A Lake Isabelle Elopement | Colorado Elopement Photographer
Looking for the perfect place to elopement in Colorado? A stunning location that’s not too difficult to get to and offers majestic mountain views? Look no further than Lake Isabelle in Brainard Lake Recreation Area for your Colorado elopement.
Elope at Lake Isabelle in Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Lake Isabelle near Nederland is one of my favorite alpine lakes in Colorado. So it’s no surprise it’s also one of my favorite locations for elopements. Remember this surprisingly snowy engagement session? It took place at Lake Isabelle as well.
With it’s jagged peaks rising in the background and the wildflowers painting the ground in the summer, Lake Isabelle is a stunning spot to say, “I do.” It’s a relatively easy spot to get to if you’re able to hike about 2 miles to the lake from the Long Lake Trailhead inside Brainard Lake Recreation Area. As long as you only have 8 people or fewer in your group, you don’t even need a special use permit.
What you do need to elope at Lake Isabelle, are a few things:
Each car needs a parking reservation for Brainard Lake. As mentioned above, the Long Lake Trailhead is the best place to park for access to Lake Isabelle so that’ll be the specific parking pass needed. Parking passes are also a timed entry ticket which brings us to the next thing…
You’ll need a willingness to get up super early for the best possible time to elope at Lake Isabelle. Yep, we’re talking sunrise! Lake Isabelle is a very popular hiking spot, even with the timed entry, so I would truly only recommend this location for sunrise. Sunset secondarily. And almost certainly, only on a weekday.
You’ll need hiking supplies. While it’s not a terribly difficult hike, you will need a backpack for all your supplies (including your elopement attire if you’re not wearing it while hiking) and plenty of water to stay hydrated.
The Long Lake Trailhead is only open from around early July to mid-October, so Lake Isabelle is best for a summer to early fall elopement. The lake is also drained around mid-August so if you want the absolute prime time for an elopement at this stunning alpine lake, plan for the height of summer.
Lake Isabelle Hiking Details
From the Long Lake Trailhead parking lot:
4.2 miles round-trip
550 feet of elevation gain
1 to 1.5 hours to the lake
From Brainard Lake Recreation Area daytime use parking lot:
6.2 miles round-trip
750 feet of elevation gain
1.5-2 hours to the lake
Stunning Lake Isabelle Sunrise Elopement
Caitlin and Chris traveled from Chicago to partake in the beauty of the Colorado mountains for their elopement. They trusted me—even when I told them of their super early morning meet up time and our hike in the dark—and we were all rewarded with these beautiful views and a popular location all to ourselves for their vow exchange on the rocks overlooking the lake.
After exploring Lake Isabelle together and hiking back to our cars, we separated for the rest of the morning and early afternoon. Later that day, I met them at Fort Greene, a quirky bar in Denver, for some drinks and more photos.
Check out their lovely elopement below and get in touch if you’re looking for an elopement photographer for your adventurous day! Or take a gander at this other beautiful Colorado mountain elopement.
