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Sprague Lake Wedding & Elopement Guide for 2026
Hey there! My name’s Iver Marjerison.
I’m a Colorado micro-wedding planner, and over the years I’ve helped plan hundreds of small weddings and elopements across the state. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting married at Sprague Lake, in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Sprague Lake is one of the most popular and scenic elopement locations in Rocky Mountain National Park, offering calm waters, iconic boardwalk views, and towering alpine peaks reflected in the lake at sunrise. Located just 20 minutes from Estes Park along the Bear Lake Road corridor, this easy, wheelchair-accessible loop trail makes Sprague Lake an ideal ceremony site for couples wanting stunning mountain views without a strenuous hike. In this Sprague Lake Elopement Guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your wedding here—permits, weather patterns, accessibility tips, best photo times, guest considerations, and insider advice for navigating RMNP’s busiest corridor.
Professional Opinion:
I’ve planned and officiated hundreds of weddings in RMNP over the years, and Sprague Lake is definitely one of the best in terms of photos. However, it is a VERY BUSY location, so unless you do sunrise, expect to have a lot of people in the area. If this bothers you, there’s some other locations nearby that have more privacy for the ceremony—and then you can go to Sprague to do your portraits after.
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Checkout our Full RMNP Elopement Guide Here
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Iver@ColoradoMicroWeddings.com
720-598-2862
Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married at Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake is one of the thirteen designated ceremony sites in Rocky Mountain National Park. Like all ceremony sites in the park, it requires an RMNP wedding permit.
Elevation: ~8,688
Max Group Size: 15 (summer) | 30 (winter) —This is total people in your group, this includes all vendors!
Permit Fee: $300
Accessibility: Year Round, 10-15min walk from parking
Distance from Denver International Airport: Estimated 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Nearest Town: Estes Park
Pros: Best photo site in the park, with it’s dynamic combination of water and mountain peaks.
Cons: Unless you do sunrise, there’s always a ton of people around, and parking can be limited. The walk to the site from the parking is also the furthest of any wedding site in the park.
Booking, Planning & Marriage license
First you’ll need to contact the park to check their availability and secure your date. Then, you just need to make a timeline, get the marriage license, and secure any needed vendors, like photographer, officiant, etc.
Jump to Booking & Planning
Best Month, Day & Time
The best time to get married at Sprague Lake is mid June through mid October, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, at sunrise (when the park is the least busy). However, we do weddings at the park all year around, every day of the week, and sunset is also beautiful lighting for photos—if you don’t mind the crowds.
Jump to Month, Day, and Time
Accessibility & Facilities
Sprague Lake is a 10-15min walk on a flat, but unmaintained trail. It is not handicap accessible, and may be difficult for elderly guests or those with mobility issues, especially in the winter, or with muddy conditions. There is a large designated parking area, though it often fills up in the summer months. There are picnic tables and vault toilet restroom facilities near the parking area.
Jump to Accessibility & Facilities
Good to Know
Dogs are not allowed. Alcohol is not allowed. Amplified music is not allowed (acoustic is okay). Chairs and decorations are not allowed. There is no electrical outlets. No throwing flowers or confetti. Lots more info…
Jump to FAQs
Lodging
Honestly, anything in the Estes Park area works fine. Lots of hotels and rental homes!
Jump to Estes Park Lodging
Other locations?
I’ve got planning guides, packages, and resources for all the best small wedding and elopement locations across Colorado.
Jump to Other Guides & Locations
How-To Get Your RMNP Wedding Permit & Get Married at Sprague Lake
Pick a date and time
Sunrise or sunset is always best for photos! Learn the best time to get married in Colorado.Secure your RMNP wedding permit
You need to secure your permit directly from the park (click here), unless you’re working with a designated wedding planner (like me!). Rocky Mountain National Park requires a $300 special use permit for any weddings or other events in the park. Any vow exchange, ring exchange or anything that can be recognized as a ceremony (even without a photographer or officiant) requires this special use permit. Ceremonies are only allowed in sites designated by the park and each permit is for a 2 hour time slot. Dates for permits become available one year in advance. The National Park Service manages these permits all year round with dates from May-October selling out quickly.Hire your vendors
After the venue is booked, you can coordinate your officiant, photographer, and any additional vendors, making sure they comply with venue guidelines.Checkout our All-Inclusive Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Packages
Finalize logistics and timeline
Leading up to the wedding, you’ll confirm arrival times, and plans for the day with your vendors and guests.Get the Marriage License
Colorado makes getting a marriage license simple! You and your fiance simply need to go into a Colorado County Clerk during business hours to pick up the license. Larimer County has their own office in Estes Park. Here’s my full Colorado Marriage License Guide.
Get Married!
On the day of the wedding, you and your guests will meet your wedding vendors at Sprague Lake. You’ll have the ceremony, sign the license, take photos, and then most groups simply head to a local restaurant to celebrate!
Best Day, Time, and Month
The best option is to get married at Sprague Lake at sunrise, on a Monday or Tuesday, sometime between mid-June and mid-October.
What’s the Best Month to Get Married at Sprague Lake?
Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful all year round, and we do weddings there all year round. Personal preference matters. Generally speaking, mid-June through mid-October is "peak" wedding season in Colorado for good weather and conditions, but Estes Park is very busy during this time, so plan to book lodging and dining in advance. If you want a winter wonderland, February–March would be best, but keep in mind Estes Park has no ski resorts, so winters are very slow up there, with many businesses closing—which is great if you're looking to have fewer people around!
January–April = Good for winter/snow weddings—Estes Park very slow.
