How To Propose Ideas For Adventurous Couples in Colorado Mountains

If you’re thinking about proposing to your best friend in the world, you’ve come to the right place! In this article you’ll find out how to plan, where to propose, how to propose and how to get your photographer there incognito! Colorado is the perfect place to propose this season with the guidance of Ashleigh!

Oh yeah, so there’s a proposal season! It’s the winter season! I think that once you do the holidays together like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years it gets you thinking about the future and family time! So that BIG QUESTION comes up more often around the winter season. The second biggest time is midsummer in June and July.

Colorado is the place to ask that question for adventurous couples because it has everything you want to do during your adventurous proposal. Hiking, biking, skiing, big mountain views, and dog sledding.

How to plan the proposal in Colorado

We all need steps to get things done, so here’s a little list on how to plan your proposal! This list is everything you need to start talking to your partner, gathering the goods and asking the big question on the proposal day with your photographer capturing the moment.

Talk about your future together
- Are y’all on the same page in your relationship? Have y’all talked about the future and what you want in your relationship? Make sure you want to get married and you want to spend your life together. It’s always easier to ask the question when you already kinda know the answer!
If you’re the one asking, then you should talk to your partner’s parents.
- Hey, I’m from the south and that’s the way we do things! I know it’s super old school but think about it! You’re not only getting married to your partner, you are linked to the entire family. It's a polite and nice thing to do to include the family in this milestone by asking for a blessing. If you’re not sure how your partner feels about the old, “asking permission thing” make sure y’all chat about this when you're chatting about your future. It’s always best to be on the same page!
Get the Ring
- You’ll most likely want to propose with a ring! You’ve spent so much time together that you can surely find a ring they are going to love! If you are completely clueless about rings then you can always browse their pinterest board or suggest they make one for you on what kinds of rings they are drawn to! Hey, there’s no shame in asking for help on a ring they are going to be wearing everyday! And sometimes when you're chatting about rings you’ll find out that their family stones or rings that your partner wants to use!
Start Brainstorming
- If you know you want to get engaged in Colorado that’s a perfect start! Also start to think about what you guys like to do together, what mountain features you love to visit and what your partner values (more on values for step 8).
Hire your proposal photographer!
- When you hire me to photograph your proposal, I guide you through the process! We brainstore locations y’all love and things you like doing together to make a game plan on how to pull it off! I’ll even send you a little drawing and google map where I want you to stand! If you want to keep it a secret just make sure to let me know so I make sure I don’t actientaley mess up the surprise by calling at the wrong time.
Pick your activity
- Once you hire your photographer they’ll help you narrow down your brainstorming list to the perfect activity! If you're adventurous together you could do something new like dog sledding or snowmobiling. Or a hike to a cute little picnic at a beautiful overlook might be just perfectly your style!
Pick your location
- I send over a custom location list to my clients to help guide them to finding the perfect spot for the proposal. If the client is really open and unsure what spot they’re looking for, I narrow it down by sending a detailed questionnaire to help them think about what they really want! Then we can go from there to find perfect location.
Make it really special!
- Think about your partner’s love language and make sure to incorporate that into the proposal. If their love language is affirmation then make sure you know what you are going to say by writing it down to make the day memorable. If their love language is gifts, then make sure to bring a thoughtful gift like a journal, photograph when you first met or their favorite drink.
Breath and hide the ring!
- If you want this to be a surprise make sure you hide the ring! Traditional ring boxes are big and super easy to hide in a winter jacket. If you're proposing in the summer you might want to consider a slender ring box that can go in your pocket without sticking out like a sore thumb! Etsy has a ton of wooden ones to pick from! You can also just put it in your wallet if there’s a good change holder in it.
Pop the question
- Now that you have picked your location and clarified your time with your photographer, we have a perfect plan for you just to pop the question!!

Where to Propose in Colorado

Colorado is the perfect place to propose to your partner. It’s beautiful and such a gorgeous place to make memories together. It’s really great if you live here, they'll never suspect a normal weekend out together! And if you don’t live here, they’ll never think that you’ll propose on a vacation to Colorado, they’ll be so caught up in fun stuff planned during the trip that it’ll be unexpected.

Colorado Ski Resort
- A Colorado ski resort is great year round! In the summertime you can easily get to an overlook by taking up the gondola to the top! And in the wintertime, finding the perfect spot while skiing will be so easy we’ll have a hard time narrowing it down! Check out my favorite ones!
Mountain Pass
- Oh my, the mountain passes in the summer and fall are so beautiful! You can pick one that you can drive over in a regular vehicle or a challenging 4x4 road that you can get a guide for. There’s so many to choose from, I’d love to guide you on which one would be suitable for your proposal.
Rocky Mountain National Park
- If you love crossing National Parks off your list, then getting engaged in one could be just perfect for you two! I’ve got some wonderful short hikes that I just love in the park! There’s also overlooks that would be wonderful spots at sunset!
Alpine Lake
- There’s nothing I like better than a little mountain lake! I love seeking out alpine lakes that are secluded and beautiful and are a great place to pop the big question.

