Table of Contents:
- Where is Gold Creek Pond?
- Why Elope at Gold Creek Pond?
- FAQ’s About Eloping at Gold Creek Pond
- Can you get married at Gold Creek Pond?
- Do you need a pass to visit Gold Creek Pond?
- Do you need a wedding permit to get married at Gold Creek Pond?
- Where can you get married at Gold Creek Pond?
- How many guests can you have at a Gold Creek Pond wedding?
- Are dogs allowed at Gold Creek Pond?
- Can you swim at Gold Creek Pond?
- When to Elope at Gold Creek Pond
- Where to Stay Near Gold Creek Pond
- Gold Creek Pond Elopement Packages
- Gold Creek Pond Elopement Vendors
Picturesque mountain views, vibrant blue ponds, spring wildflowers, and miles on milesss of trees. . . where in the world could I be describing?? Answer: pretty much anywhere in Washington. But for this blog post I’m going to narrow it down to just one location that has all that: Gold Creek Pond! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to elope at Gold Creek Pond, one of the most beautiful (and wheelchair-friendly!) elopement locations in WA. I’ve made sure to include the most up-to-date info out there, since Gold Creek Pond has changed their permit process & requirements in recent years, so this should make it easy peasyyyy for ya to plan your Gold Creek Pond elopement!!
Where is Gold Creek Pond?
Gold Creek Pond is a beautiful lil’ spot at the top of Snoqualmie Pass that has become suuuper popular the past few years because of how easy it is to access. The Gold Creek Pond trail boasts AMAZING views of Gold Creek Valley & Chikamin Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, especially on days when the sky is clear and the water is calm – the reflections in the water will leave your jaw on the floor!
Gold Creek Pond is about an hour east of Seattle, just under 2.5 hours south of Bellingham, and 3.5 hours west of Spokane. Because it’s so dang close to Seattle via I-90 E, it’s a really great option for not only elopements or engagement photos, but also just for an easy day trip!! It gets super crowded on the weekends thanks to visitors coming from Seattle, which is why it’s important to choose the right time of the year + time of day to have your elopement at Gold Creek Pond – skip down to this section for more about the best time to elope at Gold Creek Pond.
Why Elope at Gold Creek Pond?
Before I dive further into the deets about getting married at Gold Creek Pond, here’s a quick list of reasons why you should elope at Gold Creek Pond to help you figure out if it’s the right elopement location for you:
- It’s only an hour away from Seattle
- The mountain + forest views behind the pond are incredible
- It’s open year-round (and great for snowshoeing in the winter!)
- The spring + summer wildflowers are glorious
- It’s wheelchair-accessible
- The trail is easy & only 1 mile total
- It’s flat & doesn’t require any hiking
- It’s easy for you & your guests to access, including kids & elder adults
- There’s a picnic area (with amazing views) for an elopement lunch/dinner with your guests
FAQ’s About Eloping at Gold Creek Pond
I know what you may be thinking. . . what sort of permits do we need?? What’s allowed/not allowed? Can we bring our dogs?! Let’s get into all of that now with these FAQ’s about eloping at Gold Creek Pond!
Can you get married at Gold Creek Pond?
Hell yea you can!! Gold Creek Pond has become suchhh a popular wedding & elopement location because of its stunning views + easy access, so you’ll be following in the footsteps of many couples who wanted to tie the knot in front of those same gorgeous views.
Do you need a pass to visit Gold Creek Pond?
Since it’s part of the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie-National Forest, you’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass to park at Gold Creek Pond.
A day pass costs $5, which you can purchase online & print before visiting, or purchase in person at a Forest Service office. If you plan on visiting more WA national forests throughout the year (or visiting Gold Creek Pond more than a few times), you can buy an annual pass instead, which costs $30.
These Northwest Forest Passes can be used at any Forest Service recreation site in both Washington and Oregon where you have to pay a day-use fee to park!
Do you need a wedding permit to get married at Gold Creek Pond?
Nope, you don’t need a special wedding permit to have an elopement or wedding at Gold Creek Pond. The only time you need a Special Use Event Permit in a WA national forest is if your event will include 75 people or more, but I definitely don’t recommend holding that large of an outdoor adventure elopement/wedding anyway!