Mid-June–mid-October = Good for non-winter weddings—Estes Park very busy.
May = Often muddy—but you beat the summer traffic!
Late September & early October = Fall colors—not so much at 3M, but in the area.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Get Married at Sprague Lake?
Sprague Lake has no natural shade, so the best option for photo lighting is to opt for true sunrise (when there is the least amount of people around), or two hours before sunset, simply Google “Sunset Estes Park [your date]” to see the time.
What’s the Best Day of the Week to Get Married at Sprague Lake?
The best day of the week to elope at Sprague Lake is Tuesday or Wednesday, which are the least busy days in the park—it’s always nice to beat the crowds!
Accessibility, Parking, & Facilities
Sprague Lake has a reasonably sized parking lot, that fills up quickly during Summer and busy weekends. The most sought after ceremony spot is the dock that overlooks the lake. The dock is roughly a 10-15 minute flat walk from the parking lot, the walk starts by crossing over a small bridge. The flat pathway is a .7 mile loop.
While Sprague Lake is a natural setting, the park does provide some key amenities to ensure your wedding day is comfortable. There are public restrooms located near the parking lot, so you won’t need to worry about long hikes to find bathroom facilities. These restrooms are open seasonally, typically from late spring to early fall, so be sure to plan accordingly if your wedding is during off-peak months.
Sprague Lake Wedding FAQs
What is the best place to get married in RMNP?
Sprague Lake is a nice location for smaller groups who don’t mind crowds and really want both mountains and water in their photos. For groups with less than 15 guests, 3M curve is the best spot to get married in Rocky Mountain National Park, due to it’s dynamic mountain views, relative privacy, and accessibility. For larger groups, the best spot is Lily Lake Picnic Area, or Moraine Park Amphitheater.
Click here for my full Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding & Elopement Guide.
Where are the best photo spots at Sprague Lake?
The best spot to do a wedding ceremony at Sprague Lake is the designated wedding dock, across the lake from the parking area. After the ceremony, you can walk the full loop of the lake to get photos with the different views—the whole area is beautiful!
What’s the weather like at Sprague Lake?
Colorado mountain weather can change quickly, even in the summer. It’s important to prepare for wind, rain, or sudden temperature drops. Bring layers, thermals, umbrellas, and backup shoes, and make sure all guests—especially those coming from out of town—know to expect unpredictable conditions.
What is the parking situation at Sprague Lake?
Parking is available at Sprague Lake, but it fills up quickly during summer, fall weekends, and timed-entry hours. Plan to arrive early to ensure you get a spot and allow extra time to walk from the parking lot to the lakeshore.
How much does it cost to elope at Sprague Lake?
Rocky Mountain National Park requires a $300 special usage permit for all weddings, the only additional cost of the photographer, officiant, and marriage license. Colorado MicroWeddings has an All-Inclusive Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Package starting at $1800.
What’s the best time of year to get married at Sprague Lake?
Sprague Lake is open year-round, but the most popular time for weddings is late spring through fall when the weather is more predictable. Winter weddings are possible, but snow, ice, and cold temperatures can limit access, and facilities like restrooms may be closed.
How busy is Sprague Lake, and will my ceremony be private?
Sprague Lake is one of the most popular locations in Rocky Mountain National Park. A wedding permit does not grant exclusive use, and visitors may be nearby during your ceremony. Most tourists are respectful, but wedding parties cannot block trails or interfere with anyone’s visit to the park.
Want an Estes Park ceremony site that is 100% private?
Check out the Rocky Mountain Wedding & Elopement Park!
What wildlife might we see at Sprague Lake?
Elk, deer, and even the occasional moose can be spotted in the area. Always keep a safe distance, follow park rules, and never approach or feed wildlife.
Are there rules or restrictions for weddings at Sprague Lake?
Yes. No amplified sound, arches, decorations, smoking, or releasing real or artificial flower petals. Ceremonies must follow all Leave No Trace principles and be respectful of the natural environment.
Do I need a permit to get married at Sprague Lake?
Yes. Rocky Mountain National Park requires a $300 Special Use Permit for all weddings, elopements, vow exchanges, and ceremonies—no matter how small. Permits open one year in advance and popular dates (especially June–October) sell out quickly. Each permit includes a two-hour time slot at your designated site.
How many guests can I have at Sprague Lake?
Sprague Lake allows up to 15 people total in the summer and 30 people total in the winter—including the couple, photographer, officiant, and all guests.
How accessible is Sprague Lake for guests with mobility concerns?
Sprague Lake’s loop trail is mostly flat, which makes it one of the easiest ceremony sites in RMNP. However, the walk from the parking area to the lake takes about 10–15 minutes, and rain, snow, or icy conditions can make the trail slippery. Guests with mobility challenges may need additional time or assistance. The only truly handicap accessibly ceremony site in RMNP is Lily Lake Dock.
Do I need a timed-entry reservation to access Sprague Lake?
If you have a RMNP wedding permit, you do not need a timed-entry reservation.
Where to Stay in Estes Park
Lodging opportunities are endless near Rocky Mountain Park. Two main entrances of the park sit bordered next to the popular tourist destination Estes Park. Estes Park has options for every type of lodging including luxury cabins, a historic stay at the Stanley Hotel or the endless unique lodging options on AirBnB + Vrbo. If you are planning on a Sprague Lake wedding, Estes Park will be your closest option!
Want a rental home for your party?
Colorado Wedding Homes
Event & Group Friendly Rental Homes!
Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,300
—Officiant (starting at $300)
—Photography (starting at $500)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $500)
Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 80 Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
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