Lost Gulch Overlook Elopement Guide

If you’ve stumbled upon this little corner of the internet you’re probably considering a Lost Gulch Overlook elopement, having a big wedding in Boulder and looking for an epic portrait location for your first look / just married portraits, or are considering other Boulder Elopement Locations too but have this gorgeous lookout on your list of possible options. If you’re finding this because you’re considering engagement photos, anniversary photos, or another kind of portrait session here stick around, because this Lost Gulch Overlook guide has everything you need to know to make the magic happen at this gorgeous spot and a whole lot of photo goodness to go along with it!

This isn’t going to be like one of those recipe blogs where I tell you my entire life story before I get into the details of what you’re all here for: “the ingredients and directions” so to speak, but I am going to give a teeny tiny bit of background (because it matters) and promise to keep it brief. I have called the Boulder area my home since I was 5 years old and have been spending time on Flagstaff Mountain since I was old enough to tie my own shoes. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been coming to this beautiful little piece of the mountain since I was younger than my own kiddo is now, and it feels extra special that I’ve gotten to bring him up there and show him how epic my “office” can be. There are several gorgeous hiking trails, picnic areas and even a reservable amphitheater on flagstaff mountain, but there is something extra magical about Lost Gulch lookout. This overlook requires minimal hiking, has unobstructed views of the continental divide and the Rocky Mountains, is insanely gorgeous at both sunrise and sunset and the fact that it has virtually no hike in makes it a no-brainer to show to people that visit from out of town and want to see some epic views without dealing with any strenuous hiking at altitude. It feels pretty magical that a place I’ve been visiting since I was a kiddo is now my office several times per year. I have personally photographed more than 20 elopements at Lost Gulch overlook and can’t even count the number of times I’ve taken clients there for first look portraits, post-ceremony portraits, engagement photos and more! The TLDR version? Lost Gulch is awesome whether you’re going there for photos or just to experience an awesome piece of Colorado.

Here are the top 3 important need-to-knows, and the things I’ll cover in this post, when you’re considering incorporating Lost Gulch into your wedding or elopement experience:

1. The Logistics of Lost Gulch Overlook
2. The best time of day for a Lost Gulch elopement ceremony or portraits?
3. Locations near Lost Gulch for an elopement

The Logistics of Lost Gulch Overlook

The somewhat ‘boring’ but necessary need to knows when considering Lost Gulch overlook for your elopement or as a photo location.

Driving Directions and Parking

Lost Gulch Overlook is located 4.4 miles up a windy, but paved road from the base of Flagstaff Mountain at 4300 Flagstaff Rd. Boulder, CO. You can also get to it by using this dropped pin on Google Maps. There are 24 parking spaces in the small dirt lot at the trailhead for Lost Gulch lookout. If your license plates are registered in Boulder County or you’re a photographer that carries the commercial use permit you are not required to pay the parking fee. Otherwise, there is a $5 parking fee that can be paid on-site, with cash or check, using their envelope system and putting the yellow parking pass in your windshield, or you can purchase an annual parking pass for all Boulder OSMP locations on their website. If the roads are clear the drive from the base of the mountain typically takes 15 minutes, but if you like to take things slow on windy roads (or get stuck behind someone else that does) it’s best to plan for 30 minutes from the base of the mountain to this location. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll arrive 15 minutes early and have more time to enjoy the epic scenery!

Ceremony Fees, Rules and Photography Permits

Elopement ceremonies are allowed at Lost Gulch Overlook and do not require an additional fee or reservation from the couple. However, your photographer must carry the commercial photography permit for Boulder OSMP in order for you to have your ceremony here. The most common rules of this photography permit that will affect your elopement ceremony or photos are:
– No group sizes larger than 16 including vendors (such as your photographer or officiant)
Due to this location having limited room and being very popular for hikers, tourists and college students I typically don’t recommend it to any couples inviting guests to their ceremony.
– You do not have exclusive use of the parking area, overlook, lookout or any part of the trail
If you value privacy and intimacy during your ceremony this might not be the spot for you.
– No markers, signs, structures of any kind (this includes chairs, arches, floral decor, rugs, etc)
– No amplified audio / speakers / generators
– Drone use is strictly prohibited, even if you are licensed or FAA certified
– As of 2021 alcohol is strictly prohibited unless you have reserved a ceremony site and paid an additional alcohol permit fee, which excludes Lost Gulch completely
This means no more champagne popping allowed at Lost Gulch, sorry friends!
– Dogs are allowed!
This is obviously the *most* important rule of all ;). Keep in mind they must stay on a leash or in your arms at all times.
Thankfully this photography permit is easy to obtain as long as your photographer can provide a certificate of insurance to Boulder OSMP. It typically takes less than a week from the date they apply! If your photographer says they don’t need a permit, they are incorrect. Even if your photographer is a friend, or you’re being photographed without exchanging money, if your photographer plans on using your images on their website or social channels, which promotes their business (commercial use) this permit is required. Getting a ticket or a fine on your special day is quite possibly the worst wedding day gift, so make sure they have this. You can always view the most up to date rules on the Boulder OSMP website!

