Maroon Bells AMPHITHEATER · Aspen, COLORADO · ELOPEMENT GUIDE
Colorado's Most
Iconic Backdrop
There's a reason people call Maroon Bells the most photographed mountains in Colorado. The twin peaks of Maroon and North Maroon rise dramatically above Maroon Lake, their brick-red faces reflected in still water framed by aspen groves and wildflower meadows. Your jaw will drop as soon as you see it.
The Maroon Bells Amphitheater is a small, dedicated ceremony space set just off the main trail, completely private from the crowds on the lakeshore, with a direct view straight up to the Bells. When you reserve it, you get five car passes that let you drive in during the hours the road is otherwise closed to the public. It genuinely feels like the whole mountain was reserved just for you.
There's a reason people call Maroon Bells the most photographed mountains in Colorado. The twin peaks of Maroon and North Maroon rise dramatically above Maroon Lake, their brick-red faces reflected in still water framed by aspen groves and wildflower meadows. Your jaw will drop as soon as you see it.
The Maroon Bells Amphitheater is a small, dedicated ceremony space set just off the main trail, completely private from the crowds on the lakeshore, with a direct view straight up to the Bells. When you reserve it, you get five car passes that let you drive in during the hours the road is otherwise closed to the public. It genuinely feels like the whole mountain was reserved just for you.
Maroon Bells Amphitheater
elevation
9,585 ft
Length
Drive-up/short walk
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible
Permit Required
$200
Yes
Dogs welcomE
June - October
Best Season
at a Glance
What I love about Maroon Bells Amphitheater
There are spots in Colorado that stop you in your tracks, Maroon Bells is one of them. Two 14ers rising straight out of an alpine lake, their brick-red faces reflected in water so still it looks like glass. It is genuinely one of the most beautiful places I have ever photographed.
The Amphitheater is a dedicated ceremony space set just off the main trail, tucked away from the crowds at the lakeshore. When you reserve it, you get five car passes so you can drive in past the gate while the road is closed to everyone else. It honestly feels like you have the whole mountain to yourselves.
overview
Best months to elope at Maroon Bells Amphitheater
a quick Peek at the seasons
June & Early October
June opens up the amphitheater after the winter closure and you might catch lingering snow on the peaks with green in the valley, which is a beautiful combination. Early October is the tail end of fall color. Just note that June and early October can bring unpredictable weather.
July & August
The Bells are at their most accessible and the lakeshore is stunning. Just know that summer weekdays book up fast and the competition for your date is real. Have a small army on Recreation.gov when reservations open.
November – May
The road to Maroon Bells closes in late October due to snow and the amphitheater reservations are unavailable until June.
Oct
Good
Nov
Closed
Dec
Closed
SEp
Peak
Apr
Closed
May
Closed
Jun
Good
Aug
Peak
Jul
Peak
mar
Closed
Feb
Closed
Jan
Closed
September
The aspen groves surrounding the lake go a blazing gold in late September, and the contrast against those red peaks is almost unreal. The amphitheater becomes unavailable on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in September, so plan for Monday through Thursday.
Permits &
How to Book
Maroon Bells is the most competitive reservations in Colorado: they allow only one wedding per day, and reservations open one year in advance on the exact date you want to elope. That means if you want July 23rd, you need to be on Recreation.gov at 8am Mountain time on July 23rd the year prior. Most couples have multiple people trying simultaneously to increase their chances.
The good news: the process itself is pretty simple. And as part of every Alpine Vows package, I walk you through exactly when and how to book, and help you have a backup plan in case your first-choice date doesn't come through.
Logistics
1
Pick up passes at the Welcome Station 5 days before your event. These let you drive in past the gate with no shuttle needed.
4
Receive your 5 vehicle passes
Reservations open exactly one year in advance. Be ready at 8am Mountain time. Have multiple people trying at once.
3
Book on your date, one year out
Use the exact name. Scroll through available dates to find yours. Only one booking per day is allowed.
