Underrated Places to Elope in Washington State

Hanford Reach National Monument: If you’re wanting a desert vibe but don’t want to leave the state, this is a great option! The White Bluffs include lots of different hiking trails that will take you through white colored sand dunes and water while being surrounded by mountains. Visitors have access to over 57,000 acres of land! Not a lot of people know about this hidden gem so it’s likely you’ll be the only ones there! This makes it a great spot for summer months and weekends when other locations would be too crowded.

Lodging: Walla Walla is about 20 minutes from the monument and has some great wineries and lots of places to stay.

Cameo Heights Mansion Basel Cellars (great for an after party with family and friends)

Permits: This area is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service and they do not require recreational permits.

Columbia River Gorge: Most people know the Columbia River Gorge as a popular Oregon elopement location but it also extends into Washington! This area will give you desert vibes while still be surrounded by water plus a lot less rain on this side of the mountains giving you a wider window out of the year to have your ceremony! There are lots of different hikes will bring you to epic locations with cliffs overlooking the river or other areas of water. One of our favorite trails is Ancient Lakes. If you’re into rock climbing, check Frenchman Coulee out!

Ancient Lakes Frenchman Coulee 

Lodging: If hiking into Ancient Lakes, you can camp anywhere! If you’d rather not camp, check out Cave B Inn & Spa. They have rooms overlooking the winery, yurts and condos.

Permits: There are no specific wedding permits for this area but depending on where you elope, a discover pass is likely required and you can find that information on the specific hike or location you are parking at.

Palouse Falls Area: If you’re looking to elope in a location with an epic waterfall, DO NOT pass this up. Palouse falls is one of the last active waterfalls of the glacial flood path and was carved out more than 13,000 years ago! This waterfall is located in Franklin, WA and is a little bit off the grid which means it’s not nearly as crowded. Palouse Falls State Park has 94 acres of land to choose from for a ceremony and has three areas that have completely different views of the falls; the lower viewpoint giving a you a direct view, the interpretive path, and the Fryxell Overlook giving you a panoramic view of the falls and the Palouse River Canyon.

Palouse Falls Hike Palouse Falls State Park

Lodging: Being that this location is so remote, camping is the only option if you want to stay close to the falls. Other than that, you can find hotels in various cities about an hour away. There is one tent only campground with 11 sites and all are first come, first serve. More info on that here!

Permits: A discover pass is required to park here.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest: This national forest covered over 1.3 million acres of forests, mountains, river valleys, waterfalls and volcanoes and is located in southwest Washington. Gifford Pinchot has three main areas;

Cowlitz Valley  Mount Adams Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument is a location we want to make note of. Mount St Helens is located in the west area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the drive to this location alone is gorgeous. Back in 1980, Mt St Helens erupted clearing out everything in its path. Since then, it has slowly started to recreate its beauty and is now an area with wildflowers, mountain gaits and super epic views! One of the more popular hikes of Mount St Helens is Harry’s Ridge and for good reason as it offers some of the best views. If you’re into climbing, Mount St Helens is also a popular place for mountaineers!

Lodging: There are multiple campgrounds and cabins in and around all of these areas.

Mount St Helens Camping Info Cowlitz Valley Camping Info Mt Adams Camping Info

Permits: You do not need a permit if your ceremony is under 75 people. More information about permit regulations here!

San Juan Islands: This is an underrated location in general for Washington. More than 1,000 acres of shoreline and forest were dedicated to the San Juan Islands National Monument back in 2013 which gives you lots of area to choose from for an elopement location! San Juan Islands has 172 names islands but only four are accessible to us; Lopez Island, Orcas Island, Shaw Island (samllest) and the San Juan Island/Friday Harbor. Getting here is half the fun but needs planning. One of the most popular ways to get here is by taking a ferry out of Anacortes. Reservations are highly recommended! If you are wanting to be adventurous, consider taking a plane! You can fly out of a few different airports in the area—find more info on that here. Some of our favorite destinations on the islands are:

• Mt Constitution is the highest point on Orcas Island with amazing panoramic views!

• Shark Reef Sanctuary a 39-acre sate park on Lopez Island with rocky shorelines

• Obstruction Pass State Park is on Orcas Island and great if you want to camp where you have your ceremony

• San Juan Island Scenic Byway is a great way to explore the island where you’ll drive through miles of farmlands and will pass many of the most popular location in Friday Harbor

• Lime Kiln Point is a 36 acre park on San Juan Island and has an epic lighthouse you could have your ceremony in!

Lodging: There are so many cute and cozy lodging options on all of these islands. These are some of our favorites!

The Edenwild- Lopez Island All Dream Cottages- Orcas Island Friday Harbor House- San Juan Island

Permits: Depending on which island you decide to visit and where you have your ceremony, permits are going to be vastly different— be sure to check out your specific locations requirements before going!