Written by Kiersten Roy

If you love adventure and exploring the great outdoors, then holding your wedding or elopement at a national park wedding venue might just be the perfect choice! With over 60 national parks to choose from in the U.S., you’ll have endless options to explore for your best day ever. On the blog, we’ve narrowed down 13 of our all-time favorite national park wedding venues. We’ve broken them down by state and have provided our best tips and tricks for how to get there and the best places to explore. Keep scrolling to get inspired and start planning your national park wedding!

P.S. – while many of the national park wedding venues you’ll see listed in this blog are located within the parks, we actually have a whole list of other wedding and elopement venues located right outside the national parks and in the surrounding national forests. What this means is that you can get even more privacy and trail options, not to mention that these locations oftentimes are dog-friendly as well!

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Top 4 National Park Wedding Venues We Can’t Recommend Enough

North Cascades National Park

Olympic National Park

Mt Rainier National Park

Redwood National Park

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Best U.S. National Park Wedding Venues

• North Cascades National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Mount Rainier National Park
• Redwood National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Sequoia National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Haleakala National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Arches National Park
• Zion National Park
• Glacier National Park

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From national park wedding permits to the cost of your adventure wedding, here is what you need to know to get married at a national park

Did you know that you can get married at a national park? Yes, it’s true! National parks make for some of the best outdoor wedding venues in the country! From canyon floors to mountain overlooks, there are so many different dramatic landscapes and backdrops to choose from for your national park wedding. But before you and your partner get in the car to drive up to your favorite national park, there are a few things you need to know before planning your national park wedding day:

• National parks are not free outdoor wedding venues. You will need a Special Use Permit to get married at a national park. Prices vary from $60 to $200+ depending on the park. You can find more information for specific national parks on the National Park Service website, which we’ve linked throughout this blog. 
• You’ve got your partner, your stunning attire, the dreamy flowers and the epic national park wedding venue, but you cannot forget one of the most important items of all: your marriage license! We can help you with figuring out how to get a marriage license for the state you choose to get married in. Also, keep in mind that you may need to have an ordained person officiate your elopement ceremony as well as up to two witnesses (and yes, we’re happy to be witnesses, if needed!).
• Along with your national park wedding permit and your marriage license, don’t forget to pack your National Park Pass! The America the Beautiful annual national park pass costs $80 and will last you the entire year! It’s so worth the investment!

Now that you know some of the logistics behind your national park wedding, let’s start talking about the fun stuff! Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the best national park wedding venues in the United States.

Looking for even more resources to help you plan your national park wedding? Check out the blogs below!

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Call us biased, but we think Washington State has some of the best national parks in the country! Most of the team at Between the Pine is based here, and we’ve spent hundreds of hours trekking all over these national parks documenting our couples’ best days ever! We know these parks and trails like the back of our hand and can’t wait to show you around this beautiful state!

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North Cascades National Park

Known as the Alps of America, it is no surprise that this is one of our top choices on the list of best national park wedding venues in the U.S. North Cascades National Park is truly the underdog and always leaves us in awe every time we adventure here. With jagged peaks, snow capped mountains and alpine lakes that are only accessible by hiking, the North Cascades are truly one of our all time favorite national parks. (Also, did you know North Cascades National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the nation? This means you just might get an entire mountain to yourself for your elopement or wedding!) With remote trails that few know about, the North Cascades hold some of our favorite spots in all of Washington, that are just waiting for you to tie the knot.

Best time of year for your wedding in North Cascades National Park:

• Summer and fall – this is when the snow starts to melt, allowing the trails to become more accessible.
• July and August are some of our favorite months to visit this Washington national park as the wildflowers are in bloom.
• July-September are peak months to visit the North Cascades, but if you are wanting a little snow, May and June are perfect!

How to get to North Cascades National Park:

• Fly in to Seattle (SEA) and drive two hours
• Fly in to Vancouver, British Columbia and drive two and a half hours

Best outdoor wedding venues for your North Cascades National Park wedding:

• Artist Point

  • This is technically outside the national park, but is part of the North Cascade mountain range. Here, you will find lots of alpine lakes, mountain overlooks, drive-up locations, and more! Most of these locations are easily-accessible, making this area a great location if you plan to include guests. (Fun fact – this is were our team does over half our elopements each year!) Some of our favorite locations include: Picture Lake, Huntoon Point, and Chain Lakes, but we have a few lesser known areas with the same jaw dropping views and none of the crowds.

