River to the yellow aspens in the fall to snowy mountain ridges that rise up right behind the town. There’s a reason so many locals and visitors alike come back here over and over again. 

The truth is, the very best places to elope in and around Steamboat aren’t going to be easily found online, because they’re secluded! In order to protect nature from getting overrun, I won’t be including those here—though if you work with me, I’ll happily provide them as options for places I can take you because I’m Leave No Trace Certified! 

Barring those, though, here are a few of my favorite well-known natural areas that have established processes for being used as wedding venues: 

Best Elopement & Micro Wedding Venues in Steamboat

If you’re expecting more than 15 guests or so, you’ll want to rent a venue! Many trails and other areas have strict capacity limits, so this will ensure the best option for everybody. 

Here are some great venues in the Steamboat Springs area:

Best activities & things to do in Steamboat for your elopement

Steamboat Springs has great activity options for any couple on their wedding day! Whether you’re looking to relax and connect with your partner or you want to get a dose of adrenaline to celebrate your vows, here are some of my personal favorite activity options for your elopement:

Visit during the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival (bonus: fall colors)

How do you legally get married in Steamboat Springs?

Getting your marriage license in Colorado couldn’t be easier. All you’ll need to do is fill out the application online, pop by a county clerk’s office in person, pay $30, and you’ll have your license! 

Because Colorado is a self-solemnizing state, you won’t need an officiant or any witnesses. You can even have your dog sign! I wrote a whole blog post on what self-solemnizing in Colorado looks like. 
Just sign your license within 35 days of getting it and return it to the office via mail or drop box within 63 days of signing it.

When you sign it, just make sure you have a permit for the public land you’re on if you need one or a venue to sign it at! I can help you determine all of that when you work with me.

How much does it cost to get married in Steamboat Springs?

Steamboat Springs is lucky in that it has many gorgeous spaces open for free use to the public! So depending on how many guests you have and where you’d like to say your vows, your costs can be as low as just the $30 for the marriage license itself. 

Many of my couples invest most of their budget into photography so that they can get all of the perks of having a day designed for them while knowing that it’s being documented for them and that they can truly live in the moment. You may also want to consider vendors like 4X4 drivers, private caterers, or florals. 

You can see my full cost of eloping guide here!

Are dogs allowed in Steamboat Springs?

Yes, Steamboat Springs is super dog-friendly! Just keep your pup on-leash and make sure to double check trail rules before you head out. Claire & Mike (featured below) brought their dog with them on their wedding day!

Steamboat Springs Wedding & Elopement Photos

I’ve been photographing weddings in Steamboat Springs for over a decade, and I never get tired of showing couples how gorgeous this part of the state is! Even as a local, I love coming up here for work or for fun. 

Steamboat Springs Fall Intimate Wedding – Claire & Mike

Claire & Mike had their intimate wedding here in September, and it was gorgeous. They got up early for a private vow reading (with one very important canine guest) at sunrise on the mountain before hiking back down to join their families. They had a small ceremony perfectly framed by the fall trees and mountain ranges in the background! The colors were just starting to light up the hillsides and it was a super, super beautiful day.