30+ Best Places to Propose in Colorado in 2025

Finding the perfect location is one of the biggest components to pulling off an unforgettable proposal! Check out this post if you’re looking for an epic proposal location in Colorado!

Updated: November 29, 2024

My top 5 favorite proposal spots in Colorado

After photographing dozens of proposals across the state of Colorado, here are my top 5 favorite places to propose.

1. Flagstaff Mountain Trails
2. Echo Lake
3. Mount Falcon
4. Garden of the Gods
5. Officers Gulch

If you’re looking to propose in Colorado, you’ll definitely want to check these out, as well as the others on this list!

Where to propose in Denver

Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens can make a beautiful backdrop for your proposal. With 23 acres of gardens, you should definitely be able to find a quiet location to pop the question.

They also have a number of special events throughout the year, which can make for an easy excuse to get your significant other to go with you.

Wynkoop Bridge

If you’re looking for a city vibe for your proposal, the Wynkoop Bridge near downtown Denver is a great spot! There are several nearby restaurants so you can grab drinks and a bite to eat either before or afterwards!

Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park

The Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park is a classic Denver location and has beautiful views for your Denver proposal.

There are lots of trails at this park or you can find a totally accessible location to pop the big question!

Larimer Square

Similar to Wynkoop Bridge, Larimer Square has an urban vibe and is a great spot to propose due to all the nearby restaurants and shops.

Wynkoop Bridge and Larimer Square are actually only a few blocks apart in Downtown Denver, so you could choose one of these spots to propose and then get some additional photos in the other spot!

Mount Falcon

Mount Falcon is a park just outside of the Denver metro area that has great views of the foothills and lots of trails to hike. There are two sides to the park, the East side and the West side, which each have different types of views.

From the East side, you get views of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater, while the West side offers great mountain views like the one below!

Places to propose in Colorado Springs

Paint Mines

The Paint Mines near Colorado Springs is definitely one of the most unique places on this list. 

With unique rock formations in other worldly colors, this location will make for a very cool proposal story and photos!

If you visit this location, be sure to leave no trace by staying on trail and off of the very fragile formations. While they may seem solid, they are actually very delicate.

The Broadmoor Hotel

Although you have to be a guest of the hotel for this location, if you’re looking for a great proposal option where you can head straight to dinner after, consider the bridge over the lakes at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, followed by a romantic dinner at the one of their on-site restaurants.

Pikes Peak Recreation Area

In addition to the summit of Pikes Peak mentioned above, the Pikes Peak recreation area is larger and encompasses the area surround the road that you drive up to the top of Pikes Peak. It includes several lakes with views of Pikes Peak, forested areas, and more.

For these locations, you’ll want to be very mindful of the hours of operation and potential closures, weather related and otherwise.

Best places to propose in Boulder, CO

Lost Gulch overlook

Lost Gulch overlook has gorgeous mountain views accessible from right next to the parking lot which is off of Flagstaff road in Boulder, Colorado. 

This location has some of the best sunrises and sunsets. However, sunset at this location gets very crowded, so I definitely recommend visiting in the morning!

Red Rocks Trail 

Not to be confused with Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater near Denver, Red Rocks trail is a lesser known location in Boulder and requires a bit of a hike. But if you’re willing to hike, you can have some beautiful red rock formations as the backdrop for your proposal. 

Plus, this location is usually less crowded than many other areas in Boulder.

Flagstaff Mountain Trails

Some of my favorite locations in Boulder are the many trails from Flagstaff Mountain Road. There are lots of options to choose from, varying in length and difficulty.

These locations offer similar views as Lost Gulch lookout but are usually much less crowded since a bit of hiking is required. These trails do still get very busy on the weekends though so I highly recommend weekdays!

Chautauqua Park

Chautauqua Park has several trails and is a popular location due to its beautiful views of the Flatirons. This is another location that I recommend visiting at sunrise if possible due to the crowds.

Boulder Reservoir

If you’re looking for an accessible lake with some mountain backdrops, Boulder Reservoir is a great spot for your proposal! I typically recommend the trail along the north shore. 

Although you’ll definitely see other people in this location, there are usually lots of quieter spots you can find for your big moment.

Best places to propose in Breckenridge, CO

Boreas Pass

Located near Breckenridge, Boreas Pass can make for a great scenic drive to accompany your proposal. This location is especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing; however, it does get much more crowded during this time.

Officers Gulch

Officers Gulch is a fairly accessible lake between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain as only a very short, flat hike is needed to get to this location. Keep in mind though, that this spot is not accessible during the winter months.

Blue Lakes

If you’re looking for a short hike to go with your proposal, definitely look into Blue Lakes near Breckenridge. This trail is only a mile albeit with some elevation gain, but there is a big payoff with alpine lake and mountain views!

It’s important to note that the road to this location closes in the winter, making the hike to this location much, much longer. Even in the summer months this road requires high clearance and 4WD/AWD is recommended. I definitely recommend doing your homework on this location or hiring a professional to help!

Best Winter proposal locations in Colorado

Echo Lake

Echo Lake is one of my favorite locations for a proposal during the winter time, because of the beautiful mountain backdrop and how much less crowded it is in the winter. It tends to get very crowded in the summer though! Also, be aware of the winter driving conditions you will likely encounter on the way to this location during the winter months!

