020804tranquil

Telluride Site 020804tranquil

A quick jaunt south of downtown Telluride lies one of our favorite alpine lakes for an elopement wedding. Easy to access but feeling very remote, there are several places alongside the lake to be married. Visible peaks that encircle the lake include Sheep Mountain, Vermillion Peak, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob.

The lake is a haven for trout fisher-people, which makes it a better weekday wedding location in summer. It can get busy with fishing, canoeing and paddle boarding on weekends. Fall is also a glorious time to be married here as the aspens turn the surrounding mountains into a yellow-gold wonderland.

Just minutes off the highway, the lake is also accessible in winter (although you should be prepared to walk through some snow).

What we love about this site:

Fall foliage is fantastic!
Mountains, lake and easy accessibility. Win/win/win.
No fee.
Sunsets here are spectacular!

Potential drawbacks of this site

It's non-reservable, so you have to take what you get when you arrive. It may be in use.
Parking is limited in summer. This site is best for weekday evenings.

Accessibility

Parking: limited in the summer, especially on weekends. 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: Accessible for most. Site requires walking over uneven ground. It may be challenging for those with mobility issues. It's at 9,700 feet in elevation, so would not be suitable for anyone with respiratory difficulties.

NOTE: The town of Telluride virtually shuts down for the entirety of what they call "shoulder season"--the time after skiing and before summer tourism. Almost all the restaurants and many of the businesses are shut down during this time, so it's not the best time to elope in Telluride. Click here for the list of restaurant closings. Shoulder season generally starts around April 6th and can extend as late as the third week in May (just before Memorial Day weekend).

Additional Logistics

Dogs: allowed on a leash.

Bathrooms: none.

Suitable for children: yes.

Max vehicles accommodated: around 10-15, but this is a public park, so those spaces may be taken.

Max number of guests at this site: 20

Type of site: Public. Nonreservable

Dates of Availability: year-round. Winter weddings will require snowshoes.

Elevation: 9,700ft (2,957m) above sea level.

Permits, Fees, and Other Information

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.

NOTE: The town of Telluride virtually shuts down for the entirety of what they call "shoulder season"--the time after skiing and before summer tourism. Almost all the restaurants and many of the businesses are shut down during this time, so it's not the best time to elope in Telluride. Click here for the list of restaurant closings. Shoulder season generally starts around April 6th and can extend as late as the third week in May (just before Memorial Day weekend).

Photos

Video

Location

Note: place marker is approximate; the actual location will be provided upon booking.

Telluride 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.

Telluride Average Temps and Precipitation