2
Search "Maroon Bells Amphitheater"
Create a free account if you don't have one yet. You'll need it to complete the booking.
Go to Recreation.gov
Parking & Access
Getting There
Maroon Creek Road is closed to general traffic from 8am to 5pm daily. Your reservation includes five vehicle passes, which let you drive directly to the day-use parking area 200 yards from the amphitheater with no shuttle, no crowds.
One of those five passes goes to me as your photographer. That gives you four for guests and getting ready vehicles. Guests who can't fit in your vehicle passes can take the shuttle from Aspen (dogs ride free on the shuttle!) or purchase day-use vehicle passes.
Handicapped vehicles and cars with children under 2 in a car seat are exempt from road restrictions. Parking is available at the day-use lot. No vehicles in the bus loop for any reason.
Rules to Know
✓ Up to 50 guests (including your photographer and/or videographer)
✓ Dogs welcome, on leash at all times
✓ Wheelchair accessible site
✓ Free-standing, natural decorations allowed
✓ Acoustic music only, no amplification
X No arches or large structures
X No thrown items: confetti, flower petals, rice
X No PA systems or amplified sound
X No lights hung from trees
X No collecting anything from the surrounding area
X No floating lanterns or fireworks
X Stay out of all roped-off areas
How many people can you bring?
Guest Count
The Maroon Bells Amphitheater seats up to 50 people and is one of the more generous ceremony spots in the Colorado mountains. The stone seating built into the hillside means even a larger group feels contained and intentional rather than scattered. Your photographer counts toward the guest total, so plan accordingly.
15 to 49
Small wedding
This is where the amphitheater really earns its reputation. The stone risers fill out naturally, the venue feels appropriately weighty for a real wedding ceremony, and the backdrop does the decorating for you. Plan your shuttle situation early at this size.
2 to 15
Intimate ceremony
The sweet spot for most Maroon Bells elopements. Small enough that parking is easy with your five included passes, intimate enough that everyone is close for the ceremony, and the amphitheater still feels spacious around you.
50
The hard cap
50 people is the absolute ceiling at the amphitheater. At this size you will need to arrange shuttle transportation for guests beyond your five vehicle passes. The Aspen shuttle runs from town and dogs are welcome on board. Plan logistics early.
2
Just the two of you
An elopement here with no guests is beautiful. The amphitheater seating behind you gives photos a real sense of place and scale, and you have the whole space to yourselves.
"Maroon Bells is the spot I get the most excited about when a couple books it. Every single time I drive up with my car pass and the road is empty, it still gets me. The combination of those two peaks, the lake reflection, the private ceremony space. There is honestly nothing else like it in Colorado. If you can snag the date you want, it is literally the most perfect place."
Bailee, Alpine Vows,
Colorado Elopement Photographer
A note from Bailee
Other spots worth exploring
Also Near Aspen
Not sure the Maroon Bells Amphitheater is the right fit? Here are the other ceremony spots near Aspen, each with their own full guide.
Brainard Lake
Wildflowers, mountain views, accessibility
Lake Isabelle
Wildflowers, meadows, dramatic glacial peaks
Mitchell Lake
Shortest hike, quietest of the lakes, peaceful
Chautauqua Park
Flatirons backdrop, easy access, iconic Boulder views
"Her attention to detail, creative eye, and ability to capture genuine emotion went far beyond what we could have imagined. Every photo tells a story, and we are so grateful to relive those moments through her work. We’d hire Bailee again in a heartbeat and can’t recommend her enough!"
- Danae & John
Kind words
What Couples Are Saying
"Bailee was not just our elopement photographer, she was there every step of the way and thoughtfully guided us through the whole process from start to finish. She always made herself available to answer our questions, and she made planning feel easy and organized, putting us at ease."
- Julie & Brandon
"She was by our side every step of the way, offering not only expert photography advice but also helping us with every decision throughout the planning process. We honestly can’t imagine how our elopement would have turned out without her!"
- Shelby & Ben