• Washington Pass Overlook

  • This location sits on the eastern side of the park, and is perfect for early summer elopement and fall elopements because of all the larches! We also know a great little mountain town, Mazama, that sits below where you can go to enjoy a celebration meal after your ceremony.

• Park Butte Lookout

  • This trail is a seven-mile adventure that leads you to a fire lookout that you can sleep in! How epic would that be? Also, this trail is dog-friendly, so your pup-of-honor is free to join you on your adventure.

More resources for your North Cascades National Park wedding:

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Olympic National Park

Located in the upper west corner of Washington sits the Olympic Peninsula. Here you’ll find some of the best Washington beaches and, of course, Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park is the most geographically diverse national park in the country, and features hot springs, rainforest, whitecap mountains and the rugged coast so you could begin your Olympic National Park elopement day on the coast and and with a sunset mountain overlook! Just like the diverse landscapes, there are so many possibilities of what your wedding day could look like in Olympic National Park.

Best time of year for your wedding at Olympic National Park:

• Year-round – because of the diverse landscapes found here, you can have an Olympic National Park wedding any time of year!

How to get to Olympic National Park:

• Fly in to Seattle (SEA) and drive three hours to the Olympic Peninsula or take a ferry across the Puget Sound (we recommend the ferry!)

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Olympic National Park wedding:

• Hurricane Ridge

  • Hurricane Ridge sits at 5,242 feet of elevation, and is the perfect destination for a winter elopement or wedding in Olympic National Park! It’s an amazing drive-up location that is typically snow-covered. There is snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and more available here. There are stunning mountain views and hikes that jet off from Hurricane Ridge. Keep in mind that there are certain restrictions on how many cars can make it up to Hurricane Ridge, but you can follow updates on the road status by following their Twitter account. Also, the weather can change super quickly at Hurricane Ridge, so be sure to look at the live updates by clicking here.

• Hoh Rain Forest

  • The Hoh Rainforest is a region of lush, green canopy with mosses and ferns covering the terrain. It’s located on the west side of Olympic National Park, and is about a two-hour drive from Port Angeles. It is so lush and green, making it the perfect location for those looking for all the PNW vibes. From the incredible landscape to the roaring waterfalls, the Hoh Rainforest is an incredibly striking location for your Olympic National Park wedding.

• Ruby Beach

  • Ruby Beach is located where the Hoh River meets the Pacific Ocean. With incredible rock formations and huge pieces of driftwood marking the coastline, this beach is an amazing drive-up location for your Olympic National Park wedding.

• Lake Crescent / Bowman’s Bay
  • We love this area for beach weddings and elopements. This location is easy to access allowing you to easily elope with family and friends, while also giving off incredible views of the Olympic Mountains.

More resources for your Olympic National Park wedding:

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Mount Rainier National Park

Standing at 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is guaranteed to give you the perfect backdrop for your national park wedding. This Washington national park offers giant douglas firs (Mollie’s favorite type of pine trees!), waterfalls, wildflower meadows, fire lookouts, alpine lakes, views of the Tatoosh Range that surrounds Mount Rainier, and, of course, Mount Rainier herself. Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest. This national park really is one of the most iconic features in the state of Washington. With stunning viewpoints at every turn, this national park has something for everyone. Whether you are hoping for a quick out-and-back hike for your adventure wedding or a multi-day backpacking trip elopement, Mount Rainier National Park has endless trails waiting for your national park wedding ceremony.

Best time of year for your wedding at Mount Rainier National Park:

• Summer and fall – during this time of year the snow melts giving access to all the trails in the park.
• July and August are our favorite months to visit Mt Rainier National Park, though anytime between July and September will allow you to experience the best that this park has to offer!

How to travel to Mount Rainier National Park:

• Fly in to Seattle (SEA) and drive an hour and a half
• Fly in to Portland (PDX) and drive around 3 hours

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Mount Rainier National Park wedding:

One important thing to know about about having your wedding at Mount Rainier National Park is that most of the trails in the park can accommodate a ceremony of up to 10 guests, making this park a great choice for elopements with only a few guests. If you plan to invite more guests to your wedding, check out these pre determined locations around the park. These areas are able to accommodate ceremonies with more guests, but we have even more spots that we can share with you depending on time of year, time of day, etc.

• Golden Gate

  • This trail will take you to panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range. It’s three miles, round trip, and there are wildflowers in bloom along the trail for a stunning national park wedding backdrop.

