Oh, you want red rock and Saguaro cacti to be featured on your elopement day? Arizona hears you, and Arizona will provide. In this blog post, I will tell you the 10 best places to elope in Arizona. While you read, you’ll learn about the diversity of beautiful locations available to you throughout the state!
Elopement Locations near Page, Arizona
- Coyote Buttes (The Wave)
The Wave is a unique rock formation in Northern Arizona. Very few individuals are privileged to see in their lifetimes. This is because you must have a permit to hike it. To receive a permit you must go through a lottery process. Unfortunately up until this year only 20 permits a day were awarded. However, that number has recently been tripled by the Bureau of Land Management in Kanab! Now 64 people can visit the Wave per day! Make the trek out and say your vows while “surfing” on the red rock! You can find more information on how to apply for a permit here. You can also see photos of a real-life couple celebrating their nuptials in the Wave here!
2. Horseshoe Bend
Just a stones throw away from the city of Page, Horseshoe Bend is a wonder. Upon arrival, you’ll find a large parking lot and a clearly marked trailhead. Next, you’ll take the short 1.4-mile walk to where the bend lies. When you get close enough to the edge of these 4,200-foot-high cliffs to see the water below, you’ll be thankful you don’t have a fear of heights. It’s truly magnificent, and an amazing payoff for such a short hike.
3. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
This location is right along the Utah-Arizona border. If you choose to elope here, you will have so many adventures ahead of you! For instance, you could spend your elopement day kayaking through sandstone narrows. Afterwards you could relax on a houseboat and get ready to say your vows. Finally, you could head to an overlook and end the day with a beautiful high desert sunset.
Elopement Locations near Tucson, Arizona
4. Saguaro National Park
The symbol you think of first when imagining Arizona is probably a Saguaro cactus. In fact, an endless field of Saguaro cacti call Saguaro National Park their home. There are many areas throughout the park where you can hold your wedding ceremony – and most require little to no hiking! However, to get a permit to be married in Saguaro National Park you have to decide months in advance where exactly within the park you’d like to hold the ceremony. You can find more information about the permit process for Saguaro National Park here.
5. Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park is a personal favorite of mine. This is because it is filled to the brim with Saguaro cacti! There is a key difference between this park and Saguaro National Park, though. While Saguaro makes you feel lost in a field of giant cacti, Catalina has a smaller, more intimate feel. There is only one road that goes through this park, which makes it hard to get lost while exploring. Although it is smaller than Saguaro National Park, you can still expect magnificent views of Saguaro cacti here. In addition to this, you will see a clear panorama view of the Catalina Mountains just outside of the park. You can find more information about getting married in Catalina State Park here. In addition to this, you can view photos of a real life elopement in Catalina State Park here!
6. Mount Lemmon
While some people want to stay close to the ground, others might want a top-of-the-world feel. Mount Lemmon is the perfect place to rise above it all! It also gives you the option to have guests attend your ceremony without having to hike! You and your guests can choose to either drive OR hike to the 9,157-foot summit. During your ceremony you will have a clear view of the valley filled with Saguaro cacti. Then, as you say your vows, you can continue to enjoy a stunning vista of the Catalina Mountains.
7. Tumamoc Hill
Like the other locations on this list, Tumamoc Hill is a stunner. It includes a 3.1-mile hike with an elevation gain of around 750 feet. Completing this hike offers you a fantastic overlook of Tucson! In addition to this, the hike will get you close to beautiful Saguaro cacti.
8. Gates Pass
Spiked hills and (of course) Saguaro cacti seem to surround you as you walk through Gates Pass. If you decide to elope here at Sunset, you’ll be greeted with gold-covered views of the already stunning landscape. It includes a 1.9-mile hike with a small elevation gain of just over 100 feet.
9. Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon offers surprising amounts of desert flora! You will stand in awe of it as you walk along the dirt paths to your ceremony location. The greens and yellows of the desert floor provide a striking contrast to the deep blue skies overhead. There are numerous hikes you can choose from in Sabino Canyon, ranging from 3 to 12 miles long.
10. Sanctuary Cove
Sanctuary Cove is a great option for those who want to balance running around the desert with having a physical venue to spend time at throughout the day. The area has beautiful views of Saguaro cacti and the surrounding hills. In addition to this, Sanctuary Cove caters specifically to couples who are looking to elope! In other words, it gives you the best of both worlds.