Best Dog-Friendly Engagement Session Locations in Colorado
If you just can’t imagine taking engagement photos without your precious fur baby present, we get each other. As a Colorado wedding photographer and proud golden retriever mom, I love it when I get to capture the special bond between my couples and their pets. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of dog-friendly engagement session locations here. From urban parks to remote mountain passes, if you can imagine your ideal backdrop for engagement photos, I guarantee there’s a spot where your pup can come along, too. Join me as I dive into my favorites, all under 75 miles from Denver!
Why is Colorado the Perfect Place to Take Engagement Photos with Your Dog?
In Colorado, you don’t need to venture far from urban areas like Denver and Boulder to find dog-friendly engagement session locations. From forested trails to wide-open meadows, the variety of natural landscapes allows you to plan the session you’ve been envisioning without excluding your fur babies.
Most of the engagement session locations listed below are in public spaces, such as state parks and national forests, so there’s no need to spend additional money on a photography permit. However, the best part about taking outdoor engagement photos in Colorado is that you can do so in any season. The state looks beautiful year-round, from the lush greenery of summer to the pristine snowfalls of winter.
What to Consider When Choosing a Dog-Friendly Engagement Session Location
Not every location is suitable for every dog! Your pup’s temperament and physical fitness, among other factors, should influence the spot you choose. Before deciding where to take your engagement photos, consider:
The Environment: Can your dog traverse the terrain easily? If they’re a senior, a puppy, or a short-legged breed, they may struggle in some of these locations.
The Weather: Consider the season and the location’s climate in relation to your dog. For example, a pup who overheats easily probably shouldn’t join us for a summer engagement session in the high desert.
The Privacy Level: Does your dog get along with other animals, whether wildlife or other pets? If not, it’s best to choose a location off the beaten path to avoid any unwelcome altercations during the session.
For more tips on including your dog in your engagement session, get my guide!
Best Dog-Friendly Engagement Session Locations in Colorado
Brainard Lake Recreation Area (Ward, CO)
This location combines convenience and natural beauty. Located only 60 miles from Denver, it’s easily accessible by car, yet sits at nearly 10,300 feet in the Indian Peak Wilderness. Its dramatic vistas encompass high peaks, alpine lakes, thick swaths of forest, and wildflowers in spring, ensuring year-round beauty. This is a permit-free location, but summer visitors are required to reserve timed-entry parking.
Wildlife, including moose, elk, and foxes, frequents this area (as seen in Carla and John’s session!). For more glimpses of this location, also be sure to check out Carrie and Eran’s session and Kelsey and Justin’s session.
Permit Required: No
Caution: This is a high-elevation location with unpredictable weather, snow in the winter, and some rugged terrain. Your dog should be physically fit and able to withstand the high-altitude conditions. Additionally, other hikers and dogs may be around midday, so it’s best to schedule the session early in the day or at an off-peak time.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre (Morrison, CO)
Calling all music lovers! This iconic concert venue, often ranked as the best outdoor stage in the world, is also perfect for a dog-friendly engagement session. And as a permit-free location just 16 miles outside of Denver, it also couldn’t be more convenient. The park’s towering sandstone formations are millions of years old and look gorgeous when covered in snow, as seen in Callie and Ben’s session and Sarah and Jake’s session. But with lush green grass in summer and muted brown meadows in fall, this location looks beautiful in just about any season.
Permit Required: No, up to 5 people
Caution: Access to the park is often restricted on concert days, so check the event calendar before scheduling your session. Additionally, the trails surrounding Red Rocks are usually busy, so it’s important to control your dog.
Lost Gulch Overlook (Boulder, CO)
Perched high on Flagstaff Mountain, Lost Gulch Overlook delivers 360-degree views of the Indian Peaks, the Continental Divide, and Boulder Valley. You’ll need a photography permit for an engagement session at this location, which is also a popular spot for proposals. At 7,300 feet, it’s colder than downtown Boulder and can be windy. Bring layers if you get cold easily! Kayleigh and Sean’s session showcases the beauty of this scenic spot in spring.
Permit Required: Yes
Caution: The terrain at Lost Gulch Overlook is rocky, uneven, and occasionally steep. Additionally, the overlook is always crowded at sunset, and parking can be difficult to find. Your dog should be steady-footed and able to ignore distractions.
Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County, CO)
At over 11,000 feet, Guanella Pass winds through alpine meadows, crystal-clear streams, wildflower fields, and rugged mountain peaks. It’s known as one of the best leaf-peeping spots in the fall months and is lined with aspens (see Maggie and Jon’s session and Hayley and Nate’s session!). With parking lots, picnic benches, pull-offs, and short hiking trails, the Pass is accessible for most. Plus, it’s only 55 miles west of Denver.
Wildlife is abundant at this location—there’s always a chance of seeing a moose on the side of the road! The Pass is open to visitors from late May to late November. In winter, it closes due to snow.
Permit Required: No
Caution: This is a high-altitude location with some strenuous trails, rock scrambles, and patches of snow late in the season. Abrupt weather changes are possible. Condition your dog before heading here, and avoid wilderness zones.
