Places to Elope in California National Parks

Eloping is so incredibly special. The day is truly all about you and your soul mate. It is about you and your best friend starting your life together with an amazing adventure and really focusing on each other and your love.

So you decided that you want to elope. Yay!!!! Congratulations! If you are just starting to plan everything out make sure to check out this post on 5 helpful elopement tips.

Now that you decided to elope another exciting decision needs to be made, where to elope!

You might have thought about going down to the courthouse, maybe you thought about going to your favorite picnic spot, or maybe that spot that you always end up driving to on your Sunday drive, but in the back of your head you desire an epic National Park elopement. The kind where you can start your life together with a journey, have an amazing day together, see new sites together for the first time as you say your vows, and get the most epic photos to document your adventure.

You aren’t sure where to go or how to even begin planning a national park elopement. Well, this is exactly why I created this article! To tell you about the National Parks in California, provide you helpful links to begin the permitting process, provide you links to various locations for your ceremony within each National Park, and show you some amazing images from each park. This way you can see if that National Park is really for you and your big day. When you are looking through the images, try to picture yourself there. Is that the spot where you want to have your big day?

Ok, so let’s get into it!

Places to Elope in California National Parks

1.Yosemite National Park

Yosemite national park is seriously one of my absolute top favorite places ever and let me tell you it is the most beautiful place to elope! There are so many options for a ceremony and the views are just out of this world!

Here is the website to all the wedding permit details and the link to download the application

Here is the link to the ceremony sites available.

2. Kings Canyon National Park

When people think of eloping under the giant sequoia trees they typically think of Sequoia National Park, but Kings Canyon National Park also has an amazing grove of Sequoia trees.

Here is the website to all the wedding permit details and application within Kings Canyon National Park

Here are the ceremony spots to choose from within the park.

Here is the actual permit application

3. Sequoia National Park

If you want to elope under the Giant Sequoia trees Sequoia National Park is absolutely amazing. There are so many different ceremony options.

It really isn’t difficult to elope in Sequoia. You will need to make sure to get a permit and make sure it is the right time of year in order to avoid road closures and/or have good weather.

Here is the website to all the wedding permit details within Sequoia National Park.

Here are the ceremony spots to choose from within the park.

Here is the actual permit application

4. Redwoods National Park

I grew up taking a yearly camping trip up to a small town near the Redwoods National Park. We would camp for an entire week and then head out on awesome adventures among the giant redwood trees. It was amazing. Seriously the tall ferns and the massive trees are amazing. There is nothing else like it.

Here is the website for all the permitting details, applications, and ceremony site

5. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree elopements are so incredible! Oh man do I love the desert. It is seriously one of my favorite places to adventure to. The mountains are amazing, but there is something about the desert that truly touches my heart. The colors of the dirt, the bright sunrises, and the amazing sunsets.

Here is the link to all the permitting details, ceremony locations, and permit application for Joshua Tree

6. Death Valley National Park

Again with the desert.

I am obsessed with Death Valley. Seriously though this place has amazing sand flats, Joshua Trees, Sand Dunes, Red Rocks, and so much more.

Here is the link to all the permitting details, ceremony locations, and permit application for Death Valley National Park Weddings

Bonus Places! Not necessarily national parks, but part of the national park system:

1. Point Reyes National Seashore

   If you want to be near the ocean then this is your spot. It is such a beautiful place.

   Here is the link to the permit site for Point Reyes National Seashore

2. Carrizo Plains National Monument

   If you want wild flowers this place is absolutely amazing in the spring time. There are thousands upon thousands of gorgeous yellow wildflowers called Miners Gold. The views are amazing, and the sunset is just the best ever!

There are a few things that you will want to really consider and do when eloping:

1. Make sure you know the state rules for marriage licenses. You are going to need to know all the rules or else there is the possibility that your marriage won’t be legit.

2. Know what time of year will work for the National Park you are considering

3. Think about weather

4. Ensure that you obtain a permit (all permit links are below)

Are you looking for a photographer for your elopement? I would absolutely love to chat with you about planning your adventure!

Click the Book Me button below and lets start planning your amazing day!

Do you have any questions about where to elope? Or just any questions about eloping in general? If so make sure to leave a comment below. I would love to help you out :)

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