How to Elope With Your Dog in Colorado

TL;DR Yes, bring your dog. Colorado is one of the best states in the country for it. The stuff that actually trips couples up isn’t leashes and treats, it’s altitude and paperwork. Pick dog-friendly public land, give your pup a few days to adjust to the elevation, and build the whole day around them.

I’ve shot 450+ elopements since 2018, and a whole lot of them had a dog in the mix. Those are some of my favorite days on the job. A couple mid-vow with a happy pup leaning into their leg like it’s the best day of ITS life too? Come on. That’s the good stuff! But here’s what nobody tells you: bringing your dog onto your elopement takes more than a leash and a cute bandana. I’ve watched local dogs crush a 12,000-foot day, and I’ve watched flatlander pups gas out fast. Let me save you the hard lessons. Read more for how to elope with your dog in Colorado!

Can you bring your dog to your elopement?

Yes, and honestly you should. Colorado is one of the most dog-friendly elopement states out there. Most public land you’d want to marry on welcomes your dog all day.

If your dog is a big part of your life, of course they should be standing there when you say your vows. The trick is picking land where they’re actually allowed, then pacing the day so they finish it happy instead of fried. And two things almost nobody warns you about matter way more than any packing list: the altitude, and whether your dog even needs to be on that license at all.

Can your dog really “sign” your marriage license?

Yes, but there are some recent caveats. Now the fun part. A bunch of counties DO let your dog stamp a paw on that witness line as a keepsake, and it’s a rad little tradition. Heads up though: as of late 2024, a few counties like Denver, Arapahoe, and El Paso stopped accepting paw prints. Good news for us mountain folks, most San Juan counties (Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan) still do. Call your county clerk, ask straight up, and bring a non-toxic ink pad. Keep the print inside the box and you’re golden.

You’ll see other guides say Colorado “made a law so dogs can sign as witnesses.” Not quite. Here’s the real deal. Colorado lets you self-solemnize, which means you two marry yourselves with no officiant and no witnesses. So under Colorado law (C.R.S. 14-2-109), the witness line is always optional.

Can dogs get altitude sickness in the mountains?

Yes! Dogs can get altitude sickness above about 8,000 feet, same as us. Plenty of places in Colorado spots sit between 10,000 and 13,000, so this one is real. This is the part almost nobody covers, and up here it’s the big one. Picture it. Your dog lives near sea level, you fly them in, and day one you’re hauling up to a 12,000-foot basin for vows. That’s a massive ask on their body. Ask any mountain vet and they’ll tell you dogs feel thin air just like we do, per veterinary guidance on altitude sickness in pets.

Watch for heavy panting, drooling, wobbly legs, puking, no interest in food, or a dog that just flops down and taps out. Flat-faced pups like bulldogs and pugs, older dogs, and any dog with heart or lung stuff are most at risk. The fix is dead simple and it works every time: get them lower and let them rest. Never push a struggling dog higher for a photo. No shot is worth that, ever.

How do you get your dog ready for high elevation?

Get to Colorado a few days early and let your dog adjust. Keep the wedding hike short, go slow, pack extra water, and read their energy all day long.

Acclimation is the whole ballgame. A local Colorado dog is usually already dialed. A dog flying in needs a buffer. Most dog elopements out here are also hiking elopements, so your pup’s fitness is part of the plan. Here’s how I’d stage it so they show up ready to send it.

Where can you elope with your dog in Colorado?

Public land is your best friend. National forest and BLM let your dog roam with you all day. National parks mostly keep dogs off the trails you’d actually want.

The most easy places with less rules are in the San Juan’s: Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, and all the wild country in between. Tons of it is national forest and BLM, so your dog can be right there for the vows instead of stuck whining in the car. National parks are the flip side. Per the National Park Service pet rules, dogs are usually stuck to parking lots and pavement, not the ridgelines you came for.

The best dog spots? They’re not on any listicle. They’re the quiet basins you only find from years of boots on the ground out here. Empty enough to let your dog off leash where it’s legal, with nobody around to work around. Want a feel for the range I’m talking about? My San Juan Mountains guide and my roundup of the best places to elope in Colorado lay it all out. That’s exactly the stuff you get when you hire someone who actually lives here instead of flying in for the weekend.

What’s the best time of year to elope with your dog?

Summer and fall are the easy button for most dogs. Spring is muddy and snowy, winter needs paw protection, and hot summer days mean going high or going early.

• Spring: snowmelt turns everything to mud, so pack a towel and paw wax.
• Summer: go high or shoot at sunrise so your dog doesn’t cook, and bring way more water than you think.
• Fall: mild days, crisp nights, the sweet spot for a ton of dogs (more in my fall elopement guide).
• Winter: some pups live for snow, some want nothing to do with it. Protect their paws from ice with a wax like Musher’s Secret and pack a jacket for a short-coat dog. My winter elopement guide covers the cold-weather details.

What should you pack for your dog?

Water and a bowl, paw protection, waste bags, a leash and harness, treats, and a small first-aid kit. Up high, water and paw care beat everything.

Item	Why it matters up high
Extra water + bowl	Thin, dry air dehydrates dogs fast. Don’t count on finding a stream.
Paw wax or boots	Sharp talus, hot rock, and snow all wreck paws. Wax or boots save the day.
Styptic powder	Stops a split nail or cut paw from bleeding. Tiny to pack, huge if you need it.
Waste bags	Pack it in, pack it out. Every last bit.
Leash + harness	A harness beats a collar on steep, rocky ground.
Treats + food	Fuel for the effort, and gold for getting ears up in photos.
Small first-aid kit	You’re often a long way from a vet out here. Be your dog’s first responder.

How do you include your dog without stressing them out?

Every guide lists cute roles and calls it a day. The real move is timing. Bring your dog in for the vows and a handful of shots, then let them chill in the shade with water while you two knock out the longer stuff. A fresh, happy dog photographs a thousand times better than a wiped-out one. Save their big moment for the coolest, calmest stretch of the day and you’ll get the shot every time.

Fun ways to work them in: dog of honor, ring bearer with a little pouch on the harness, or that paw print on your license. Keep any outfit simple. A bandana beats a full tux for a dog who’d rather just be a dog.

What are the Leave No Trace rules with a dog?

Pack out every bit of waste, keep your dog on trail, leash up where it’s required, and give wildlife and people plenty of space. Alpine ground is fragile.

The high country looks tough, but it’s delicate up there. Follow the Leave No Trace principles: bag and carry out every bit of dog waste, stick to durable ground like rock and dirt instead of tundra and wildflowers, and keep your dog close around wildlife. We only get to keep these places good if we treat them right. Simple as that.

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