Horsetooth Reservoir (Fort Collins, CO)
Horsetooth Reservoir stretches for six and a half miles along Fort Collins’ western foothills. At 5,420 feet, it offers sweeping views of the reservoir, dramatic rock formations (including the famous Horsetooth Rock), and grassy meadows year-round. That’s right—this scenic spot is even accessible in winter! However, it’s prettiest when the spring wildflowers bloom, as seen in Cristiana and Killian’s session. Note that this location requires a photography permit.
Permit Required: Yes
Caution: The reservoir’s swim beaches are designated “no dog zones.” The trails can be busy, especially in the summer, when the reservoir is a popular spot for swimming and boating. Additionally, the terrain around Horsetooth Rock is rugged in places.
Artist Point (Boulder, CO)
Like Lost Gulch Overlook, Artist Point on Flagstaff Mountain offers panoramic views of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Continental Divide. However, it tends to be less crowded. It’s accessible via a short trail from a paved parking lot, offering convenience paired with a secluded feel. A photography permit is necessary. See the Point’s iconic views in Toni and Chris’ session!
Permit Required: Yes
Caution: Parking is limited, and the terrain is rugged.
City Park (Denver, CO)
Denver dwellers will love this dog-friendly engagement session location, found in the city itself! With vibrant green space, shade trees, and a panoramic view of the Denver skyline, the park is a lush urban oasis from spring to fall. It’s a great spot to have a picnic and enjoy a walk along one of the lakeside trails while I tag along with my camera. This is a permit-free location for up to five people, so you shouldn’t need one for an engagement session.
Permit Required: No, up to 5 people
Caution: This is a heavily trafficked spot. It’s important to control your dog so it doesn’t bolt or get distracted by passersby, which may include children and other dogs.
Loveland Pass (Clear Creek and Summit Counties, CO)
At 11,990 feet, Loveland Pass provides instant access to sweeping views of the Continental Divide, rugged peaks, and alpine tundra. It’s one of the highest points you can easily reach by car; since U.S. Highway 6 traverses the pass, you can drive right to the summit parking area and start shooting within steps of your vehicle. With just a little exploring, you can happen upon an alpine lake, rocky ledge, or epic overlook (see Isabel and Danny’s session for proof!). The weather is unpredictable at this high-altitude location, and storms can roll in rapidly.
Permit Required?: No
Caution: Altitude sickness, steep drop-offs, extreme cold, and snowdrifts are all risks of a high-altitude environment. You’ll want to travel carefully and pick safe vantage points. Ideally, your dog should be accustomed to extreme elevation.
Chatfield State Park (Littleton, CO)
This location offers multiple scenic views, including broad meadows, cottonwood groves, and a serene shoreline. Because the nearby mountain ranges don’t block the horizon, it also gets epic big-sky sunsets! Additionally, Chatfield is home to one of Colorado’s largest off-leash dog areas, with 69 acres of open fields and ponds. Do you and your partner enjoy water sports? Consider hitting the lake for a boating or SUP session after snapping photos with your pup, like Elise and Eric did.
Permit Required: Yes
Caution: Dogs are not allowed on designated swimming beaches.
Sapphire Point Overlook (Breckenridge, CO)
Sapphire Point offers a panoramic view of Dillon Reservoir framed by snow-capped mountains. At 75 miles, it’s the furthest listed location from Denver, but it makes up for it with easy accessibility and unbeatable views. Although this spot is incredibly popular, I can still make it look like you and your partner were there by yourselves—see Sierra and Josh’s session for an example! The Overlook occasionally closes for renovations, so be sure to check that it’s open before embarking on the drive.
As a bonus, Sapphire Point Overlook is one of the only spots in the Dillon Ranger District that couples can reserve for an elopement or micro-wedding. So, after taking engagement photos here, you could return for your wedding ceremony!
Permit Required: No
Caution: The parking lot fills quickly at this popular tourist spot. There are steep drop-offs, so keep an eye on your dog.
BONUS LOCATION: Downtown Denver
Are you envisioning an urban backdrop for your engagement photos? Denver is a dog-friendly town where your pup can tag along to most locations. The downtown landscape is a mix of historic and modern architecture, with brick buildings, warehouses, scenic rooftops, and dog-friendly cafés and breweries. If you and your partner are craft beer enthusiasts, a visit to Recess Beer Garden, Woods Boss Brewing Company, or Wynkoop Brewing Company is a fun way to incorporate your hobby into your session.
Permit Required: Location-dependent
Caution: Urban environments are higher-stimulus for dogs (cars, people, loud noises, etc.), so choose a lower-activity time, such as early morning or a weekday, and ensure your dog is comfortable.
There’s something so special about including your dog in your engagement photos. After all, they’re a member of your family too. And with these dog-friendly engagement session locations, there’s no need to compromise between showcasing the sweeping mountain views Colorado is known for and bringing your pup along for the fun. Whether you’re envisioning an adventure session amid the high peaks or a low-key date night in Denver, I’d love to capture it. Let’s start planning the engagement session of your dreams!