Where can you get married at Gold Creek Pond?
I’d recommend having your elopement ceremony along Gold Creek Pond Loop, which is the 1-mile round trip loop around the pond. The elevation gain is only 10 feet, and the entire loop is paved, making it ADA-accessible and great for your elopement if you have kids attending, or guests in wheelchairs/with limited mobility! You can take the trail counter-clockwise around the loop through the beautiful wildflowers (in the spring & summer), and you’ll eventually get to a maintained boardwalk that takes you to the north end of the pond, where you start getting those views you came for. The beach at the beginning/end of the loop is also a great spot to hang out with your guests, with picnic tables & beautiful scenery to enjoy!
How many guests can you have at a Gold Creek Pond wedding?
You can technically have up to 74 guests without having to get a Special Use Permit through the Forest Service, but I recommend keeping your guest count to 15 or under. This way you’ll have plenty of room to celebrate with your loved ones while making sure you respect the land as well as other visitors, and minimize your impact on the uber-popular Gold Creek Pond trail! It also just makes for less of a hassle so you don’t have to worry about a ton of people meeting you at the right time, getting parking passes, etc.
Are dogs allowed at Gold Creek Pond?
Yes, you can bring your dog(s) to Gold Creek Pond as long as they’re leashed! Bring ‘em along to witness your ceremony, walk down the aisle with ya, or just tag along on the trail to your ceremony spot.
Can you swim at Gold Creek Pond?
At the moment there are signs around the pond that warn you not to swim or go fishing in the pond, so if you want to go for a swim, it’s best to find somewhere else in the area (don’t worry, there’s a variety of waterfalls & lakes around that could be great spots to take a dip!).
When to Elope at Gold Creek Pond
Best time of year: June-October
One of the reasons Gold Creek Pond is SO popular is that it’s pretty great to visit all year-round, unlike many other locations in Washington that close off for the winter or are blocked due to snow! You’ll get the best weather at Gold Creek Pond in the summer & early fall, from around June to October. But if you’re down to get chilly and would rather bring your snowshoes than your flip flops, you can totally visit in the winter!
Best time of day: Weekday mornings
To avoid crowds as much as possible, I recommend eloping at Gold Creek Pond on a weekday, and in the early morning if you’re able to. Weekends get sooo crowded so definitely do everything you can to have your ceremony on a weekday, but if you really can’t, then you should at least go as early in the morning as possible – although even early weekend mornings attract crowds! Sunrise or early morning during the week will be your best bet to have a little more privacy during your Gold Creek Pond elopement.
Where to Stay Near Gold Creek Pond
Airbnb’s in Snoqualmie Pass
The Snoqualmie Pass area has a ton of super cozy Airbnb’s in the woods that would be perfect to stay in for your elopement! Say your vows at Gold Creek Lake, find a cool hike nearby, and then come back to your A-frame cabin in the forest at night for some R&R in the hot tub, s’mores around the campfire, and toasts with your guests. Here are some of the best Snoqualmie Pass Airbnb’s!
- Summit at Snoqualmie A-Frame Cabin
- Private Mountain Cabin
- Mountain View Cabin Retreat
- Ansel’s Cabin
- Peaceful 4-Bedroom Cabin
Gold Creek Pond Elopement Packages
If you’re eloping, I’m guessing it’s cause you want to tie the knot in a way that’s meaningful to you and your partner, without all the stress that traditional weddings can bring. I want to empower you to make the brave decision to elope and to do whatever the hell feels right to you, whether that’s a private adventure elopement in Snoqualmie Pass + a sunset picnic at Gold Creek Pond or an intimate wedding in front of the pond with your closest loved ones! I want to create images of your memories that you guys will be able to look back on forever.
If you’re ready to find out what my Gold Creek Pond elopement packages look like, you can learn about what I offer for elopement photography here, and then contact me here so we can plan your perfect, customized elopement experience. Can’t wait to cheer you on every step of the way & document your special day (hey, that rhymes)!
Gold Creek Pond Elopement Vendors
Here are some Washington elopement vendors I’ve worked with recently that you should def look into for your Gold Creek Pond elopement!!
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