A Quick Guide to Colorado’s Best Photoshoot Locations

Looking for the perfect location for your photo session in Colorado?

There are so many stunning and unique locations in Colorado you could go to for your upcoming photoshoot! From downtown urban settings to sweeping mountain views with alpine lakes, I’ll share my top favs to start your search.

Let’s start with…

Mountain Locations:

Colorado is definitely known for it’s mountainous regions; from hiking & white water rafting in the summer to skiing & snowboarding famous resorts in the winter, there are tons of amazing spots here in our portion of the Rocky Mountains.

Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, CO

Starting off with a fairly broad area since Rocky Mountain National Park covers 265,461 acres. There’s hikes & locations to fit every level of mountain-landscape enthusiast. From easy walks around lakes with the parking-lot in view, to day-trip hikes, to longer back-country back-packing trails.

Season: You can access the park year-round, however, some roads close in the winter when the snowfall gets crazy. (We see the most snowfall in RMNP from Dec.-Mar.)

Fees: Daily park fee is $35 per vehicle. If you’re a local, it’s definitely worth getting an annual pass for $70. There are no photography permits at the moment, however, if you plan to elope or hold your micro-wedding ceremony here, there is an application & permit process. See the RMNP website for all the details: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

My Favorite spots in the Park:

-Lily Lake

-Hidden Valley

-Dream Lake (photo below!)

Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, CO

Probably the most popular mountain in Boulder, Flagstaff Mountain has tons of little pull-offs & overlooks, rocks for bouldering, and little hikes. If you keep taking the road up the mountain, you’ll eventually reach Gross Resevoir in Nederland, but we’ll stick with spots on the mountain for now.

Season: Year-round access, however, in the winter, it can get icy in spots. They may close some roads due to snow. The best months to visit I’d recommend May-October.

Fees: There are only parking fees for vehicles not registered in Boulder County. ($5-$10 to park).

My Favorite spots on the mountain:

-Lost Gultch Lookout (SUPER easy walk from the parking lot)

-Realization Point

-Artist’s Point

-Sunrise Amphitheater (yes, you can get married here!)

Lost Gultch Lookout during January

Breckenridge, CO

Breckenridge is gorgeous all year round! From deep snow, ski resorts, and twinkling lights in the winter, to beautiful greens & snowcapped mountains in the spring, to stunning fall foliage with all the golden & orange aspens in the fall…there really is no wrong time of year to go to Breckenridge. (Unless there’s a ton of snow and they close I-70…just check the conditions!) The downtown area is super cute and has lots of fun shops and date spots to pop into. There’s lots of hiking trails and quite a few go past old mining sites which are quite interesting, especially for the history buffs out there.

Season: May-December is my pick if you want to avoid a ton of snow. Otherwise, January-March is peak ski season!

Fees: There may be parking fees, especially if you park closer to resorts. Double-check any hiking trails you visit to see if there is a park fee. Personally, I haven’t come across any yet.

Blue Lakes Trail (the lower lake)

Crested Butte, CO

You’ll need to gear-up for a little bit of a road-trip to hit this gorgeous spot in the mountains, but it is SO worth it! (Especially if you go during peak wildflower season around Mid-July.) Nestled deep in the mountains, Crested Butte used to be a coal mining town, but is now a hot-spot for skiiing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities.

Season: June-October is best, but peak wildflower season is usually July 12th-August 5th (ish). They host a huge wildflower festival every year, so you can keep an eye out for those dates on the town website!

Fees: Minimal parking fees, if any. Otherwise, I would highly suggest staying at a hotel since it’s a 4 hour drive one way from Denver.

Sunrise session at a lupine field just outside the main town.

The Foothills

Chautauqua Park, Boulder, CO

One of the most iconic spots in all of Boulder, Chautauqua Park boasts stunning views of the flatirons making it a really popular photo spot & tourist stop. There are TONS of trails within the park (you can even hike all the way up and behind some of the flatirons). Dog friendly (as long as the dogs are on a leash).

Season: May-October is the best time. You’d need spikes/crampons in the winter if you want to hike. Otherwise, the park is beautiful with snow dusting the mountains!

Fees: There is a parking fee if you want to park close to the trailheads. Otherwise, there is street parking down neighborhood streets that are free. The lots fill up FAST, so go early, or be prepared to walk a few minutes to the trailheads.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO

I read somewhere that Red Rocks was named the #1 outdoor concert venue in the U.S. No wonder, cause it’s gorgeous and so unique! If you go in the mornings, especially on the weekends, you’ll typically see people running the steps and running workout classes in the seating area. There are some hiking trails around that are very family friendly.

Local tip: don’t wear white shoes. The dirt is all red rock (if the name didn’t give it away) and will definitely stain any white shoes/pants.

Season: April-October is the best time. There is not a lot of shade, so bring sunscreen and also be prepared during monsoon season (May 20th-July 10th ish). Rain & even hail will come fast in the afternoons/early evenings.

