How to Elope in Moab
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend escape, within a few hours of major airports, with an endless amount of activities and locations to choose from, then Moab is a one stop shop for a desert elopement.
Moab truly has something for everyone:
Hiking
Backpacking
BASE Jumping
Off roading
Rafting
Paddle boarding/kayaking/canoeing
Skydiving
Climbing
Am I forgetting anything? Probably, because you could spend your whole life in Moab and still never see everything. Or be like me and live an hour away and still find new places to explore every time you visit.
How do I elope in Moab and Leave No Trace?
We can’t talk about eloping in Moab without talking about the impact it will have on the environment - whether eloping or just visiting.
Moab is known for its vast open desert scapes, the lush sage and rabbit brush, the prickly pear cactuses that bloom all summer long, the warm washes that cascade down from the nearby La Sal mountains.
And the thing that is holding the entire ecosystem and environment together is something called cryptobiotic soil. The cryptobiotic soil is a crust (you might be familiar with the National Park Services tag line lingo “Don’t Bust The Crust”), and is made up of communities of living organisms!
Super cool! This means we’ll stay on well established trails, in washes, or on game trails and sandstone when in the backcountry, to ensure that the environment looks exactly the same as we left it! How sad would it be to bring your children, grand children, family or friends to your elopement site 10 years from now, only for it to be completely wrecked because of people stepping off the trail onto the soil.
And speaking of backcountry, there aren’t vault toilets on every corner in Moab which means we’ll need to be prepared to pack out trash AND waste. For some more insight into my favorite ways to pack out waste, check out my blog post on my 10 Must-Have Items for camping.
There are a million other ways we’ll make sure we are prepared to take care of the environment when we are out, as well as be prepared for weather, breakdowns, all the worst case scenarios that we could very realistically run into when visiting this harsh (but stunning!) environment.
How do you get to Moab?
Moab is situated in eastern Utah, about 3 1/2 hours south of Salt Lake City. It’s also about 5 1/2 hours from Denver, during which you just travel on I-70 the majority of the way.
The closest airport to Moab is going to be the Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY). CNY does have Skyview (United) flights that flies commuter jets between CNY and Denver (DIA).
The second largest airport outside of Moab is going to be Grand Junction, GJT. There are shuttles like the Moab Express that runs a shuttle between GJT and Moab.
Then the largest airport outside of Moab is going to be Salt Lake City (SLC) which I recommend flying into. The drive from the airport to Moab doesn’t take you through the rocky mountains so you don’t have to worry about inclement weather and I-70 traffic, plus it’s about two hours closer, making the drive about 3 1/2 hours.
You can however also fly into Denver, (DIA). The drive from Denver to Moab is one of the most scenic drives I’ve ever done (soooo many times haha), but because of snow and traffic from the front range, it can take longer depending on weekend/weekday and time of year. The drive from Denver to Moab takes about 5 1/2 to 6 hours.
What are the best times of year to elope in Moab?
I’m probably going to be the only person to say this, but honestly anytime of year is a good time to get married in Moab. Let’s go over the pros and cons of each season.
Winter in Moab: off season in Moab, so less crowds if you’re looking for more privacy. However it’s usually colder, and no promise of snow since it doesn’t snow too often out here. However, when it does snow and you get a blanket of white over the red sandstone, it is gorgeous. The desert in the winter is a different kind of cold, and days can be in the 20’s or 30’s with some serious wind.
Spring in Moab: mud season, crowds begin to pick up. Trails are usually muddy because of melting snow and ice, making some places impassable, especially 4x4 roads like Top of the World and Shafer Trail. Because it isn’t peak summer yet and temps float between 50's and 70’s, spring is still a popular time. There are also a lot of events that happen in the Spring, like Jeep Safari that occurs Easter weekend.
Summer in Moab: hot hot hot. Temps usually in the 100’s from June to September. This is a great time of year if you want to raft or float the river, although that is also the most popular thing to do this time of year. There are however other trails you can find to help cool off in, or head into the La Sals and explore one of the many lakes or forests in the mountains.
Fall in Moab: temps begin to drop and crowds begin to disperse since most seek peak foliage in other places like Colorado. Fall is personally one of my favorite times to visit Moab. The days are typically pretty warm still, with temps dropping in the evening and night.
How do get a Utah marriage license?
