Complete North Cascades Elopement Guide
There are so many beautiful places to explore in the Pacific Northwest, and North Cascades National Park has it all! When you plan a North Cascades elopement, you’ll find lush old-growth forests, mountain peaks with incredible views, and brilliant blue glacial lakes - the perfect place to say “I do!”
From deciding when to tie the knot to getting a permit for your ceremony, this North Cascades Elopement Guide will tell you everything you need to know about having a North Cascades National Park wedding.
Table of Contents
Where is the North Cascades?
The North Cascades is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges located in Northwestern Washington State. Located just two hours from Seattle, it’s an easy drive if you’re local to the area. It is truly one of the most scenic and epic locations in Washington State and definitely a personal favorite! From the jagged peaks and cascading waterfalls to having over 300 glaciers, it is a must-visit National Park!
How to Get to North Cascades National Park
If you want to visit North Cascades National Park, you can either drive or fly to the nearest airport.
Major Airports near North Cascades National Park
Here are the two closest airports to the North Cascades that you can fly into:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) | Approximately 120 miles from the park
Vancouver International Airport | Approximately 130 miles from the park
Once you fly into one of these two airports, I highly recommend renting a car. This allows you to explore as much of the North Cascades National Park as you would like. Believe me, there are endless things to see and do and you won’t want to miss out!
To learn more about road closures and the best way to enter the park, you can get more information at the North Cascades National Park website.
Why Should You Elope in North Cascades National Park?
The North Cascades is one of the most underrated elopement locations in the Pacific Northwest. But I have captured some of my favorite elopements here. With so many epic views and adventures to be had, the North Cascades might be the perfect elopement location for you if:
You’re a nature-loving adventurous person like myself!
You’re local to the Washington or PNW area
You want to go hiking
You want to elope in a more secluded location
You want to marry the love of your life overlooking jagged peaks and listening to the cascading waters in the forested valleys.
You like to go camping
You want to go kayaking in some of the most beautiful lakes
You want a super unique elopement experience with lots of adventure
The Best Time for a North Cascades Elopement
Because there’s such a dramatic elevation change, you'll want to know what to expect in each season. To help you figure out what the best time for your elopement in the North Cascades is, I'll tell you a little bit about each one!
Winter Elopements
The North Cascades turn into a snowy wonderland in the winter, especially in higher elevations. This means that many of the roads will close, like the road to Artist Point, so once you decide where you want to elope, it's important to look at the typical conditions for your wedding day. If you're feeling adventurous, you can go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing to reach some of those snowy spots!
Spring Elopements
Spring in the North Cascades brings lots of rain in the mountains, and fields of wildflowers! The snow starts to melt in lower elevations, but higher elevations can have snow throughout the spring - this can cause avalanches, though, so make sure to stay safe. Since the weather is starting to warm up, this is a great time for a North Cascades elopement!
Summer Elopements
The best time for a North Cascades elopement is summer! By July, all of the snow has melted from most of the trails so if you’re looking to go into the mountains, you'll have the most luck in late summer. This time of year is also drier and much warmer than the rest of the year, especially east of the mountains, so if you want to avoid rainy weather, summer will be your best bet! The only downside to eloping in the North Cascades in the summer is that it’s also the most popular time to visit the park, so you’ll want to plan your elopement for a weekday or at sunrise or sunset to avoid the crowds!
Fall Elopements
Warm shades of reds and yellows cover the mountains and valleys in the fall, creating a beautiful backdrop for tying the knot! It doesn’t start snowing until late fall, so you should be able to reach some of the higher peaks for most of the season. This is also a great time to avoid crowds since peak season typically ends after early September!
North Cascades Elopement Locations
From secluded valleys to towering peaks, there are so many places to get married in the Cascades - each bringing its own adventure. Whether you want to go kayaking on Lake Chelan, hike to see alpine glaciers, or check out the cascading waterfalls, there are tons of beautiful places for you to say your vows! Here are a few of the best North Cascades elopement locations to help you narrow it down.
Heather-Maple Pass Loop
For a gorgeous loop trail with vast alpine meadows and lakes, Heather-Maple Pass Loop is the perfect spot for your elopement! Snow covers the trail in the winter, but when it melts in the summer, you'll see fields of wildflowers through the valley. The hike is 7.2 miles round-trip, giving you plenty of spots to say "I do" and take your photos with stunning backdrops. This hike is especially amazing in the fall, in the few weeks when the larches show their bright yellow needles!
