How long the hikes actually are for these iconic elopement locations in the Pacific Northwest (and they’re not as difficult as you think)

So you’ve seen the epic elopement photos and would love to have an experience just like it. But are you really adventurous enough to pull it off? You’re going to be in fancy attire and you’re no backcountry mountain climber.

In short, YES. You are plenty adventurous for an adventure elopement.

While the photos you’re seeing look like they hauled a giant pack of gear through treacherous terrain, they more than likely did not. Even the most adventurous couples I’ve worked with have requested more lowkey hiking for their elopement.

On average, couples select locations that involve 0.25-1 mile of hiking.

Here are some iconic Pacific Northwest elopement destinations and the length of the hike to access them!

Hiking Distances to Some Pacific Northwest Elopement Spots

While hiking distance is an important factor to consider when you’re deciding on an adventure elopement, there’s more factors to being outside to make sure you’re comfortable with the experience. Here’s some other factors to consider before you dive into an adventure elopement:

Pick a location with hiking distances in mind

If you want as minimal hiking as possible, know that those locations tend to have more people. A great way to help with this is selecting a lower traffic location. Places like Mt. Rainier National Park will be very busy if it’s easily accessible. Nearby parks like Olympic and North Cascades National Park will have less people at easily accessible locations.

Some locations are better for easy access locations than others. I remember planning my North Cascades vacation and being shocked how long most of the hikes were but it’s also a more “wild” park than others.

What’s the best way to check for these factors? Hire local! Someone with experience at your location of choice will make all the difference. It’s difficult to know what the hikes are truly like unless someone in the planning has hiked them personally.

You Need to be Comfortable Outdoors

There are a lot of ways to cut down on your hiking to make your elopement experience more comfortable. Regardless of the hiking though, an adventure elopement with those epic photos involve being outdoors.

Being outside is uncomfortable to an extent. You do not need to be hardcore adventuring but you do need to feel comfortable with the possibility of high winds, rain, dirty clothes, and anything else nature can throw at you. A big factor to your overall comfort while outside is the season you chose to get married in (another great reason to hire a local photographer). Here’s a blog breaking down the best times of year to elope on the Oregon Coast.

Don’t Expect to Wear the Same Outfit as a Traditional Wedding

I’m a big advocate of wear the big dress with a train and flowing veil even while eloping because you’d be shocked what clothes you can hike in. You also need to wear solid walking or hiking shoes, not high heels or slippery dress shoes.

Many couples chose to navigate adventuring in formal attire in a lot of different ways. It’s actually not difficult to explore in your wedding attire if you work with your photographer to pick locations you’ll feel confident in. Most people opt to spend the whole day, hiking and all, in their full outfits. The most common swap is for more functional shoes, especially for folks wearing pants where shoes are more visible. (Read more about picking shoes for your elopement here.)

You also need to be prepared for the attire to get dirty. Trying to keep a pristine, white dress 100% clean while outside will take your focus away from the best parts of your elopement. Consider a lower budget attire option or buy second hand (check out businesses like Stillwhite). By no means do you need to trash the outfits but the last thing you want is extra stress on such a special day.

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I hope you’re feeling inspired that you CAN have an adventure elopement. The experience isn’t for everyone but it’s also completely possible for far more couples than most realize. All you need is a love for nature and the wish to spend your first day of marriage in the great outdoors.

Hi there! I’m Miki (the one who wrote this) and I’m an elopement photographer specializing in the Oregon Coast. The couples I work with opt for a non-traditional, epic wedding days usually with just the two of them. If you love the Oregon Coast and a traditional wedding just doesn’t feel right to you, check out these other resources (you might just find the wedding of your dreams).

Local’s Guide to Eloping on the Oregon Coast

Best Places to Elope in the Pacific Northwest

Cape Kiwanda Elopement on Film

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