• Grove of the Patriarchs 
  • On a rainy fall wedding day, this hike will be a lifesaver! This hike takes you through a trail of old growth pines that act as a natural canopy to block some of the rain. We love this hike because there are plaques along the trail that tell you the history of all of the pine trees (Mollie’s actual dream come true!). This is an easy hike that is an absolutely beautiful outdoor wedding venue. 
• Fremont Lookout Trail
  • This trail is one of our favorite fire lookout locations (it also happens to be the highest one in the whole park)! Built in the 1930s, this lookout provides sprawling views of the West Fork White River, Mount Baker in the Cascades Range, and, of course, Mount Rainier herself!

More resources for your Mount Rainier National Park wedding:

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Redwood National Park

It’s no secret that here at Between the Pine, we love anything having to do with trees or forests, so naturally, one of our favorite national parks of all time is Redwood National Park! With massive redwood trees and the Oregon Coast not too far away, this park allows you to experience both a forest elopement and beach elopement all in one. We specifically love the Jedediah Smith State Park area because of how close it is to the ocean.

Best time of year to get married at Redwood National Park:

• Year-round – But if we had to choose, we’d say we love late Spring, early Summer, and Fall the most!

How to travel to Redwood National Park:

• This national park is a little more remote, so a road trip is in order to fully explore all that the Redwoods has to offer.

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Redwood National Park wedding:

• Lady Bird Johnson Trail

  • This is one of the most popular trails in the Redwood National Park because it is one of the most iconic in the park. Created for the dedication of the national park back in 1969. It’s higher elevation allows fog to drift in, creating a moody backdrop for your Redwood National Park wedding.

• Stout Grove

  • According to David Baselt at Redwood Hikes, “for sheer photogenic beauty nothing beats this extraordinary grove on a sunny afternoon. Located on a small floodplain at the confluence of two rivers, Stout Grove is a quintessential alluvial-flat grove, with an otherworldly, cathedral-like majesty.” Talk about an outdoor wedding venue! The Stout Grove is an iconic Redwood National Park loop trail.

• The Miners’ Ridge and James Irvine Loop

  • This trail is the perfect wedding destination if you’re wanting stunning photos deep in the forest among the redwoods and along the California coastline. About a mile and half in length, this trail offers you a two-for-one deal on your elopement or wedding day backdrop!

More resources for your Redwood National Park wedding:

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Yosemite National Park

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls and stunning granite mountain sides. National Geographic refers to Yosemite National Park as a place filled with granite cathedrals. Yosemite National Park is filled with so many iconic backdrops, like Bridal Veil Falls and El Capitan and Half Dome, and these stunning views make this one of the top 10 most visited national parks. There are so many unique and diverse landscapes in Yosemite National Park, from the valleys, meadows, giant sequoia trees and other-worldly rock formations overlooking the valley. The sunrises and sunsets are so incredible here, and they’re hard to beat as a wedding venue backdrop.

Best time of year to get married at Yosemite National Park:

• Spring and fall – summer is the park’s busiest time of year, so we recommend eloping here during the spring or fall months (aka shoulder season).

How to travel to Yosemite National Park:

• Traveling to Yosemite National Park isn’t necessarily an easy feat! The park is located in a remote area of California, which can make planning your visit to Yosemite overwhelming. We recommend flying into any of the three airports listed blow.

  • Sacrament International Airport (SMF) – a benefit of flying into Sacramento is that it is a smaller city, so there will be less traffic as you travel out towards the valley. It’s about a 3 hour drive from the Sacramento airport to the national park.

  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) – the San Jose airport will put you between 3 to 3.5 hours from Yosemite National Park.

  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – the San Francisco airport is the biggest (and busiest) of the three airports and is located about 3 hours and 15 minutes from the national park. 

• Pro-tip – when booking a rental car, be sure to book through an airport on-site rental car facility.

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Yosemite National Park wedding:

• Taft Point

  • This out and back Yosemite hike will give you some of the most iconic views in the park! On this trail, you’ll get to see views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the falls. It’s a bit busier than other trails, but sunrise is absolutely stunning! (Oh, and if you’re lucky, you may be able to spot wildlife along the trail as well).

• Sentinel Dome

  • This Yosemite hike is one of the lesser known hikes and a pretty easy one at that. It offers amazing views of the valley, El Cap, and Half Dome. Click here to see a stunning sunset during these engagement photos at Sentinel Dome.

• Glacier Point

  • This drive-up location provides stunning sunset views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country. Because it is easier to access, this location is a bit busier than some of the others, but the sunset view is worth it!