Fees: No park or parking fees if you’re just going to hike & explore.

South Valley Park

Another red rock park a little south of the amphitheater I talked about above. This one just has trails for hiking and the rocks are cool, for sure, but definitely smaller. I always recommend this spot during the weird “post-snow, pre-green” season we experience in Colorado from late March through April. This area does get very green in Colorado’s spring (May-June) and even boasts some wildflowers in July! Not as many as deep in the mountains, but makes for a really pretty hike! Trails are super easy, so you can bring family along!

Season: Year round, just be prepared for the weather for each season!

Fees: No park or parking fees!

Garden of the Gods in CO Springs

Yet another red rock park (I should have named this section “Red Rock Parks” instead of Foothills), but the amount of red rock in the Colorado foothills really is something! This is a VERY popular park to walk around. Most of the paths are paved or very well marked with railings & fences.

Season: Year-round, however, summer is definitely the busiest season! Hardly any shade coverage so bring sunscreen & lots of water if you go during the summer months.

Fees: Free & open to the public year round! Parking is free, just a little tough to find spots during busy season.

Downtown/Urban Locations

Union Station, Denver

One of the most iconic locations in Downtown Denver, Union station is both a train & bus station making it the central hub for transportation in the city. It hosts a variety of eateries and the Crawford Hotel. The architecture is stunning, making it a popular spot for those classic, old-timey feeling photos.

As of April 2024, it is undergoing construction to refresh some of its interior design, including the Crawford hotel & main hall. They plan to unveil the renovations July 12th 2024.

Season: Literally, any time of year.

Fees: You’ll most likely have to pay to park somewhere along the street with a meter, or in a parking garage. (I recommend Music Garage…it’s $10 full day and just a block away from Union station!)

Other Downtown Cities

As fantastic as Denver is, sometimes the big metro city can be super busy and take a little more energy. Here are a few other downtown areas I’ve really enjoyed that would give the same vibe without it being Downtown Denver.

-Longmont

-Fort Collins

-Littleton

Many of these have really cute main street areas with small, local businesses and boutiques. I definitely recommend getting dinner or something to eat after your session at one of the local restaurants. Such a great idea to extend your “date-night” together. Fees may vary depending on parking policies in each city.

Some Really Unique Extras

Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Callhan, CO

This park feels other worldly: the rock formations are all white with streaks of pink and orange as you hike deeper into the park. They were formed over thousands of years of wind and erosion, and the Native Americans used to mine the colorful clay for their pottery. (No wonder…the colors are beautiful!)

The park is incredibly special so there are a few rules you need to follow when going: stay on the trails, no dogs, and no climbing the fragile formations are the most important ones. Be sure to check out the park’s website for all the information.

Season: March-October, although it looks similar year-round. It is 1 hour away from CO Springs out in the open plains, so it can get windy.

Fees: No parking fees. You do need a permit in order to photograph inside the Paint Mines.

Denver Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are stunning! They have a wide collection of gardens and collections over 24 acres with plants from all over the world. They always have events and art galleries going on. Around the holidays, they deck out all the gardens with tons of Christmas lights for their “Blossoms of Light” attraction. There is a Chattfield Farms location, but I recommend the York Street location for sure.

Season: The gardens are open year-round, however, if you want outdoor nature photos, May-October is best. There is a tropical greenhouse that is gorgeous you can walk around as well and that’s open year-round.

Fees: $15.75 per adult for General Admission. If you want photos anywhere in the gardens, a photography permit must be purchased 1-4 weeks in advance for $100.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

A little bit of a drive but SO stunning, the Great Sand Dunes are towering hills of sand in the middle of the San Luis Valley. It’s about a 3-4 hour drive from Denver so definitely a more involved day-trip, or a great excuse to make a little weekend trip out of your travel time! Lots of tourists will bring plastic sleds to sled down the sand hills. I definitely recommend bringing sandals or just abandoning your shoes altogether and walking barefoot in the sand (it’s easier that way). Just around the parking lot & creek do you need to worry about sticks or anything poking your foot.

Season: Mostly year-round. May be more difficult to travel too during the winter months depending on snowfall. Popular months are May-September.

There is a creek that runs at the front of the park that will be fuller around April/May as snow starts to melt. The park updates the creek’s forecast monthly on their park’s page at www.nps.org.

Fees: Standard entrance fees for all personal vehicles is $25.

With so many stunning and diverse locations to choose from, Colorado offers endless opportunities for unforgettable photoshoots. Alpine lakes, forested trails, red rock deserts, historical downtown areas, eclectic urban settings, and seasonal specialties are dotted all over the state. This list is just the start! Hopefully you were able to find spots that resonated with you to make your location search a little easier.

If you ever need specific location suggestions, just ask! I always make sure your sessions are tailored to you & your story and can find areas closer to your home if needed, or I’m always down for a little road-trip to get those golden aspen leaves or summer-time wildflower blooms!