The best time of day for a Lost Gulch elopement ceremony or portraits

Sorry to kick this post off with a total snooze fest slew of logistics, rules and regulations, but if you’re still here that means you’re seriously serious about having photos taken at this spot (and I don’t blame you one bit), so let’s dive into something a bit more exciting – what time of day should you make it happen?

Sunrise Elopement Photos at Lost Gulch Overlook

The biggest perk of choosing sunrise for your Lost Gulch elopement ceremony or portraits before the ceremony is privacy. Since there is no exclusive use at this location there is never any guarantee that you’ll have the place to yourself, but I’ve found that it is much less likely to run into other eloping couples, photo sessions or sight seeers if you choose to have photos taken here at sunrise vs. sunset. Sure, it requires an early start to the day, but the alpenglow that lights up the rocky mountains in the morning and watching the sun come up over the city of Boulder in the other direction will give you goosebumps! Here are a few sunrise elopements at Lost Gulch to get you excited!

If you’re loving the sunrise light at Lost Gulch, still want privacy for your photos there, are having a larger ceremony with guests but still want to visit this awesome portrait location consider having a first look during sunrise, or even doing a day-after adventure session at Lost Gulch instead of sharing your I do’s there.

Sunset Elopement Photos at Lost Gulch Overlook

Not having to wake up before the sun, golden hour and watching the sun dip right into the continental divide are all magical reasons why visiting Lost Gulch for an elopement ceremony at sunset seem really appealing. However, this also means it’s appealing to everyone else at the same time for all kinds of other reasons too. This means the likelihood of running into hikers, college students, other people having photos taken and even other couples getting married is high. I hate to be a crusher of dreams, but this is why I do not recommend having your elopement ceremony during sunset at Lost Gulch Overlook. 24 parking spaces fill up more quickly than you’d think and due to this location not being reservable or allowing exclusivity means that you could potentially show up and not have a place to park OR a place to exchange your vows. Every once in a while you may find a spot out on the rocks for an intimate ceremony with no guests, but during sunset you’ll almost always have uninvited guests present for it all – which can be a huge distraction and deter from the intimacy that is sought after when choosing an elopement experience for your special day. The nice thing about Boulder is that people are typically polite, so if sunrise isn’t an option for you or your preference is sunset light over sunrise light you can still choose to have a first look here before a sunset ceremony at another location on Flagstaff Mountain, or even visit this spot for engagement photos during sunset before your big day! If you’re set on going the sunset route consider a Monday-Thursday and be prepared to arrive early to find (or wait for) a parking spot. Here are a few examples of couple’s that incorporated Lost Gulch sunset portraits into their elopement experience without having their ceremony there.

Having onlookers during engagement photos, or even portraits in your wedding or casual attire after your day has passed is a great way to have photos taken at this spot without it feeling obtrusive like it would be for a ceremony!

If you aren’t convinced that sunset isn’t the way to go for your elopement ceremony, here is a photo I took of the overlook (from another angle) during sunset on a Wednesday evening. This wasn’t during Spring Break, or even a holiday week. It took a full hour to get a parking space and the overlook was so crowded that you couldn’t even stretch your arms out without bumping into the person next to you.

Locations near Lost Gulch for an Elopement

If I’ve scared you away from choosing Lost Gulch for your elopement ceremony then I’m very sorry… but also you’re welcome ;). I firmly believe in transparency and sometimes the internet can be misleading on what an elopement experience at this location might look like. Thankfully, there are several other Boulder elopement locations you can choose for your day with great views! You can even choose one of these other locations for your ceremony and still brave the crowds at Lost Gulch for portraits before or after your nuptials! For exclusive use, which is required if your group is larger than 16, but also nice if you prefer the guarantee of privacy on your day consider reserving Sunrise Amphitheater, Halfway House or Chautauqua Lawn through the City of Boulder. If you prefer to forego a reservation, but want a less crowded area on the mountain for your ceremony I have a handful of great spots I recommend to my booked clients that are more private, have similar views to, but are also nearby enough for portraits at Lost Gulch if you still want to incorporate that into your day.

Thanks for sticking around for my whole entire brain dump of all things Lost Gulch when it comes to your elopement experience and photos! If you’re a couple considering eloping here, at another spot along Flagstaff Mountain, in Boulder or anywhere else in the beautiful state of Colorado, don’t hesitate to reach out and get the conversation started! Helping you find the perfect location for your I do’s is included in my elopement services, so if you’re still in the beginning stages of planning it’s never too soon to reach out!