This site is a private 4-acre ranch located in the White River National Forest. You can book lodging here, but note that they do not offer onsite elopements--their minimum package is 10 hours of services--which more than likely you don’t need!
However, once you are off their private property, you may have a ceremony anywhere on the National Forest grounds. This may require a 10-15 minute walk depending on where you want to be married.
We only perform ceremonies here from mid-June through mid-September. The road going up to this site is seven miles of dirt road. While you don’t need four-wheel drive in the summer, it is difficult to navigate once the snow falls. Our fees for this site are higher than in-town Vail rates due to the extra time it takes to get there.
If you want to get away from the more populated area, nearby is a lesser-known spot that still has mountain views, but with a river and a woodsier feel to it. Check out the last 2 videos below.
What we love about this site:
Incredible mountain and lake views.
Second site with a different type of feel to it.
Potential drawbacks of this site
Only accessible from mid-June through mid-September.
Parking is limited.
Accessibility
Parking: plenty for your group, but it can fill up rather quickly. We strongly recommend carpooling.
Vehicle type: for winter, make sure your vehicle has good ground clearance to get over snow, as well as 4-wheel drive for potential ice. For weddings held between September 1st and May 31st, note that Colorado has strict traction laws in place that affect what type of vehicle you are allowed to drive in the mountains. If you are planning a Colorado mountain wedding between these dates, please thoroughly read this blog post so you'll be driving the right type of vehicle. (Don't rely on the car rental companies to fill you in on this; our experience is that they don't.)
Access from parking: short to intermediate walk from parking area on dirt paths and road.
Additional Logistics
Dogs: allowed on a leash.
Bathrooms: yes.
Suitable for children: yes.
Max number of guests at this site: 15.
Dates of Availability: mid-June through mid-September
Type of Site: Public/Nonreservable.
Elevation: 9,400ft (2,865m) above sea level.
This site is not reservable--it is open and free to the public. Please note these terms from our contract for nonreservable sites:
Blue Sky Elopements and Client's assigned wedding professionals are not responsible for issues related to unforeseen closures/restrictions/inaccessibility of unbooked (i.e. Clients do not pay to reserve their location) venues. If Client chooses to be married at a public venue that is not reserved in advance, then it is Client's responsibility to ensure the venue is accessible on the wedding day. Note: additional fees will be applied if Blue Sky Elopements needs to reschedule vendors due to a change in venue.
Photos
Video
Location
Note: place marker is approximate; the actual location will be provided upon booking.
Vail Calendar of Events
IMPORTANT: be sure to check the calendar of events for the dates you're considering before you submit your date to us. Local events can impact traffic and the accessibility of your site.
Vail Average Temps and Precipitation