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Sequoia National Park

Protected by a Wilderness Act signed in the 1960s, “Magnificent glacial canyons, broad lake basins, lush meadows, and sheer granite peaks–iconic staples of the most rugged portion of the High Sierra–form the core of the largest expanse of contiguous wilderness in California” (National Park Service). Sequoia National Park is home to the world’s largest living things, the giant sequoia trees tower to over 275 feet tall and date back to over 2,000 years ago. In Sequoia National Park, you could get married amongst the giant sequoias and with amazing mountain views. 

Best time of year for your wedding at Sequoia National park:

• Year-round – we think spring, summer, and fall are the best times to visit though.

How to travel to Sequoia National Park:

• Road trip from San Francisco (about 4 hours and 20 minutes)

• Road trip from Los Angeles (about 3 and a half hours)

• Road trip from Fresno (about an hour and a half)

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Sequoia National Park wedding:

• Moro Rock Trail

  • This trail features a waterfall and a stunning mountain overlook with snow-capped jagged peaks as your national park wedding backdrop.

• General Sherman Tree Trail
  • This trail is one of the more popular trails in the national park, and it takes you among the bases of the giant sequoia trees, including the trails namesake. (fun fact – standing at 275′, General Sherman – the largest tree in the world – is located in this park). 
• Giant Forest Loop Trail
  • This loop trail takes you winding through the giant sequoia trees, and it is a little less busy compared to other trails in the national park, making it a great location if you’re looking for a bit more privacy.

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Joshua Tree National Park

If waking up in a relaxed desert oasis, with stunning mid-century modern architecture, exploring a unique desert landscape with otherworldly looking plants, and saying “I do” in front of a candy-colored sunset sounds like your dream wedding day, then a Joshua Tree National Park wedding might be just the thing for you! This park boasts incredible weather during the shoulder season (yes perfect 70s and sunny!) and is one of the best places for star gazing. That said, there are a few quirks of this area that you’ll want to know when planning your own Joshua Tree elopement.

Best time of year for your wedding at Joshua Tree National Park:

• Spring and fall – the desert can get HOT during the summer months, so we recommend eloping during shoulder season to avoid the heat.

How to travel to Joshua Tree National Park:

• Fly into Palm Springs (PSP) and rent a car at the airport

• Fly into Los Angeles (LAX) and take a 2.5 hour road trip!

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Joshua Tree National Park wedding:

• Split Rock

  • Tucked away and one of the park’s less crowded areas, Split Rock is a a great place for your Joshua Tree National Park wedding. While there is a short trail called the Split Rock Loop Trail, you won’t have to go very far to get away from people and find what feels like your own little desert world. There are so many unique, interesting rock formations in this area, and of course lots of desert plants to see along the way. There are picnic tables close to the parking lot so a great option would be to have a picnic with your friends and family, and then you’re just a quick walk away from stunning private areas for your ceremony.

• Cap Rock

  • Cap Rock is by far one of the most popular locations for wedding and elopement ceremonies, and for a good reason! It’s stunning, with lots of rock domes to explore. If you’re lucky, you may also be lucky enough to spot some rock climbers wedging their way up the cracks in the rock at this location. There is a short, ½ mile established hiking trail. While Cap Rock is more popular than Split Rock, and will generally be a bit more crowded, you can usually still find a great place for photographs or your ceremony.

• Hidden Valley

  • Hidden Valley is one of the top recommended elopement locations in Joshua Tree. Because it is the epicenter of the park for rock climbing, that means it can become really popular and crowded. It’s really cool to watch the climbers all around, but with this level of popularity you may struggle to find privacy. Some great options if you want to spend time in this area are to have your ceremony and take photos elsewhere, and then head to the Hidden Valley group picnic table area for a celebratory dinner or picnic. If you do plan your elopement at Hidden Valley, we’ll help you find some lesser known spots or trails that offer more privacy.

More resources for your Joshua Tree National Park wedding:

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Rocky Mountain National Park

With aspen trees, jagged mountain peaks, rushing rivers and deep forests, Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing national park for your wedding day in Colorado. This is one of Mollie’s favorite national parks as it was the very first national park she ever visited when she was a kid.

Best time of year for your wedding at Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Summer and fall – summertime means all the snow will have melted off the trails allowing you the most access for your elopement or intimate wedding.

How to travel to Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Fly into Denver (DEN) and drive about an hour and a half

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Rocky Mountain National Park wedding:

• Emerald Lake Trail

  • This short, out and back trail is a great option if you’re planning to include friends and family in your elopement or adventure national park wedding. The Emerald Lake Trail will take you by amazing mountain views before arriving at the stunning reflective surface of Emerald Lake.

