Y’all already know I pride myself on going above and beyond for my couples. And if you didn’t… Take a quick detour and learn more about ya girl. I don’t just provide the deets on their dream elopement location and then disappear – hell no. I put together custom guides for each couple with where to eat, where to stay, how to get their marriage license, and what to do while they’re here.
Hiking is typically on their to-do list when it comes to how they want to spend their time. In working with my couples, I’ve learned a lot of people picture these big-ass mountains and a day-long adventure as hiking. FAKE NEWS. There are a crap-ton of accessible locations here that still come through with the gorgeous views everyone wants. A lot of my couples are beginners when they travel here to elope, so I want to start sharing some great beginner hikes around Colorado.
Okay now that you’re a hiking pro, we can get to the fun stuff – the actual hikes! Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has been a hot spot ever since the panini started and Alex and I have done our fair share of visiting. It’s one of the most popular natural parks, with 76 mountains and only an hour and a half drive from Denver. A one-day pass into the park will cost you $25 per car, but there are lots of different shuttles that will pick you up in town or at their visitor’s centers and take you to the different trailheads for free.
This little loop is less than a mile round trip, but has great views of Bear Lake and the mountains all the way around.
Another short and sweet loop that’s under a mile round trip, Sprague Lake trail has benches that you can use to rest and take in the views. You can even see the Continental Divide at the far end of the lake!
This is an out and back trail, which means you’ll hike out to the end and then turn around and hike the same way back. It’s just over a mile round trip and because it’s so popular, it’s really well maintained. There are a few spots where you can pull off and take a break to grab some killer photos.
Another out and back, this one is about a mile and a half total and an amazing waterfall is your prize at the end! It takes you through a forest and past some rivers for most of the hike. Bonus – it’s really well shaded from all the trees, so this is a great choice during the summer.
This is the longest beginner loop on the list at almost six miles, but if you and bae are up for it, it’s a must-do. It’s in one of the most scenic areas of RMNP and has amazing scenery, wildflowers, waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife.
If you and bae try one of these trails while you’re here, send me a DM and let me know! I love connecting with future couples. Speaking of future couples… if eloping is starting to sound better and better, I’d love to be part of your special day.
"Hiring McKenzie to photograph our wedding was single-handedly the best decision we made when planning our wedding. Wedding planning and vendor research was so stressful, and once we had Kenzie, she stepped in as support and helped us with narrowing down things that were important to us and to figure out what we really wanted. wish we could get married over and over again just to recreate these and work with Kenzie again! "
"You will not find another wedding photographer who has the McKenzie signature style- she can capture the absolute beauty of the area and people all at once. She can shoot in a variety of settings and lightings and the photos are all gorgeous. One of the main reasons we booked McKenzie was the fact that she showcases a diverse clientele and finds beauty in all beings- something not all photographers can say.As a plus size bride who was extremely worried about looking back at my wedding pictures with dread that I wouldn't look like those gorgeous girlies on Instagram- this meant so much to me. "
"When we got engaged, we searched near and far for an elopement photographer - & we met with several different photographers but none felt right until we met McKenzie. My husband, my dog and I are avid hikers - we wanted a beautiful hike and view, but it was also very important that we could be our authentic selves and intimately celebrate our 10 years together in the way we wanted. I'll be honest, I was shy about wanting to elope (ya know, family opinions and such), but McKenzie made us feel so comfortable in our decision. She wholeheartedly welcomed us being.. us! We couldn't have asked for more."