Adventurous Proposal Ideas

Proposing marriage to your significant other is a fun milestone in a relationship! If you and your partner love to go outside then an adventurous proposal might be just the thing for guys. I would just recommend picking an activity that is adventurous but in your wheelhouse of fun and exciting! I would steer clear of type 2 fun for the proposal!

So I don’t really recommend something with hights if your partner is terrified of them, proposing isn’t really the day to overcome fears together. That’s best left for another day in your relationship milestones.

Pick something that you know you both will enjoy and have fun doing. It doesn’t have to be something you do every day together but it should be something you both will love doing together!

Hiking Proposal
1. I’d recommend a shorter hike so your nerves don’t get to you and that no one can get hangry. You're still hiking but it’s not the hardest hike you’ve ever done!
Skydiving Proposal
1. Talk about a leap of faith! This one is for someone who loves adrenaline and heights!
Hot Air Balloon Ride Proposal
1. For the couple who loves great views from above at a slower pace!
Camping Proposal
1. You’ll be there during sunset and it would be just the right time to have a fire going and sitting next to the fire at sunset.
Hot Springs Proposal
1. Soaking in a warm bath is romantic and adventurous cause it’s out in nature and something you can even hike to.
Skiing Proposal
1. If your normal date days are out on the slopes, it’s only natural to have ski books on as you get engaged.
Dog Sledding Proposal
1. Having a bunch of dogs with you to celebrate your new bling is perfect for winter loving dog lovers.
Horseback Riding Proposal
1. Horses are known for reading energy and two people celebrating love would be such a wonderful gift to them.
Christmas Tree Cutting Proposal
1. Celebrating the holidays together is such a wonderful part of a relationship. Chopping down a christmas tree together for the holidays would be a perfect start to the holiday season.
Sailing Proposal
1. Wind in your hair and surrounded by water is great for water lovers. If there’s a lot of wind, it can make the day full of adrenaline.
4x4ing Proposal
1. A fabulous and thrilling way to get to an amazing place in the mountains that’s really remote.
Via Ferrata Proposal
1. Love to hang out on a cliff? This is perfect for climbers and mountaineers that just love adventure on the wall.
Fly Fishing Proposal
1. Catching fish on the river is full of great views and beautiful tall grass. Proposing on a little island might be your big catch of the day.

Proposal Ideas to Include Your Photographer

Having a hard time really envisioning what the proposal could really look like with a photographer? Take a look at these proposal ideas that include how to pull it off with your photographer. I’m sure you’ll know exactly what idea would work best for your partner's spirit.

Plan a Photography Session in the mountains
- Let’s schedule a photo session together! It’s a great way to keep your partner slightly involved but still have the surprise of you popping the big question! Some couples like this one because they have a hard time keeping secrets. Others like it so they can be dressed for the occasion and not in their sweats. Or if they know it’s hard to keep their partner on a schedule while on vacation it just makes it easier to have a time and place they are excited to keep.
Overlook with a wildlife photographer hanging out
- I can be a landscape and wildlife photographer that just happens to be the spot you are going to propose. An overlook usually has great views and photographers gazing at it isn’t unusual!
Completly hidden
- Hiding in the bushes with a long lens might sound weird, but I’ll totally do it to keep it a surprise! This is perfect for a couple who knows me and would know if something is up if I randomly showed up on their hike!
Hiking on the Trail
- Hiking in plain sight! So many hikers have cameras these days so it’s not usual to see a hiker with a camera. We just plan out the exact spot you’ll pop the question and you fill me in on what you’ll be wearing and then I’ll be in the spot to capture it with a long lens.
Fellow adventurer on the guide
- If you book a guided adventure, a group tour isn’t that unusual, chime in your photographer! I’ll tag along on the private tour that’s been pre-arranged to be labeled as a group tour so your partner doesn’t get suspicious. And then at the beautiful break during the tour, you can pop the question!
Just part of the balloon crew
- When they are starting to blow up the hot air balloon, y’all go inside to take a look! While you’re in there together, you can get down on one knee and you’ll never even notice me with my camera at the entrance cause it’s so cool inside the balloon.
Snowboarder getting ready to drop in
- At the slopes, do a little hike over and when you get to the top before you put your ski’s back on, pop the question! I’ll know exactly who to look out for cause you’ll text me a photo of y’all in all your ski gear!