Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most gorgeous places for engagement photos in all of Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park (Or Rocky or RMNP for short) has something for everyone– epic mountain views, stunning lakes, peaceful meadows. No matter what your vision is for your engagement photos, Rocky Mountain National Park likely has a backdrop you will love!
Are you looking for a photographer to take your engagement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park? Send me a message! I’d love to chat about your vision!
How to take engagement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park – Updated for 2024
How to enter RMNP – the new Timed Entry System
Rocky Mountain National Park has officially done away with photo permit for portrait sessions (you’ll still need a wedding permit). This means you will now have to utilize the Timed Entry System if entering the park between the hours of 5am-6pm, May 26-October.
When can I make a reservation?
- On May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of May 24 – June 30.
- On June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of July 1 – July 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of August 1 – August 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of September 1 – September 30, and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of October 1 – October 20, and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
Unbooked reservations will also be available the day before at 7pm for any last minute bookings.
What is the cost to enter RMNP?
Reservations online cost $2 and each car is $30.
RMNP now is only accepting credit and debit card payments at the entry stations.
When to schedule your engagement session at RMNP
Expect the park to be super busy on the weekends. I highly recommend scheduling your session on a weekday or aiming for a sunrise session! Depending on the location, the sun can be super harsh until about 30 minutes to an hour before sunset, that’s when the sun starts to dip behind the mountain. However, there are so many great shaded options.
| January 18* | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| April 17* | First day of National Park Week / National Junior Ranger Day |
| May 31 | Memorial Day |
| July 4 | Fourth of July |
| August 4* | Great American Outdoors Act anniversary |
| August 25* | National Park Service Birthday |
| September 25* | National Public Lands Day |
| November 11* | Veterans Day |
| November 24-26 | Thanksgiving |
When are the best months for engagement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park?
May is a great month because temperatures are getting warmer but crowds are still minimal. Most high alpine locations will still have tons of snow and some mountain passes with be closed. Lower elevations will start to see spring colors and tons of greenery!
June is one of my favorite months in Colorado. The temperatures are much more pleasant than other areas around the country (especially in the mountains) and everything is bursting with color! Things definitely become more crowded with summer vacation, so keep that in mind when scheduling!
August is when the wildflowers start to go crazy in the mountains! I just love how temperate the climate is in August. Keep in mind that afternoon rain showers happen almost daily, so plan to be flexible or schedule a morning session.
September is usually when fall colors start to peak out at lower elevations. Fall is a tricky one in Colorado, there are full websites which track the colors and timeline of the leaves. The grass will start to change color to a more yellow-y hue, but won’t be dead just yet!
How accessible is Rocky Mountain National Park?
There are some locations (like Sprague or Lily Lake) that are super accessible and literally just require a short walk from the car to the lake, however, there are also tons of locations that have quite a hike to get to. When booking your engagement session, I always provide advice on what I think would be the best fit for you and your partner. If you are coming from out of state, keep in mind the elevation does affect you! Even the most athletic people can have difficulty with shorter hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Can I bring my dog to Rocky Mountain National Park?
Dogs are only permitted at Rocky Mountain you’re within 100 feet of a road, which means it’s really not the best location if you want to include your pup.
Looking for a dog friendly location? Here’s some recommendations of Colorado dog friendly engagement session locations.
To read more about Rocky Mountain National Park’s pet policy, go here.
What are the best engagement locations in Rocky Mountain National Park?
There are so many incredible spots for engagement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park! It really depends on the vibe you’re looking for.
If you want a gorgeous lake with mountain views and easy hike, check out Sprague Lake.
If you want beautiful forest vibes with wooden bridge and evergreens, check out Hidden Valley.
If you want a lake with an easy to access overlook, check out Lily Lake.
For a complete guide of all my favorite locations, plus some hidden gems, send me a message!
I’m sold! I want a Rocky Mountain National Park engagement session! What next?
Yaaaaas!! I’m so excited for you! For next steps, send me a message! I’ll help you every step along the way, from helping you secure your permit to finding the perfect photo locations. I am your photographer and your guide!
Some Favorite Engagement Sessions at Rocky Mountain National Park
Summer Epic Mountain View at Sunset | Ben & Taylor
This is one of my favorite engagement sessions of all time, this lighting was perfect, the couple was so sweet, and this location just absolutely takes my breath away everytime.
Summer Sprague Lake Engagement Session at Sunset | Amy & Jonathan
This location is a gorgeous one if you want epic mountain and a beautiful lake front. I had such a blast photographing Amy and Jonathan’s engagement session at Rocky Mountain National Park!
View more info on this location here!
Sunrise Session at Sprague Lake | Clara & Michael
Clara and Michael decided to have their engagement session at sunrise, which I loved (after I chugged 3 cups of coffee) because there was absolutely no one around. I also love the light at this location at sunrise, it’s more direct but the mountains pop in a way that they don’t during sunset.
View more of Clara and Michael’s sunrise engagement session in Rocky Mountain National Park here!
March Proposal at Rocky Mountain National Park | Sharjil & Nimisha
This was such a fun proposal to photograph! Sharjil was shocked that in March RMNP still had so much snow! We started at a gorgeous mountain overlook for their proposal and then took photos at Hidden Valley and one of my favorite valley overlooks.
Find more info on RMNP Proposals here
Sunrise Engagement Session at Rocky Mountain National Park | Caitlyn & Brian
This was such a fun session with Caitlyn and Brian! Brian is the biggest jokester so the whole time we were all cracking up– but we were still able to get some gorgeous engagement photos. Caitlyn had the most stunning bouquet with her, I was absolutely obsessed with the colors. We decided to meet at sunrise and had the loveliest light on the lake.
View more of these sunrise engagement photos at Rocky Mountain National Park here!
Sunset Engagement Photos at RMNP | Payton & John
This session was such an adventure! We experience gail force winds almost the entire time (proof that Rocky Mountain National Park weather can change on a dime and you should always be prepared!) but Payton and John were such troopers and we managed to snag some gorgeous photos regardless of the conditions.
Meet Leah- Rocky Mountain National Park engagement photographer
Hey there! I hope you enjoyed this post all about Rocky Mountain National Park engagement photos! Engagement sessions are some of my favorite things to photograph. I am all about bringing your personality to your engagement session and having fun! If you love colorful, energetic and authentic photos, send me a message! I’d love to chat with you about your engagement session!
-Leah
If you liked this post about Rocky Mountain National Park engagement photos, why don’t you check out some of these other posts and resources?
Questions to ask your wedding photographer before booking
What to do after getting engaged
What to wear for your engagement photos
How to elope at Rocky Mountain National Park
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