Perfect Utah Hikes for Elopement Wedding Activities

People all over the world travel to Utah to get a taste of the extraordinary views and landscapes that Utah’s hiking trails have to offer. And why not spend time with your loved one enjoying such beautiful scenery together. Hikes that are open year-round offer a distinctive experience for each season. The versatility of our year-round hikes often bring visitors back to re-experience their beauty. While not all our hikes are year-round due to fluctuating weather conditions, there are hikes designated only for the Summer and Spring time. This page will provide you with information of various hikes all around Utah, such as what to expect and the level of difficulty of the hike, in order for you to prepare prior to your visit.

Spring & Summer Hikes:

Spring: March-May

Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch Trail (Easy)- This hike is also great later in fall. But it’s best in spring because late in the summer and early fall visitors would need to be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms. It’s an easy quick half-mile hike. The Arch is beautiful and the pictures you’ll take on the hike will be breathtaking!
Arches National Park, Delicate Arch Trail (Moderate)- The hike isn’t a steady incline the entire way, so you’ll have periods of flat and incline throughout the entire 1.5 miles to the arch. But make sure to take a water break during elevation gain! If you want more privacy during your wedding or when you read your vows, we recommend you elope on a weekday. Weekends tend to be more crowded. To view the hiking trail map click here.

Summer: June-August

Bonneville Salt Flats (Moderate)-The Salt Flats are hard to walk on when it rains and it’s an area you should avoid during storms. It’s best to hike in the summer when it’s dry so it’s easier to walk. The dry flats are also great for individual or couple portrait photography. It’s a moderate hike since there’s no actual trail, just flat land, and salt. Salt Flats is a big area that you could hike for hours and even days, so you can hike as far as you’d like.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Navajo Loop Trail (Moderate)- We recommend eloping in the summer since the weather is the warmest of the year. The Navajo trail is one of the most popular trails. It’s about 3 miles long and open 24 hours, all year round. The location is nice in the winter and fall but the weather is not consistent. So, the roads and campgrounds are usually closed. More information on Bryce Canyon National Park.

Fall, Winter & All-Year Hikes

Fall: September-November

Moab, Castle Valley, Mary Jane Canyon Trail (Easy)– Just be aware that fall is a big tourism time so sunrise is usually a good way to beat the crowds if you’re considering eloping at this location. Even though the trail is easy it’s about 8 miles long. There are other activities you can enjoy like mountain biking, off-roading, climbing, base jumping, horseback riding, visiting more National Parks nearby, and spending some time at the Colorado River that’s not too far out of Castle Valley. For more on Castle Valley click our blog post here.
Capitol Reef National Park, Cassidy Arch Trail (Moderate)– During fall the weather is not very hot, so it’s the best time of year to elope. The hiking trail is 3 miles long and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a place that allows extras such as chairs, decorations, tents, an elopement, or a wedding, then Capitol Reef National Park will most likely not be your best option.

Winter: December- February

Zion National Park, Timber Creek Overlook Trail (Easy)– If you have your wedding date set for Winter but don’t want too much snow, then this destination would be a great option. Just remember to be careful on certain high elevation roads in the winter. This is the perfect season since not many crowds will be around the park. Your photographs will turn out great, especially with the beautiful dusting of snow over the red cliffs. We love this area because it’s easy to get to and has great views of the canyons!
Park City, Deer Valley Trail (Moderate)– If you want to elope with the beautiful snowy mountains in the background or have a backcountry skiing elopement then this location is perfect for you! The trail is not only great for hiking but also mountain biking and bird watching. And there is a resort nearby that offers intimate wedding packages, elite services, and a glorious mountain backdrop. We recommend checking out our wedding packages.

All Year round Hikes: January-December

Zion National Park, Canyon Overlook trail (Moderate)– The trail is a mile long and open all year round. It’s flat, short and easy. It’s definitely a beautiful sight to see any time of the year. We recommend, because of the high point in the Zion, to go at sunrise so the lighting in the pictures will turn out better.
Tibble fork reservoir (Difficult)– This Hike is 4.5 miles long and a bit challenging, but the reservoir is beautiful and worth the hike. Especially if you’re looking for a private location for your elopement. Your photographs will turn out amazing at this location!

FAQ

What should I bring on a hike?

When it comes to hiking, it is very important to have the necessary items so your day runs smoothly and you don’t run into problems. According to the Utah National Park Trips website, these are some things you should pack for your trip:

Water!! It is very important that you stay hydrated along trails
Layers- Utah temperatures can fluctuate a lot during one day.
Sturdy water shoes and hiking shoes.
Flashlight with blacklight to be able to spot scorpions during nighttime.
Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen- Utah sun is very strong so always stay protected.

Utah is a very geographical diverse state where, as mentioned above, you will find many different difficulty hikes. Because of this, depending on the hike, some of the things you need may change, so we always recommend researching further after choosing which hikes you want to do.

Where can I find reliable information about hikes?

When it comes to hiking, it is very important to find reliable websites from people with experience/expertise in Utah hiking and National Parks. Some of our favorite websites are:

National Park Service– Find different parks and information and alerts!
AllTrails- You can check reviews and trails!
Backpacker- Has a lot of information on gear and trips.
GORP– Find destinations, gear reviews, and National Parks!

What to bring to your elopement?

For your elopement, it is not only important to bring the essentials for hiking, but also everything you will need to take pictures! We recommend you choose a professional that has experience photographing in these trails! They will know of all the best spots that will result in magical pictures. They will also help you with what you need to bring and guide you along the process. Even though this is our preference, you may also choose to use a family member or friend to take photos. If so, we recommend researching what to bring to these hikes! Courtney Lynn has great tips that can help you with this planning process.

There are many professionals out there that will help you make this experience as seamless as possible! If you are interested about finding photographers in the area go to our photographers and packages pages!