Marriage licenses can be picked up from the Grand County (Moab) county clerk offices. Both applicants must appear and pay a fee of $40. A current picture ID with proof of age is required for both parties, and you must also know the date of the ceremony as well as your officiants name. For more up to date information, check out the Grand County Clerk website!
Where can you elope in Moab?
There are tons of locations in Moab where you can elope. Some may require permits, either wedding permits for you as a couple, or commercial permits for your vendors. Some of my favorite locations in Moab to elope:
Castle Valley
Arches National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands National Park
Moab BLM land
Top of the World
Shafer Trail
White Rim Trail
Onion Creek
Fisher Towers
How do I know if my location needs a permit?
If you’re getting married or eloping in Moab and you aren’t on private property, you most likely need a permit. Even BLM land in Moab requires a permit (we’ll go more into this later), so unfortunately you can’t pick a spot on a map and pull over on the side of the road to say your vows, and a little bit more planning has to go into the day.
How do I elope on BLM land in Moab?
Hiring local vendors is always awesome, but to elope in Moab it is almost required to either source your vendors locally, or to find someone who at least works in the area part of the year. Because of how popular Moab is, the BLM office only distributes permits twice a year, once in December and again around June, making out of town vendors have to reach out for permits at least 6 months in advance.
All of your vendors will need a permit from the BLM office. This includes your photographer, videographer, florist, planner, etc.
How do I elope in Arches National Park?
Arches National Park is one of the most popular National Parks in Utah, and I would be willing to bet the most visited. Arches National Park does require a permit to get married in the park, and also has pre-designated sites with group limitations. These are:
La Sal Mountains Viewpoint (50 people limit)
The Windows Section (25 people limit)
Sand Dune Arch (25 people limit)
Delicate Arch (10 people limit)
Delicate Arch Viewpoint (25 people limit)
Pine Tree Arch (25 people limit)
Landscape Arch (10 people limit)
Park Avenue (25 people limit)
Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater (80 people limit)
Panorama Point (50 people limit)
Once you say your vows, you can however venture to other spots in the park to take photos with just the two of you!
The permit fee to get married in Arches National Park is $185 as of 2021, as well as the standard entrance fee. They recommend requesting your permit at least 10 days in advanced but I would recommend at least 30 days in advance, just to be safe!
How do I elope in Canyonlands National Park?
Canyonlands is a lot like Arches National Park, since they are both managed by the National Park Service. Canyonlands limits their wedding sites to:
Grand View Point
Green River Overlook
Mesa Arch
All of which have a 25 person group limit.
The permit fee for Canyonlands is $185, as well as the standard vehicle entrance fee. They recommend at least 10 days to process your permit.
How do I elope at Dead Horse Point State Park?
Dead Horse Point State Park is one of my favorite locations for elopements! The view is stunning no matter where you are, and because the park is located on a Mesa, you can really get away from the crowds that gather in certain spots.
The permit fee for Dead Horse Point State Park depends on your group size:
Up to 40 people: $60
41-80 people: $80
81 + people: $100
On top of the permit, you will also be required to pay the standard entrance fee of $20 per vehicle, or $4 per person if on a bus.
A recent rule that changed is that you are now allowed to have real flowers at Dead Horse Point State Park, but they strongly discourage invasive plant species that are not native to the area, like pampas grass.
Another thing I love about Dead Horse Point State Park is that depending on the time of the year, your videographer or photographer can also get a permit for a drone and get some amazing drone photos and video (November to February).
How do I elope at a venue in Moab?
There are some incredible venues in Moab that wouldn’t require you to obtain a permit like other places, as long as you stay on site. Some of my favorite venues around Moab includes:
Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa
Under Canvas Moab
The Red Earth Venue
Whispering Oaks Ranch
What are some Moab elopement timeline examples?
