An elopement at Moab is truly an adventurous elopement with cliffs, arches, canyons, red rocks, mountains, and deserts that creates this stunning southwest scenery. There are so many intimate shooting areas for the bride and groom. Not to mention areas for small weddings and accessible to adventurous activities like hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, water rafting, and more. The memorable moments that can be created at Moab are endless and it’s simple to make your elopement dreams come true here. Learn more to figure how to elope in Moab for your wedding destination!

Canyonlands National Park

• Location
  • Canyonlands National Park – 30 minutes drive from Canyonlands Field Airport (note: to get to this airport you need to fly United from Denver); 2 hour drive from Grand Junction Regional Airport; 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City International Airport
  • 30 miles from Moab
• Permitting
  • $30 marriage license, which can be purchased and process at the County Clerk Office
  • $185 wedding permit
  • $30 parking and admittance fee
  • $50 photography permit
• Accessibility
  • Easy to access through the parking lots. Canyonlands National Park has several areas that are accessible for people with physical or mobility disabilities.Some areas are more accessible than others. Trails may have steep and rocky surfaces with uneven slopes and loose sand or gravel.
• Nearby Activities
  • Auto touring, backpacking, biking, boating, camping, climbing, guided tours, hiking, horseback riding, ranger-led programs, and stargazing
• Crowd Levels
  • Canyonlands National Park is Utah’s largest national park with views that you can see from 100 miles all around. There are naturally formed arches and consists of four sections, The Maze, Island in the Sky, The Needles, and the rivers that divides these areas. Not as crowded, since there is so much space and you wouldn’t have to worry about getting the perfect photo with just you two.

Arches National Park

• Location
  • Arches National Park – 15 minutes drive from Canyonlands Field Airport (note: to get to this airport you need to fly United from Denver); 1.5 hour drive from Grand Junction Regional Airport; 3.5 hours drive from Salt Lake City International Airport
  • 5 miles from Moab
• Permitting
  • $30 marriage license, which can be purchased and process at the County Clerk Office
  • $185 wedding permit
  • $30 parking and admittance fee
  • $50 photography permit
• Accessibility
  • Easy to access with parking lots, paved scenic roads, short accessible trails for closer view of the park, and longer trails for more arches and rock formations
• Nearby Activities
  • Auto touring, backpacking, biking, camping, canyoneering, commercial tours, hiking, horseback riding, rocking climbing, ranger-led programs, and stargazing
• Crowd Levels
  • Arches National Park is smaller and more popular than the Canyonlands National Park, so it can be crowded pretty quickly. Busy season is Spring and it’s recommended to shoot on a weekday at sunrise.

Dead Horse Point State Park

• Location
  • Dead Horse Point State Park  – 45 minutes drive from Canyonlands Field Airport (note: to get to this airport you need to fly United from Denver); 2.5 hour drive from Grand Junction Regional Airport
  • 32 miles from Moab
• Permitting
  • $30 marriage license, which can be purchased and process at the County Clerk Office
  • $20 parking and admittance fee
  • $10 Special Use Permit
• Accessibility
  • Easy to access from the parking lot with trails ranging ⅛-2 miles to stunning overlooks
• Nearby Activities
  • Hiking, biking, and stargazing
• Crowd Levels
  • Dead Horse Point State Park is a smaller state park that offers grand views of the canyons and has some majestic overlooks. Not as crowded, so there will be plenty of opportunities for elopement photos during sunrise or sunset

BLM Land (Bureau of Land Management)

• Location
  • BLM Land (Bureau of Land Management) – direct flight to Canyonlands Field Airport (note: to get to this airport you need to fly United from Denver); 1.5 hour drive from Grand Junction Regional Airport; 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City International Airport
• Permitting
  • Photography permit that can range from $10-50/day depending on the amount of people and these permits are only given by BLM twice a year
  • Free authorization letter from BLM office 
• Accessibility
  • You can access BLM land from anywhere and it’s recommendation to have a 4 wheeler to get around
• Nearby Activities
  • Hiking, camping, and rock climbing
• Crowd Levels
  • There are several BLM lands in Moab, so you can be assure that you are going to have a private elopement experience with various options for stunning scenery
    • Corona Arch is an option within BLM lands and is a 3 mile hike that is great for kids and experienced hikers

SO many amazing options to choose from at Moab! Eloping is such an amazing and intimate experience, and these locations would make the PERFECT backdrop to your day. Want more elopements? See more on the blog and my Instagram!

Cheers!

Allison