Closest airport: Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Best time of year to elope/get married: June through September
Permits needed: Special Use Permit
Cascade Pass Trail
This North Cascades elopement location is one of the best places in the park to reach alpine peaks and glacial views. At 6.7 miles out and back, the Cascade Pass Trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the park. The trail gets snowy in the winter - and sometimes until July - so it's great for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. At other times of the year it can get pretty crowded on the weekends, so planning for a sunrise or sunset elopement can help!
Closest airport: Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Best time of year to elope/get married: June through September
Permits needed: Special Use Permit
Stehekin
Though not inside the park itself, Stehekin is a small town on the northern end of Lake Chelan. Because no roads go into the town, it's only accessible by boat, plane, horseback, or on foot. Once you arrive, you can explore one of the gorgeous trails and check out all the charming little shops - just make sure to have a plan before you go since there's usually no cell signal once you arrive!
Closest airport: Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Best time of year to elope/get married: June through September
Permits needed: Special Use Permit
Artist Point
Another incredible location that's not exactly in the park, but super close and absolutely worth the drive is Artist Point. Sitting at the end of Mt. Baker Highway, just past the seasonal ski resort, you'll find a 360-degree view of the Cascades. Though there are multiple trails that begin at this parking lot, you don't have to go far to find jaw-dropping views - which is perfect if you and your partner aren't big hikers! The road from the ski resort to Artist Point is covered in snow between November and June, so you'll have to snowshoe up if you want to catch a glimpse of those winter mountain views.
Closest airport: Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Best time of year to elope/get married: June through September
Permits needed: Special Use Permit
Legalities of Getting Married in North Cascades National Park
The first step to being able to get legally married in North Cascades National Park is to get your Washington State marriage license. Every state has specific rules and guidelines that you need to follow - so let’s see what you need to get your marriage license in Washington State
You can start the process of obtaining your Washington State marriage license HERE.
Washington State marriage laws:
License filing fee: $69 and is non-refundable
Waiting period: 3 days which means you can NOT get married the same day you get your permit. PLAN AHEAD!!!
Witnesses needed: 2 witnesses over 18
License Expiration: 60 days after a 3-day waiting period
Washington State Residency Required? No
North Cascades National Park Special Use Permit:
When planning your North Cascades elopement, obtaining your special use permit is one of the most important steps. Here is how you can do that:
Fill out the Special Park Use application
Pay a $50 non-refundable fee for the application. You can pay that here.
Once you have completed the steps above, the National Park Service will send you your permit draft for you to review, sign, and send back.
Make sure to bring your Special Use Permit with you on your elopement day!
My advice would be to do this at least a couple of months in advance as it usually takes about 4 weeks to process your request. You can do this up to one year in advance.
Best Places to Stay in/near North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park has plenty of options when it comes to finding a place to stay. From Airbnb’s and hotels to campgrounds, here are some great options:
Airbnbs/VRBOs
Hotels, Lodges, & Resorts
Hotels, Lodges, & Resorts
North Cascades Elopement Packing List
Packing for any trip you go on can be stressful, but packing for your wedding day is a whole other story. So to help you, here is a list of essentials you will need for your North Cascades Elopement:
Special Use Permit
National Park Pass
Marriage License
Snacks
Water
Trash bag
Hiking boo
Warm layers of clothing
Bear spray
Headlamp
Bug Spray
Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses
Your bouquet if you're bringing one
Speaker to make the vibes just right!
First Aid kit
Activities to do for your North Cascades Elopement
If you’re going all the way into the North Cascades for your elopement day, then let’s make it an adventure. There are so many amazing things to experience in this beautiful National park and you need to take advantage of it! Since you’re thinking of eloping in the North Cascades then my guess is that you and your partner are lovers of nature and adventure. So, here are fun-filled activities that will make your elopement day that much better!!
Go hiking on one of the hundreds of trails
Enjoy a scenic drive on the North Cascades Highway
Admire the beautiful views at Ross Lake Overlook
Stargazing: The North Cascades is one the best places in Washington state for this because there is little to no light pollution
Fishing
Meet Your North Cascades Elopement Photographer
Hi, I’m Devin - your North Cascades Elopement Photographer! As a Washington native and lover of anything and everything that involves nature and adventure, I’m here to support you in planning your perfect elopement.
My North Cascades National Park elopement packages are specially curated for you to help make your wedding day go smoothly – from permit processes to making a timeline, you can count on me to make your elopement a breeze!
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