Moab Canyon Winter Elopement Timeline
8:00 am: Breakfast with family at Moab Diner
9:15 am: Head to hotel
9:30 am: Begin getting ready together or separately
11:00 am: Couple dresses
11:30 am: First look at Airbnb
12:15 pm: Leave for Arches National Park
1:00 pm: Arrive at Arches National Park
1:30 pm: Explore, pick ceremony spot
2:00 pm: Ceremony
2:30 pm: Family/friends group photos
3:00 pm: Small picnic, champagne toast
3:30 pm: Sunset romantics with couple
4:30 pm: Sunset
5:00 pm: End sunset romantics, leave for Airbnb
5:45 pm: Arrive at Airbnb
6:00 pm: Candids, first dance
6:30 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm: Cake cutting
Moab Arches and Canyonlands Summer Elopement Timeline
Photographer and couple camp together the night before
4:45 am: Wake up, get ready
5:15 am: Leave camp, head to Arches NP
5:45 am: Sunrise romantics in wedding attire at Windows section of Arches National Park
7:00 am: Head back to camp
7:30 am: Breakfast at campsite
8:00 am: Nap, relax around camp
10:00 am: Climb around Wall Street
11:00 am: Head back to camp, begin getting ready
12:00 pm: Couple gets dressed
12:15 pm: Leave for ceremony in Canyonlands
1:00 pm: Ceremony at Canyonlands NP
1:30 pm: Group photos with family and friends
2:00 pm: Small picnic, champagne toast
2:30 pm: Head out in side by sides to explore the backroads of Moab with friends and family
5:00 pm: Arrive at pre-planned reception site
5:30 pm: Dinner reception/private chef tasting
6:30 pm: Cake cutting, first dance, toasts
7:30 pm: Begin couples sunset photos
8:45 pm: Sunset
9:00 pm: Couples photos end
10:00 pm: Star photos with couple
10:15 pm: Photographer leaves
Moab Spring/Fall Elopement Timeline
6:00 am: Photographer meets couple at trailhead
6:15 am: Couple photos biking, hiking, climbing
7:15 am: Head into town for breakfast
8:00 am: Meet family for breakfast at Love Muffin
9:30 am: Head back to Airbnb to relax, or head out to hike/climb/bike
12:00 pm: Start getting ready
1:00 pm: Couple dresses
1:30 pm: First look at Airbnb
2:15 pm: Leave for Moab BLM land
3:00 pm: Arrive at BLM land/ceremony site
3:30 pm: Explore, pick ceremony spot
4:00 pm: Ceremony
4:30 pm: Family/friends group photos
5:00 pm: Small picnic, champagne toast
5:30 pm: Sunset romantics with couple
6:30 pm: Sunset
7:00 pm: End sunset romantics, leave for Airbnb
7:45 pm: Arrive at Airbnb
8:00 pm: Candids, first dance
8:30 pm: Dinner
9:30 pm: Cake cutting
What are some good hikes around Moab?
Ahhh! So many! Okay, here is a list of some of my favorites.
Fisher Tower
Onion Creek
Castleton Tower
Moab Rim
Grandstaff Trail
Corona Arch
Park Avenue
Devil’s Garden (Partition Arch as a sunrise hike is hands down one of my favorite hikes in the world)
Mary Jane Canyon
Kane Creek
Where are some good campgrounds?
There is an endless supply of good campgrounds around Moab. There are campgrounds along the Colorado river that give you quick access to cool off, just beware that those sites will typically be more buggy. Some of my favorite campgrounds are:
Devil’s Garden in Arches NP
Willow Flat in Canyonlands NP
Williams Bottom
Sand Flats Recreation Area
Horsethief
Salt Valley
Dead Horse Point Yurts
Under Canvas Moab
There is also tons of camping on the BLM land around Moab, just be sure you’re up to date on current Leave No Trace practices!
If you want to camp before you elope, but need a place to get ready to do your hair and makeup, the Lions Park in town has restrooms with mirrors! There are also RV parks and campgrounds around town that let you shower for around $5-$8.
Where should we eat?
Mmm Moab has no shortage of good food. Some of my favorites:
Moab Coffee Roasters at 90 N Main for coffee or a quick pastry
Jailhouse Cafe at 101 N Main for unique takes on classic breakfast dishes
Love Muffin Cafe at 139 N Main for breakfast or lunch
Moab Diner at 189 S Main for diner food and the best banana splits
Milts Stop and Eat at 356 Millcreek for the best burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes
Moab Brewery at 686 S Main for the picky eaters, they have something for everyone and locally brewed beer
Sunset Grill at 900 N Main if you’re up for the luxury bougie experience of dining with the best view, you’ll see what I mean
Zax at 96 S Main if you’re starving and up for a pizza buffet (honestly Zax is not that good IMO haha but some people love it so thought it was worth mentioning!)