• Dream Lake Trail

  • We love this trail! The mountain peaks surrounding Dream Lake are so unique, making it a perfect backdrop for you to tie the knot during your national park wedding.

• Bear Lake

  • We highly recommend this trail for an early morning or sunset wedding ceremony. This will allow you to avoid the crows and see the mountains reflect off the lake’s surface during the early morning hours. This trail is also an ADA-accessible, drive up location, making it another great option if you’re including family as part of your adventurous wedding ceremony.

More resources for your Rocky Mountain National Park wedding:

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Haleakala National Park

Oh Hawaii, we can’t get enough of you! If you’re considering a tropical wedding and also want to elope in a national park, then Haleakala National Park might be the perfect choice for you (oh, and did we mention that the summit district in this national park offers some of the most stunning sunrise views?). Not only is this park stunning, but it is rich with culture and even has some endangered species that you can’t find anywhere else! So, if you’re planning a wedding on Maui, Haleakala National Park should be a must-consider for your wedding venue.

Best time of year for your wedding at Haleakala National Park:

• Year-round – seriously, any time of year is amazing in Hawaii

How to travel to Haleakala National Park:

• Fly in to Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Haleakala National Park wedding:

• Pa Ka’oao

  • This quick hike up from the visitor’s center parking lot will help you avoid the crowds at sunrise. The view from the top of the trail leads directly into the volcano’s crater.

• Leleiwi Overlook

  • If early morning sunrises aren’t your thing, then Leleiwi Overlook is a great option! there are smaller crowds here and the view looks over the crater and cliffs. The lookout faces east, making it not the ideal location if you’re hoping for an epic sunrise view for your national park wedding.

• Hosmer’s Grove Nature Trail

  • This trail is lower in elevation compared to other trails, located right after you enter the national park. This short trail winds through dense trees that were planted as an experiment by the lumber industry! This landscape is a stark contrast to the top of the volcano, creating an amazing landscape for you Haleakala National Park wedding.

More resources for your Haleakala National Park wedding:

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Grand Teton National Park

As you drive up through the valley (known as Jackson Hole), you’ll see the jagged peaks of the Teton Range rising up in the distance. Located in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park is one of the best destinations for an adventurous national park wedding ceremony. Some of the most popular activities to do in this national park are mountaineering, hiking, backcountry camping and fishing. It’s also not too far away from Yellowstone National Park, giving you the chance to visit two incredible parks during your national park wedding.

Best time of year for your wedding at Grand Teton National Park:

• Summer and fall

How to travel to Grand Teton National Park:

• Fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Grand Teton National Park wedding:

• Jenny Lake

  • This trail is a 7.5-mile loop that takes you to Jenny Lake and amazing, panoramic views of the Teton Range. If you’re wanting an epic mountain backdrop for your outdoor wedding, then this is the trail for you. Although it is one of the more popular hikes, the views are worth it!
• Taggart Lake Loop
  • This loop trail is a shorter distance that takes you to Taggart Lake with gorgeous views of the Tetons. This trail is the easiest and most direct route to Taggart Lake, making this trail a great option for a lake shore wedding ceremony.

• Hidden Falls Trail

  • This five-mile hike takes you alongside Jenny Lake to a waterfall and some stunning mountain views. This trail is great for all hiking skill levels, so if you’re planning to have guests at your adventure wedding or elopement, this trail is a great option.

• Pull off on the side of the road through the valley

  • This national park is so stunning that you could have some amazing wedding portraits by just pulling off the road through the valley. Every direction you look you’ll be able to see the expanse of the Teton Range.

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Yellowstone National Park

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park became the first national park in the country. It is known for its hot springs, geysers (like Old Faithful), canyons, alpine rivers, waterfalls and deep forests. There are stunning geological features within this American treasure, and the iconic bison that roam the national park would make an amazing wedding guest!

Best time of year for your wedding at Yellowstone National Park:

• Summer and fall

How to travel to Yellowstone National Park:

• This is a great national park for a road trip! This park is over 3,500 square-miles, so you will want a car to be able to explore all of Yellowstone National Park.

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Yellowstone National Park wedding:

• Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Loop

  • This loop trail connects two lakes along the rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This trail will take you through meadows and forest as you explore Yellowstone. Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Loop is a great option if you’re wanting various landscapes for your outdoor national park wedding ceremony.

