While several other national parks tend to get all the attention for elopements (ahem: Yosemite and Rocky Mountain), we’re here to tell you why Glacier National Park should be near the top of your list for the big day. If you’re looking for a place that feels like a great combination of jagged mountain peaks, turquoise-colored lakes, and glaciers — but without having to go all the way to Alaska — this place is it.
So if you’ve been torn between places like the Last Frontier, Washington State, the Canadian Rockies, and Colorado, we believe you’ll fall in love with the idea of eloping in Glacier National Park. We’ve put together the most comprehensive elopement guide for GNP below, and are here to help you plan an epic adventure for your big day!
Reasons to Elope in Glacier National Park
- Fewer people than other top national parks for elopements. Granted, it’s total number of visitors brings it to #10 on the most visited national parks, its 2.9 million visitors is nothing like the 12.9 million of Great Smoky Mountains or the 4+ million visitors of Grand Canyon, Zion, or Rocky Mountain National Parks — each! And to be honest, we’re kind of big fans of the new timed reservation systems, which keeps the total number of visitors to a more manageable number of people in the park each day.
- The lakes. Over 100 of the 700+ lakes in this national park are named, and we just can’t get enough of them. And with the glacial history of these bodies of water, their teal blue color is something that feels out of this world. The best part? Several of them are perfect for water-centric elopements, where you can take a boat ride, paddle on a SUP or kayak, rent a canoe for an evening ride, or dive right in with your bathing suits (or wedding attire!) during your elopement adventure.
- It has a partnership with Waterton Lakes National Park on the Canadian side of the border, which means you could do an adventurous 2 or 3-day trip to visit both in one trip!
- The wildlife! From bears and moose, to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pika, and a variety of birds, there are so many great opportunities to catch some unique animals living in the wild here.
- A variety of scenery to explore. It feels nearly endless! Lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, mountaintops, meadows, forests, wildflowers, rock formations…the list goes on! There’s something here for everyone.
- Over two dozen fantastic ceremony sites to choose from! Many other national parks are very selective about the locations they allow ceremonies to be held at. And while Glacier NP isn’t open ended for ceremonies anywhere in the park, there are nearly 30 stunning wedding location options for you to choose from.
FAQs About Eloping in Glacier National Park
Check out some answers to the top questions most couples ask about Glacier National Park weddings and elopements:
Have more FAQs not answered here? Check out even more detailed info on the Glacier National Park’s website for Wedding FAQs!
Where to Elope in Glacier National Park
Best Places to Elope in GNP
Below is a list of the pre-approved ceremony locations available for reservations inside Glacier National Park and we’ve scouted out nearly half of the complete list in advance for you!
Please note that all vow readings of any kind and size require a Special Use Permit through the National Park Service in advance of your date. Additionally, they list the following rules/restrictions on their website:
- There is a limit of two permits per location per day.
- Time limit is two hours for all locations.
- Your permit does not grant access during road closures.
- A permit monitor may be required for events over 20 people.
- At all picnic areas: tables remain first-come, first-served and tables may not be saved/reserved or moved.
St. Mary District
Located on the east side of the park, the St. Mary region has some truly wonderful designated ceremony sites to choose from:
Sun Point
This is probably our personal favorite ceremony location in the entire park. Easy enough to access via a very short trail, you end up on this beautiful rock face with a wide open vista of lake and mountain views around you.
Capacity: 20 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor; snacks allowed. According to the NPS, seasonal road closures could require you to ski/snowshoe/hike to location.
Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline
For some great mountain views with another very easy to access location, consider getting married here!
Capacity: 15 people during peak season, 20 during non-peak season
Dates of Access: Early May–Late October
Site Details: No tables/décor; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface; snacks allowed. According to the NPS, the area is frequently restricted due to wildlife activity, which could mean you might need to change to a different location.
Rising Sun Amphitheater
If you have a slightly larger group, the amphitheater at Rising Sun is just a short walk away from the beach. Between the seats and wheelchair accessibility, this makes for a great compromise location where you can follow up your ceremony with portraits on the lakeshore.
Capacity: 30 people
Dates of Access: Early May–Late October
Site Details: Closed to events during evening programs. No tables/chairs/décor; snacks allowed. Pets allowed and wheelchair accessible.
1913 Ranger Station
For anyone who’s looking for something available year-round, the historic 1913 Ranger Station is a solid option. Even during summer and fall, this is a beautiful spot that even features an aspen grove.
Capacity: 20 people
Dates of Access: Year-round
Site Details: No facilities/restrooms at this location. No tables/décor allowed; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface; snacks allowed.
St. Mary Amphitheater
This location is another great year-round option, with some forest and mountain views in the distance. Also a convenient location for anyone who’s also lucky enough to snag a reservation in the same campground!
Capacity: 50 people during peak season, 75 during non-peak season
Dates of Access: Year-round
Site Details: Closed to events during evening programs. No tables/décor allowed; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface; snacks allowed. Pets allowed and wheelchair accessible.
Lake McDonald District
Located on the west side of Glacier National Park, most of these locations are scattered around the shoreline of Lake McDonald, as well as a few other great gems. Here are some you might like:
Lake McDonald Lodge Beach
A beautiful, yet busy, lakeside location and conveniently located right by the Lodge.
