Dream Lake Proposal

Dream Lake is one of the first spectacular hikes I did in Colorado, and I always love an excuse to go back. As one of the most iconic and relatively accessible hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s also a popular spot for photo sessions, whether for engagement sessions, day after wedding sessions, or proposals.

While all of these sessions are great at the lake, Dream Lake Proposals are just something else.

Tips for planning a Dream Lake Proposal

1. Consider the time of day and day of the week. As one of the most popular hikes in the park it’s often crowded, especially on the weekends. The parking lot is also limited and if it’s full, you have to drive back down the road to the shuttle lot and take the bus to the trail drop off. For your best chances at snagging parking, aim for early in the morning (before 9:00am), or later in the day (after 2:00pm) and plan your trip for a weekday.
   
   This is especially important if you’re trying to time a surprise proposal and need to coordinate arrival times with me. The last thing you want to happen is for one of us not to be able to find parking and then we’re scrambling last minute to coordinate.
   
   If you don’t mind hiking in the dark, sunrise is an awesome time to go to avoid crowds
   
2. Consider the weather. While Dream Lake is accessible year round, due to the maintenance of the trail, the weather does play a factor in your timing and attire. The lake is often super windy, especially in the winter, so if the outside temperatures are already chilly, you can expect to be even colder at the lake. Make sure you’re dressing appropriately for the time of year you’ll be visiting.
   
3. Consider your footware. As I mentioned above, Dream Lake is accessible year round, but you do need the right shoes for the weather conditions. In the summer, boots, tennis shoes, and even sandals are appropriate footware, as the trail is well maintained and well traversed.
   
   In the winter, you’ll definitely want good, sturdy, hiking boots and I highly recommend a good pair of microspikes that can be worn over your boots. The trail is often snow packed and slippery from all the traffic in the winter. And if you want to walk on the frozen lake when you arrive, the extra traction is a good idea.
   
4. Consider your physical fitness. The Dream Lake hike is rated as moderate, mostly because the trail is uphill almost the entire way to the lake. If you’re in decent physical shape, the 1.2 mile hike should take you about 30-40 minutes. If you’re worried about your fitness (or if you’re coming from out of state and aren’t used to the altitude!), plan for 45 minutes to an hour in order to take your time on the way up.

While the above tips might make you feel like Dream Lake is a challenging place to propose, it can be absolutely spectacular! It just takes a little extra coordination and planning, but that’s why you’ll have me with you every step of the way!

So take some time to plan, get excited, and let’s make your dream a reality!

Blogs from Dream Lake Proposals

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Thinking about popping the question soon and need some help planning the perfect day? I LOVE helping couples plan the perfect proposal (including location suggestions, timing, and sneaky ideas).  Let’s connect and talk about your proposal vision!