• Trout Lake

  • This is an easy, one-mile trail that follows around a Trout Lake. This mountain lake provides beautiful mountain views and wildflower meadows. Sounds like the perfect wedding ceremony backdrop, right?

• Top 10 Viewpoints of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

  • One of my favorite travel blogs to refer to is The Mandagies! They’ve created an extensive travel guide to Yellowstone National Park, including the top 10 best viewpoints of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Click here to explore their guide!

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Arches National Park

More than 2,000 natural sandstone arches make up the dramatic landscape of Arches National Park. Located right outside of Moab, Utah, this national park’s iconic scenery is unlike anything you’ve ever seen and will make for incredibly unique wedding backdrops. According to the National Park Service, “This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.”

Best time of year for your wedding at Arches National Park:

• Fall and spring – summertime can get very hot in the southwest, so we recommend eloping during the shoulder season

How to travel to Arches National Park:

• Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) and drive about four hours to Moab

• Fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport in Colorado and drive about two hours to Moab

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Arches National Park wedding:

• Delicate Arch

  • The Delicate Arch is what Arches National Park is famous for! This is a popular trail, but the view and arch are so worth it! It’s a three-mile hike, and it can be difficult depending on the heat and weather patterns. Click here to read more about tips to avoiding the crowds at the Delicate Arch from our favorite travel guides, the Mandagies. 

• Double Arch Trail

  • This popular trail is a mile, out and back, that is a great option for all skill levels. It’s appropriately named, as it takes you by wildflowers to lead to a double arch. Who needs a cathedral to get married in when you could have nature’s dreamy wedding venue around you?

• Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail

  • This heavy-trafficked trail leads to a different viewpoint of Delicate Arch. If you’re wanting Arches National Park’s icon in your wedding photos, this is a great option for your national park wedding location.

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Zion National Park

Located in southwest Utah, Zion National Park is known for its steep, red canyon walls, rivers, waterfalls and slot canyons. Zion National Park was Utah’s first national park, and offers more green and vegetation than Arches National Park. Here, you’ll experience the iconic colors of Utah within the canyon walls of Zion. Planning your wedding at Zion National Park will give you the iconic deserts of Utah, but with water features and some lush greenery, too.

Best time of year for your wedding at Zion National Park:

• Spring, early summer and fall

How to travel to Zion National Park:

• Fly in to Las Vegas (LAS) and drive about two hours to Zion National Park

• Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and drive about three and a half hours

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Zion National Park wedding:

• Zion Canyon Overlook

  • This trail is the absolute best trail for wedding photos in Zion National Park. It’s a one-mile long, popular trail that showcases wildflowers and a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon.

• The Watchman Trail

  • This trail is accessible year-round and features a river and amazing overlooks. This trail is described as ideal for beginner hikers.

• Emerald Pools Trail

  • Nestled amongst the rocky canyon, this trail will take you to a waterfall! It’s recommended for use from April through November, and it will offer awesome views of the canyon walls around you as you get married in Zion National Park.

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Glacier National Park

At Glacier National Park, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back to the wild west. “Come and experience Glacier’s pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker’s paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude” (National Park Service). This national park is so beautiful, and it is rounding out our list of the best national park wedding venues in the U.S.

Best time of year for your wedding at Glacier National Park:

• Summer and early fall – because of the high elevation, snow arrives in late fall and stays until early summer

How to travel to Glacier National Park:

• Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) is only 30 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park

Best outdoor wedding venues for your Glacier National Park wedding:

• Hidden Lake Trail

  • This is a really popular trail, but one that we absolutely recommend for your national park wedding! Featuring amazing wildflowers and a serene lake, the mountain views from this overlook would make a stunning venue for your national park wedding. Click here to read more about why Hidden Lake Trail is so incredible according to our favorite travel guides, the Mandagies!

• Avalanche Lake

  • This is a popular trail that is a little less than six miles in length. The still lake water refelcts the stunning mountains surrounding it.

• Trail of the Cedars

  • The Trail of the Cedars is an easy, boardwalk trail through the forest. Imagine your wedding photos from within the forest of Glacier National Park; sign me up!

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With over 60 national parks in the U.S. there are endless options to choose from for your national park wedding! While these are a few of our favorite national park wedding venues, we can’t wait to help you plan your wedding or elopement, wherever you want to explore! Click the link below and let’s start planning your greatest adventure yet.

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Between the Pine is an adventure elopement and wedding photography brand created by Mollie Adams. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Mollie travels with her camera in hand to document “I do’s” in epic landscapes including Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.