Capacity: 15 people during peak season, 30 during non-peak season
Dates of Access: Year-round
Site Details: Those with a wedding reservation must notify Lake McDonald Lodge prior to the event. No tables/décor allowed; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface; snacks allowed. Pets allowed.
Big Bend
This is the only true “mountaintop” location located close to the top of Logan Pass. It has beautiful views, but keep in mind that the proximity to the road may be distracting or less than ideal if noise and/or seclusion is important to you.
Capacity: 10 people
Dates of Access: Early July–Mid September (short season!)
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor allowed; snacks allowed. Events are only allowed on the developed gravel area adjacent to the roadside parking; no events allowed on areas below the gravel viewpoint.
Avalanche Amphitheater
Want to be surrounded by forest for your ceremony? This location accommodates up to 100 people and features a backdrop of tall cedar trees.
Capacity: 100 people
Dates of Access: Early May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor allowed; snacks allowed. Pets allowed and wheelchair accessible. Parking is extremely limited at Avalanche Creek, so weekdays in the hedge seasons are likely best for this location.
Other locations in this district include:
- Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline: Along the shore of Avalanche Creek; 15 people in peak season, 20 in non-peak season, pet-friendly, short walk required.
- Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline: along the shore of Lake McDonald; 15 people in peak season, 20 in non-peak season, pet-friendly.
- Apgar Amphitheater: seats the largest group size of any reservable location in the park (250!); available year-round; wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly.
- Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline: along the shore of Lake McDonald; 15 people in peak season, 20 in non-peak season, available year-round, pet-friendly.
- Ryan Beach: along the shore of Lake McDonald; 15 people in peak season, 20 in non-peak season, available year-round.
- Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline: up to 20 in peak season, 25 in non-peak season; late April-late December, pets allowed.
- Fish Creek Amphitheater: up to 200 people; late May to early September; wheelchair accessible and pets allowed.
- 7-Mile Pullout (Sandy Point): 15 peak season, 20 non-peak season, year-round.
- 10-Mile Pullout (Jackson Bay): 15 peak season, 20 non-peak season, year-round.
Many Glacier District
About 30 minutes north of the St. Mary area, the Many Glacier entrance has its own set of lakes and mountains to explore. We scouted out all of the ceremony locations here:
Lake Josephine Shoreline
One of the only ceremony locations you’d have to hike to, but well worth it! There are two beaches by the boat docks, but a third hidden gem we know about is just as beautiful – yet more secluded.
Capacity: 15 people
Dates of Access: last week of May to mid-October
Site Details: No vehicle access, requires a 1-2 mile hike each way.
Many Glacier Hotel Southwest Beach
The first of two spots by the historic Many Glacier Hotel, this small beach has some pretty amazing views.
Capacity: 15 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/décor allowed; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface.
Many Glacier Hotel Green
Want something super easy to access? The lawn right outside of the Many Glacier Hotel is a great option with views of Swiftcurrent Lake.
Capacity: 15 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor allowed; permittee must notify Many Glacier Hotel prior to event.
Many Glacier Amphitheater
This amphitheater is close to the campground as well as the
Capacity: 100 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/décor allowed; wheelchair accessible; pets allowed.
Two Medicine District
Although this region wasn’t high on our list of places to visit in the park, we’re so glad we did! Paddling out on the water here is simply amazing. Here are a few of the ceremony locations in the Two Medicine area:
Pray Lake Shoreline
Our top choice for ceremonies, with enough distance from nearby campers, no motorized boats nearby, and tons of space on the shoreline.
Capacity: 30 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/décor allowed; up to 4 chairs permitted on durable surface.
Running Eagle Falls
This is listed as the only waterfall site for ceremonies. However, the wheelchair accessible location approved for this spot is farther away from the waterfall than you might want.
Capacity: 15 people
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor allowed.
Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline
The larger lake here is beautiful, with easy access to the boat and kayak rentals, but definitely busier than at Pray Lake.
Capacity: 15 people in peak season, 20 people in non-peak season
Dates of Access: Last week of May–Mid October
Site Details: No tables/chairs/décor allowed; pets allowed.
North Fork
Due to construction in 2023, we were unable to visit this area to include in this guide. We’ll be sure to update it in the future as we get more insight! Here’s the short list of locations GNP has listed for ceremonies in this area:
- Juniper River Access: up to 12 people; normally accessible from mid-May to mid-October.
- Bowman Lake Day Use Area: up to 15 in peak season, or 24 people in non-peak season; mid-May to mid-October.
- Kintla Lake Day Use Area: up to 8 people; mid-May to mid-October.
How to Elope in Glacier National Park Step-by-Step
Not sure where to begin? Here are some of the basic steps you need to take in order to elope in Glacier National Park.
1. Choose a Date/Season for Your Elopement
One of the first and most important things you’ll need to do first is determine a date. Note that the season in GNP is extremely short for great “summer” weather, and that in several areas of the park it can snow nearly any time of the year.
