How to Elope With Your Dog in Colorado

TL;DR: Yes, you can and should elope with your dog in Colorado. Colorado is one of the best states in the country for it. The stuff that trips couples up isn’t leashes and treats; it’s altitude and paperwork. Work with your photographer to choose a dog-friendly location, give your pup a few days to adjust to the elevation, and find fun ways to include them in your day.

If you’re here because you’re wondering if bringing your dog to your elopement is a good idea or a mistake waiting to happen, then you’re in the right place! And if I had to guess, you’re not looking for a Pinterest board of cute dog-at-a-wedding photos. You want to know if your specific dog can really handle a Colorado mountain at altitude.

I’ve helped hundreds of couples with their Colorado elopements, and many of them had a dog in the mix on their elopement day! Those are some of my favorite days on the job. A couple mid-vows 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!

You’ve probably seen a dozen dreamy “dog at our elopement” posts and none of them mention how to do it the right way! 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. But there are other ways to include your dog in your elopement without having them there the entire time, and I’ll show you how!

So let me save you the hard lessons. Here’s everything you need to elope with your dog in Colorado and have you both walk away happy! Here are my Colorado elopement packages if you want me to plan it with you.

Can You Bring Your Dog to Your Elopement?

Yes, absolutely. Colorado is one of the most dog-friendly places to elope. Most national forests, BLM land, and other public lands have plenty of dog-friendly options, but there are some important exceptions. Rocky Mountain National Park, for example, restricts dogs to campgrounds, parking areas, and paved roads and overlooks.

Honestly, I almost always encourage couples to bring their dogs. Colorado has no shortage of incredible places where your dog can join the adventure. The trick is planning the day around them so they get to be part of it without getting completely fried. So, if your dog is a huge part of your life, why wouldn’t they be there when you say your vows?

But most couples don’t think about two things until they’re already planning the day: altitude and whether your dog even needs to be included in the ceremony. Both can make a bigger difference than any packing list and how we map out your day!

Can your dog really “sign” your marriage license?

In many Colorado counties, your dog can leave a paw print on the witness line as a sentimental keepsake, but it’s not legally required because Colorado allows self-solemnization with no witnesses needed.

Now the fun part! Colorado lets your dog stamp a paw on that witness line as a rad little tradition. BUT, as of late 2024, Denver, Arapahoe, and El Paso counties no longer accept paw prints. Good news for us mountain folk: everywhere else in Colorado still allows paw prints. Work with your photographer or you can call the local county clerk’s office directly, ask straight up, and if they give you the green light, bring a non-toxic ink pad. Keep the print inside the box and you’re good to go!

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. Under Colorado law (C.R.S. 14-2-109), the witness line is always optional. So that paw print is pure sentiment, not a legal requirement. If it matters to you, make the call before you build it into your day.

Tips for paw-prints:

• Ask the clerk to mark exactly where on the license you can stamp the print. Don’t guess, they’ll point you to the spot.
• Do a test run with your dog before the day. Paw printing feels strange to most dogs, and the actual marriage license is the wrong place to find that out.
• The best pads are the ones where the paw presses straight onto an ink pad built into the paper, not a separate pad you move from. This is the kit I recommend.
• Eloping in Telluride and need one last minute? Dirt Dawg downtown carries them.

Can dogs get altitude sickness when eloping in the mountains?

Yes, dogs can develop altitude sickness at elevations above about 8,000 feet, with symptoms like heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, and wobbly legs. Flat-faced breeds, older dogs, and dogs with heart or lung issues face the highest risk once you climb into thin mountain air.

Dogs can get altitude sickness above about 8,000 feet, same as us. Plenty of spots in Colorado sit between 10,000 and 13,000 feet, 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?

Arrive in Colorado at least two to three days before your ceremony so your dog can acclimate. Start with short leash walks, add elevation gradually on easy trails, and on ceremony day keep the hike short with plenty of built-in rest stops.

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.

• Day 1: Let them decompress. No big hike, just short leash walks near wherever you’re staying.
• Day 2–3: Add elevation gradually. Short, easy trails, and watch how they handle it before going bigger.
• Ceremony day: Keep the actual walk to your ceremony spot as short as their fitness allows, and build in rest stops even if they seem fine.

One more thing people forget: if you’re flying your dog in, some airlines and interstate travel rules require a recent health certificate from your vet. Get that squared away weeks out, not the week of your elopement.

Where can you elope with your dog in Colorado?

National forests and BLM land are your best bet. Both let your dog roam with you off-leash where it’s legal, all day long. National parks are the exception. Rocky Mountain National Park keeps dogs to parking lots and pavement. Before you lock in a trail, run it by your photographer. Good local knowledge should be able to tell you straight whether a trail is dog-friendly or too strenuous, not just whether it photographs well.

The easiest places with fewer rules are in the San Juans mountains: Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, and all the wild country in between. Places like Aspen, Lake Isabelle, Brainard Lake, Vail and Breckenridge are also super dog-friendly. 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. Rocky Mountain National Park is the flip side and a no-go for dog elopements. Per the National Park Service pet rules, dogs are usually stuck to parking lots and pavement, not the ridgelines you came for.

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

Summer and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for most dogs, with mild temperatures, dry trails, and stable weather. Spring means mud and lingering snow, and winter calls for paw protection, a jacket for short-coated pups, and a shorter ceremony.

Each season paints a different picture, and your dog’s comfort should steer the calendar.

• Spring (April–May): Snowmelt turns trails to slush and mud. Pack a towel and paw wax, and expect some routes to still be impassable. Early morning temps can dip below freezing, so a light jacket helps for short-coated pups.
• Summer (June–August): High country wildflowers and long daylight hours, but midday heat can bake your dog. Go high in elevation or shoot at sunrise to beat the heat, and carry way more water than you think. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, so plan to be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
• Fall (September–October): Crisp air, golden aspens, and stable weather make this the sweet spot for many dogs. Trails are dry, temperatures are mild, and the light is pure magic. Just watch for early snow at the highest elevations by late October. My winter elopement guide covers everything you need to know about fall elopements in Colorado.
• Winter (November–March): 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 short-coat dogs. Keep ceremonies short and stick to lower-elevation, plowed-access locations. My winter elopement guide covers the cold-weather details in depth.

What should you pack for your dog?

Pack extra water and a collapsible bowl, paw wax or dog boots, waste bags, a sturdy leash and harness, high-value treats, and a basic canine first-aid kit. At high elevation, hydration and paw protection are pretty much non-negotiable.

Up high, water and paw care beat everything. The thin, dry air dehydrates dogs fast, and rocky alpine terrain can shred pads. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to toss in your daypack. A little prep goes a long way toward keeping your pup tail-wagging from “I do” to the last photo!

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 in your elopement while still keeping it fun for you?

Bring them in for the vows and a few photos, then let them rest in the shade. A fresh dog beats a wiped-out one every time.

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.

If your dog tends to run around or get a little wild, bring a friend or family member along to handle them for the shots they’re not in. I’ve seen elopements where the dog almost takes over and the day stops being about the couple. A dedicated wrangler keeps that from happening and still lets your dog be part of the day.

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. I’ve seen couples put their dog in a wedding collar with a bow tie, and some florists will make a matching flower collar if you ask. 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 when eloping with your dog?

Pack out all waste, stay on durable surfaces, keep your dog leashed where required, and give wildlife space. Alpine terrain is fragile.

The high country looks tough, but it’s delicate. 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.

Dog Elopement FAQ