Durango and Pagosa Springs sit a little over an hour apart on US 160, with the San Juan National Forest wrapped around both. Durango gives you the Animas River, the old railroad and the high road north over Molas Pass. Pagosa gives you hot springs on the San Juan River, Treasure Falls and the climb toward Wolf Creek Pass. Mesa Verde is an hour or so west of Durango. Each piece runs on different rules, so here is how they fit.
Your marriage license
Durango is in La Plata County and Pagosa Springs is in Archuleta County. A license from either county, or any other Colorado county, works anywhere in the state; our Colorado marriage license guide compares the options.
La Plata County (Durango). You both fill out the online application first, then book an appointment from the confirmation page. The county says the appointment can be any time from 35 days before your wedding up to the day itself. Both of you come in with valid ID and $30 to sign and pick up the license at 679 Turner Drive, Suite C, in Durango. The clerk’s office lists hours of Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and closed Fridays. To reschedule, use the link in your confirmation email or call (970) 382-6281.
Archuleta County (Pagosa Springs). The fee is $30, and the county accepts cash only, no cards or checks. Both of you should appear in person; if one cannot, the other brings a notarized absentee affidavit and a copy of the absent partner’s ID. Bring a photo ID, Social Security numbers, places of birth, parents’ names and divorce details if they apply. The office is at 305 Village Drive in Pagosa Springs, (970) 264-8350, and lists hours of Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. In bad weather, the county information line at (970) 264-8550 has updated hours.
Either way, the license is valid for 35 days anywhere in Colorado, and the signed certificate goes back to the issuing county within 63 days. No witnesses are required, and you can marry yourselves; see self solemnization.
San Juan National Forest rules
The San Juan National Forest says a special use permit is required for gatherings of 75 or more people, organized activities that charge a fee, activities whose primary purpose is selling a good or service, and commercial filming. It lists weddings as an example of noncommercial group use, and those applications go in 45 to 60 days before the event and no sooner than 180 days ahead.
A couple with a photographer and a handful of guests is well under that line, as our national forest and BLM guide explains. If your group is larger, or your photographer asks about commercial rules, contact the district for your site:
- Columbine Ranger District, 367 Pearl Street, Bayfield, (970) 884-2512. The forest lists the front desk as open Fridays only, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so call or plan ahead.
- Pagosa Ranger District, 180 Pagosa Street, Pagosa Springs. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m.
- Supervisor’s Office, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, (970) 247-4874.
Where couples elope
| Site | Who manages it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Molas Pass | San Juan National Forest along US 550 | High alpine lakes and peaks between Durango and Silverton |
| Treasure Falls | San Juan National Forest along US 160 | Roadside waterfall east of Pagosa Springs |
| Wolf Creek Pass | National forest along US 160 | Continental Divide crossing; winter driving |
| Mesa Verde | National Park Service | Permit required for every wedding |
| Animas River railroad | Private railroad | Group office handles weddings and charters |
Molas Pass is the high point of the drive from Durango to Silverton on US 550, with small lakes and a wall of peaks in every direction. North of Silverton, the same highway becomes the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray; if you are combining the two, read our Ouray elopement guide.
Treasure Falls is a waterfall beside US 160 east of Pagosa Springs, with a short trail up toward the spray. It is easy to reach and often busy, so go early.
Wolf Creek Pass carries US 160 over the Continental Divide above Pagosa. The overlooks are broad, but this is a major highway with heavy winter weather, so check conditions before an early morning drive.
Mesa Verde National Park is the exception to the easy rules. The park says all weddings, regardless of size, need an approved permit, that its viewpoints suit small, informal weddings, and that most applications take at least three weeks to process. Fees are set each year by cost recovery, so ask the permit office at (970) 529-4611 for the current amount.
The railroad and the hot springs
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs a group office for bookings of 20 or more seats, and it lists wedding celebrations and private charters among the groups it serves. For an elopement, that most likely means riding as regular passengers and celebrating in Silverton; for a larger party, call the groups office at (970) 385-8875 and ask what a charter or reserved car includes.
Pagosa’s hot springs are the obvious place to soak afterward. The Springs Resort advertises more than 45 geothermal soaking pools on the San Juan River and takes group requests through its website. We could not find a published ceremony offering, so ask the resort directly before planning a ceremony there.
Seasons and budget
Summer and early fall are the easy months for Molas Pass and the forest trailheads. Afternoon storms build quickly in the San Juans, so plan a morning ceremony at elevation. Our fall elopement guide helps with aspen timing. In winter, both passes stay open as highways but can close in storms, so keep a lower backup site near town.
Durango is a reasonable value compared with the ski resort towns, but lodging still climbs in summer and on railroad event weekends. Our Colorado elopement cost guide puts a typical small elopement at roughly $4,000 to $9,000 all in (estimate) and breaks down each line.
Next steps
Our list of Durango and Pagosa based vendors is still short, so check the local vendors grid below this guide and also browse statewide photographers and officiants, many of whom travel to the Four Corners. The Telluride and San Juans guide covers the rest of the region. Save your dates, permits and vendor list in the free planner.
