Living in Denver, Colorado, offers many perks, including beautiful hiking trails for an elopement within 18-30 minutes. Here’s the first of a series of Golden hikes that I’ve recently recommended to my wedding couples in Colorado as options for a wedding ceremony elopement. I’ve included a review from a past visit and my notes.
North Table Mountain is the high plains of the high plains in Golden, Colorado
Date: February 5th.
Weather: 33 degrees and sunny at 9:14 am.
Cover: Completely exposed (more ideal for winter and early spring because of the sun).
Time: 9:14 am - 11:47 am.
Distance: 6 Miles total (West trailhead parking lot to Lichen Peak to the east side of the mountain and looping north and then west back to the lot).
Traffic: Low (normally high).
Parking: Several spots available.
Equipment: Hiking boots and microspikes.
Terrain: Definitely a quick climb up from the lot but flat once you reach the peak. Faced 12-20 mph winds on my back until I reached the east side and began looping north/northwest. At that point, I was walking against a not-so-kind wall of wind. Beautiful views of neighboring mountains and Golden. It’s a well-marked snow-covered path, but I could see it being muddy during the late spring.
Difficulty: Easy but the initial walk up may require a cardio baseline.
Colorado Wedding Officiant Notes: While my visit was in the winter, the trail provided a snow-dusted landscape that framed every step. Considering that the mountain is shaped like a table, wedding couples have endless options for a scenic backdrop of the mountains in the west or Golden and Denver in the east. Wind is certainly a factor at times and should be part of the consideration for the elopement. Late winter and early spring will provide hard ground without mud but may require microspikes for traction in snow. Late spring and summer will offer a dry path and quite a bit of sun exposure. An early morning hike is recommended for cooler temperatures. The fall is a perfect season with moderate temperatures and stunning views of changing leaves.
Many locations on North Table Mountain offer stunning views of Golden and Denver.
When it isn’t windy, the rock cliff and the views of Golden can provide a perfect backdrop for an elopement wedding in Colorado.
The west side of Table Mountain provides a private perspective between the mountain and its sisters across the road.