We highly recommend eloping on a weekday here to avoid crowds, and sunrise is even better! Be sure to start thinking about the types of weather you are hoping for, seasonal colors/backdrops (ex: summer thunderstorms and wildflowers vs. fall colors vs. wintertime snow), and your tolerance for busy traffic / people around.
2. Hire Your Elopement Vendor Team
At Skyewater Photo + Film, we’re more than just a photo and video team. We help you plan your elopement day(s) to be as unique as you are! With unlimited planning assistance, many of our couples feel far less stressed and more excited knowing they have our support from start to finish.
Other vendors you’ll want to consider adding on to your wedding or elopement experience: an officiant, hair and makeup artist, florist, activity companies (think: boat rides!), etc.
3. Obtain Your Glacier National Park Wedding Permit / Reservation
With a date selected and your top few ceremony locations in mind, you’ll want to start filling out the permit to reserve your location as soon as possible. The park allows you to apply up to a year in advance of your dream wedding date, and popular dates do fill up fast, so the sooner the better!
4. Reserve Your Lodging Near Glacier National Park
Lodging is crucial, especially if you plan to bring along a dog (or two!) and/or any other guests with you. There are several top lodging options both near and inside the national park, as well as several campgrounds (although these do fill up SUPER fast, especially ones inside the national park). We’ll drop some of our top recommendations in another section down below for you.
5. Plan Your Activities
The activity options for your wedding or elopement trip to Glacier National Park are nearly endless. Here are some of our favorite ideas to make your wedding day tailored to what you enjoy most:
- hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the park
- renting a canoe, kayak, or paddle board
- taking a ride on one of the park’s scenic boat tours
- rafting down river rapids
- stargazing at night, since the park is certified as an International Dark Sky Park
6. Get Your Marriage License
The park is split across two counties in Montana: Flathead County on the west side and Glacier County on the east side. Depending on where you’re staying during your trip, you’ll want to contact the county clerk’s office directly for the one closest to your destination.
The closest office in Flathead County to the western entrance of the park is in Kalispell, about 50 minutes from West Glacier: 920 South Main, Suite 300, Kalispell, MT 59901, 406-758-5870.
The closest office in Glacier County to the eastern entrances is in Cut Bank, an hour east of St. Mary: Glacier County Courthouse, 512 East Main, Suite 3, Cut Bank, MT 59427, 406-873-3619.
Alternatively, like many of our couples, you can opt for doing all the legal paperwork in your hometown so that the trip to Glacier is more focused on your adventure, vows, and experience.
Sample Timeline for Elopements in Glacier National Park
We get it: trying to picture how an elopement day or wedding weekend would look in Glacier might not be easy to imagine. While we customize every timeline to each individual couple’s vision, activities, and more, here are a couple timeline examples to give you some ideas.
An Epic 2-Day Timeline for a Glacier National Park Wedding
Day one:
– an afternoon hike to some of the best views GNP has to offer
– followed by a sunset welcome party near the park with your guests, including some outdoorsy water-based activities, like kayaking or paddle boarding
– stargazing into the night by the campfire
Day two:
12pm – get ready with your loved ones at one of the park’s lodges or campgrounds
2 – everyone departs for a lakeside ceremony location
2:30 – meet your officiant at your ceremony location
3 – read your vows and celebrate with a unique unity ceremony
3:30 – family + couples portraits
4 – picnic with your friends and family on the shore
5:30 – a few toasts from those who know you best
6 – we depart for a second location for more exploring
7 – we arrive to a trailhead, hike out for sunset portraits
9 – photo/video coverage ends
A Full Day Elopement Timeline Example for GNP
8:30 am – photo + video team arrives at the Many Glacier Hotel, a quick breakfast in your room together as you finish getting dressed and handwriting your vows
9:30 – we depart on a guided boat tour from the dock
11 – we land on the other side of a nearby lake, and walk to your ceremony location
12pm – you say your vows by the shore of a lake with mountains and glaciers in the backdrop
12:30 – we hike up some more for epic views of teal glacial lakes and wooded forests
open ended time for wildlife watching, dipping our toes in the cold waters, or relaxing by an alpine lake
2 – we begin our hike back down, followed by another boat ride back to the hotel
4 – a break to freshen up and eat
5 – we all depart for another second location for sunset portraits
6 – golden hour overlooking more mountain peaks and lakes
8:30 – photo/video coverage ends
Top VRBO Rentals near Glacier National Park
A scenic home near West Glacier
Hotels + Lodges Near Glacier National Park
First up: a few located inside the park boundaries!
And here are a few others in the surrounding areas:
Campgrounds + RV Parks Near Glacier National Park
Wedding Venues Near Glacier National Park
Looking for a great venue to host a reception after your ceremony inside the park? Or looking for somewhere close for the full day event but still hoping to have portraits in Glacier? Here are some great options for you:
Glacier National Park Elopement Photo + Video Packages
The Skyewater Photo + Film team is based in the Pacific Northwest and specializes in adventure elopements and destination weddings all over the US. We love National Park elopements and can even help you plan, book your dream location, and find the perfect vendors for you. Let’s make your elopement day the best one ever.
Reach out to our elopement photography and videography team today to get more info!
