Aspen is small, expensive and surrounded by some of the most dramatic public land in Colorado. Most couples who search for an Aspen elopement are picturing the Maroon Bells, and that site has its own reservation system. But the valley has more: a silver mining ghost town up Castle Creek, gondola served lodges on Aspen Mountain and Snowmass, reservable city parks, and Independence Pass on the road in from Denver. The license is simple. The season decides almost everything else.
Your marriage license from Pitkin County
Aspen and Snowmass Village are in Pitkin County. Any Colorado county license works anywhere in the state, so you can also pick one up in Denver or another county on your way in; our Colorado marriage license guide compares them.
Pitkin County has one rule that catches people: you can apply no more than 30 days before your ceremony, even though the license itself is valid for 35 days. Plan your trip with that window in mind.
The steps, from the clerk’s page:
- Apply online through the state marriage application, choosing Pitkin County. Complete all three tabs, including parent information, then submit and print or screenshot the confirmation with the transaction number.
- Book a marriage appointment on the county’s scheduler. Choose the marriage appointment, not a recording appointment.
- Go to the office at 530 E Main St, Suite 104, Aspen. Bring valid ID for both of you (a driver’s license or passport; the county’s checklist lists other options), your transaction number, and $30 by cash, check or card.
The clerk is direct about the visit: the office is small and shared with motor vehicle and elections, so only the two of you may come in, though children may accompany parents. The county also asks you not to put a dog’s paw print on the license, since it tends to blot out the witness area.
If you are marrying yourselves, Pitkin County offers a handy option: you can sign the license at the counter, and staff will record it and hand it back to you on the spot. Otherwise, return it after the ceremony by mail or in person; no appointment is needed to record it. Colorado requires no witnesses. Read more in our self solemnization guide.
The Maroon Bells
The amphitheater above Maroon Lake is reserved on Recreation.gov, comes with a handful of vehicle passes, and is off limits on the busiest summer days. Everything about it, from the fee to the shuttle and blackout weekends, is in our Maroon Bells elopement permit guide. If you are flexible on location, the sites below are often easier to book.
Ashcroft Ghost Town
Ashcroft sits about 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Road, at the head of the Castle Creek Valley. The Aspen Historical Society rents it for ceremonies only:
- Up to 70 guests.
- June to September, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- No receptions, tents, tables, chairs or food.
- Parking is limited.
- Fees depend on the event type and size, and a security deposit is required. Ask for a quote at 970 925 3721, extension 107.
The site is on White River National Forest land and stays open to the public, so privacy is not guaranteed. For a couple with a photographer and a few guests standing among the old cabins, it is one of the most distinctive settings in the valley.
National forest land and Independence Pass
Outside town, most of what you see is the White River National Forest, managed by the Aspen Sopris Ranger District at 620 Main Street in Carbondale (970 963 2266). The forest’s events page says uses involving extended occupancy, improvements or commercial activity need written authorization, starting with the district office. A tiny ceremony with no setup is ordinary visiting; the national forest and BLM guide explains where the permit line falls. Wilderness areas such as Maroon Bells Snowmass have their own group size limits.
Independence Pass on Highway 82 crests the Continental Divide east of Aspen, with alpine tundra steps from the summit lot. CDOT says the pass usually closes for the winter in November and typically reopens on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, weather permitting; in 2025 crews unlocked the gates on May 22. Vehicles 35 feet or longer are prohibited, which matters if you are renting a large van or shuttle. When the pass is closed, the drive from Denver runs through Glenwood Springs and takes hours longer.
Aspen Snowmass ceremony sites
Sundeck sits at the top of Aspen Mountain at 11,212 feet, reached by gondola, with catering from The Little Nell. The dining room seats 250 for dinner and holds up to 500 for a reception, so it suits a wedding more than a tiny elopement. Contact The Little Nell events team at 970 920 6382.
Snowmass Wedding Terrace is an on mountain ceremony site in an aspen meadow on Snowmass Mountain, run by the Limelight Snowmass. It has amphitheater seating for up to 146 and a nearby cabin with a bridal suite and restrooms. Guests arrive by vehicle, and the reception moves to the hotel. The Limelight events team is at 855 369 2460.
For reception spaces in town, see our Aspen wedding venues.
City of Aspen parks
The City of Aspen rents its parks to private groups through a park use permit:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lead time | Inquiry at least seven days ahead |
| Size and length | Up to 100 people and four hours |
| Exclusivity | Not exclusive; the city just won’t book anyone else |
| Tents | Up to four 10 by 10 pop ups, weighted, no stakes |
| Fees | $22 application fee plus a $32 hourly base rate |
Anything bigger, such as amplified sound beyond a small battery speaker, staked tents or alcohol sales, moves into a special event permit, and the city says special events must be open to the public. For a private ceremony, keep it under the park use permit. The city noted that John Denver Sanctuary inquiries are reviewed only after Theatre Aspen releases its summer schedule, so ask early if you want that spot.
When to go
July brings wildflowers and long light; afternoon storms are common, so book a morning. Late September is aspen season, the most popular weeks of the year; see our fall elopement guide. Winter closes Independence Pass, Ashcroft rentals and the summer ceremony sites, but town parks and hotel venues remain options; our winter elopement guide covers snowy logistics.
Plan it
Ask Aspen photographers how they handle permits on forest land and which roads they plan to use in your month. We list Aspen and Snowmass vendors below this guide, and you can browse photographers, officiants and planners. The Vail and Aspen guide covers the wider region, and our Vail elopement guide covers the valley on the other side of the pass. Save your license window and bookings in the free planner.