Sapphire Point

Sapphire Point is located in Dillon but is not a very far drive from Breckenridge, Colorado.

The Sapphire Point overlook is just a short walk from the parking lot. There are beautiful views of Lake Dillon with mountains in the background and in the winter time, it’s just as magical!

One thing to note about this location is that it can be rented for weddings and it usually is on a daily basis. If you try to go here for a proposal, you may find a ceremony or other photo session already in progress. It’s not fun to compete for limited space, so just keep that in mind with this location.

Lake Dillon

In addition to Sapphire Point, there are several other great spots along Lake Dillon that can make for great areas to propose. I especially love this area in the winter months when the lake is frozen over.

As mentioned above, Sapphire Point is a small location and gets rented frequently for wedding ceremonies. Lake Dillon on the other hand has plenty of room along the shoreline so you won’t have to worry about fighting for a spot or waiting your turn when you’re popping the question.

Berthoud Pass near Winter Park, Colorado

Berthoud Pass is the mountain pass on the way from Denver to Winter Park, Colorado. There are some great mountain views from near the parking lot area. This area sees lots of snow in the winter, so if you’re looking for a snowy winter location, this is a great option!

Be aware that this location can have weather closures, but on the other hand there are CDOT traffic cameras that can help you know the exact weather conditions at any given time. If you’re proposing in the winter months and the weather is iffy that day, this can help you figure out whether you can make the drive up safely or not.

Horsetooth Reservoir

Horsetooth Reservoir is located in Fort Collins in northern Colorado. It sees a lot less snow than the other three locations above this one on the list, which might make it a great choice for you. Snow tends to melt quicker here, but this also means conditions will be a lot harder to predict.

It’s also a great choice if you’re staying in Fort Collins, since many of these other locations are quite a drive from the northern part of the state.

Planning a winter proposal? Make sure to check out this post on winter proposals with can’t-miss tips and inspiration!

Other proposal ideas in the mountains

Maroon Bells

Located near Aspen, the Maroon Bells are considered to be the most photographed spot in the state of Colorado. The Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak tower over the valley below, which will give you a stunning backdrop for your proposal. 

It’s important to note that the road up to Maroon Bells is only open from mid May to mid October each year. Reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells, either by parking permit or shuttle. Parking permits at the site itself are limited and hard to get, so you need to plan in advance. Otherwise, there is a shuttle that you can take to get to this site, but you will want to get your reservation in advance for the shuttle also. You can find out more about visiting the Maroon Bells here.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited spots in Colorado. There are tons of options for your proposal, including Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Moraine Park, and many more!

From late May through October, you need a timed-entry reservation to visit the park, so make sure to do your research ahead of time for this as well. You can learn more here.

Mount Blue Sky

Besides Pikes Peak, Mount Blue Sky is the only other 14er in Colorado where you can drive up to the summit. The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in the United States. Although this location is very popular, it definitely offers incredible views.

You need reservations to visit and can make them at this page.

The road up to the summit of Mount Blue Sky typically opens sometime in June, although opening day varies from year to year based on conditions as a result of snow that year, whether there have been late snows, and how quickly things have warmed up in a given year. The road to the summit closes after Labor Day each year. You can find more information on the forest service website for this area.

2025 Update: The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is getting an upgrade and will be closed throughout 2025 for re-paving! The only access to the summit of Mount Blue Sky will be via hiking trail. The hike is considered difficult, so if you are considering this hike, please make sure you are prepared for what to expect.

Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass is another high mountain pass in Colorado with great views. Similar to Boreas Pass, Guanella Pass has beautiful fall foliage (however, it also gets busier at this time of year).

More ideas for where to propose in Colorado

Hanging Lake

A hike into Hanging Lake will make for a very unique and scenic proposal experience! This hike is a bit on the challenging side but well worth it.

Keep in mind that you do need a permit to visit this spot which requires making a reservation well in advance. Over the past few years, this location has been subject to somewhat frequent closures due to a wildfire that left the area subject to mudslides. You’ll definitely need to do your homework on this spot but it can be worth it!

Also, although this spot is beautiful, I typically don’t recommend it for photographed proposals, because the walking deck at the lake is narrow and doesn’t enough leave room for a photographer to step back and photograph your proposal, much less have anywhere to hide. Just something to keep in mind if you do choose this location!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Some people are surprised to learn that Colorado has sand dunes, but it does! Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the more unique locations in the state and will make for a very adventurous proposal location!

Hiking/Adventure Proposal

If you and your partner are adventurous, consider a hike or other type of adventure for your proposal! Your proposal doesn’t just have to be saying a view words and asking the big question. You can make it into an epic experience your partner will never forget.

Colorado has hundreds of trails with beautiful views to consider, or talk to a photographer who can help you find the perfect spot! As a proposal photographer, one of the things that I help clients with is location research and planning!

Airbnb or VRBO

Other fun idea to consider for your proposal would be to rent an Airbnb or VRBO with epic views. There are plenty of properties with great views throughout Colorado. 

This can be a great idea for a private proposal. Or you might consider this as an alternative to proposing at home, since it is a more simple option but it will still feel special.

So…what’s next?

Find out here about how I’m more than just a photographer. Helping you create an epic proposal experience is what I do best!

Or check out some of my other proposal planning resources…