How to Plan a Hatcher Pass Elopement

How to Elope at Hatcher Pass

Learn everything about how to plan a Hatcher Pass elopement right here!

Hatcher Pass is a top destination for Alaska elopements for incredible views that are both easily accessible and an adventure. There’s a multitude of spots you can drive right up to, and others that are just a quick and easy walk from the parking lots available. You’ll find views of vast mountains, valleys, creeks, and lakes, all of which make for a beautiful background for an elopement! You’ll have the option of choosing a laidback day or going extreme and hiking through the outback of Alaska to secluded views most people won’t see in their lifetime. It’s one of my favorite locations in the state to visit for leisure trips and my job as an elopement photographer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Hatcher Pass Special Use Permits
• Best Spots in Hatcher Pass
• Where to Stay
• What to do Here
• Where to Eat
• Best Time of Year to Elope Here
• Elevation of Hatcher Pass
• How to Obtain Your Marriage License
• Finding Vendors

Hatcher Pass Elopement Permits

Permits are an important step when it comes to planning a Hatcher Pass elopement. The best way to find out the most up to date info about if you need a permit and how much it will cost is to check the Alaska State Parks website and read about permit requirements, and contact them if you have any additional questions. The permit fee is very affordable in comparison to renting a wedding venue! Here’s the general questions on a permit application form:

• The day you want to elope
• Where within the pass you want to do your ceremony
• What time you plan to do your ceremony, and how long it’ll last
• How many people (including guests, vendors, and yourselves) will be present
• and any other info they ask you to provide

(If you’re unsure about what time or where to do your ceremony, ask your photographer so they can recommend the best options for you!)

Leave No Trace

It’s important to note that there are several rules to follow when you elope outdoors, especially as a permit holder. Failure to follow rules can result in fines. These rules generally are:

1. You cannot set up chairs, an altar, or floral arrangements.
2. You can only have -X- amount of people occupying the area. (# varies by location)
3. Clean up any messes you make.
4. Do not be loud enough to disturb other park visitors.
5. You cannot block off or shoo away other park visitors occupying the area you intend to have your ceremony at. Your permit does not serve as a private reservation.
6. You cannot bring in non-native or faux florals in your bouquet.

Not all of these rules will apply at every location, but are common to see. These rules essentially follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles. You can learn more about LNT here.

Hatcher Pass Contact Info:

• 907.486.6339 (General Info for Alaska DNR)
• parkpermitting@alaska.gov

Parking & Fees

There’s a $5 parking fee for Hatcher Pass that can be paid at any of the designated parking lots. Parking can get pretty hectic here during peak months (June – September), so trying to plan for very early morning or late evening is best vs mid-day. Remember that the sun is out for 15-18 hours in the warmer months, so early/late will be a much different timeframe than if you’re in the lower 48 states. If you’re hosting a ceremony with guests, consider carpooling or providing transportation.

Best Spots for Your Ceremony & Photos within Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass is a large area with many choices for elopements, which can make planning your elopement seem overwhelming. Here’s some of my favorite spots. Some easily accessible, and some that will take quite a bit of effort and hours of hiking:

• Summit Lake (easy access)
• Hatcher Pass Lodge area (easy access)
• Gold Mint Trail (easy/difficult pending how far in you travel)
• Reed Lakes (difficult access)

Where to Stay During Your Hatcher Pass Elopement

It’s important to book lodging as soon as you can when you begin planning your Hatcher Pass elopement. A fun option for lodging at Hatcher Pass is the iconic tiny red cabins up in the mountains – you can totally reserve one for your elopement and step right outside your door into some of the best scenery in the area! These cabins are booked through the Hatcher Pass Lodge service.

Checking out VRBO and Airbnb for lodging in the area is also an option. Fishhook, Palmer, and Wasilla are the closest areas to Hatcher Pass and where I would recommend looking so you can be under an hour from the main area of the pass.

Nearest Airport to Hatcher Pass

The closest airport to Hatcher Pass is going to be the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Anchorage is about a 1.5 hours drive Northeast to the Hatcher Pass Lodge area, and about an hour from the towns of Wasilla and Palmer, nearby the pass.

What to do Within Hatcher Pass

There are several things you can do within Hatcher Pass for your elopement. These options will vary by season, so prioritizing a time of year that suits your interests is ideal. I always recommend adding some kind of activity when planning your Hatcher Pass elopement so that it feels like an experience and not a photoshoot! Some of these ideas are:

• Hiking one of the trails throughout the pass
• Exploring the Summit Lake area
• Exploring the Hatcher Pass Lodge area
• Having a picnic for cake and champagne
• Watching the aurora borealis and stargazing at night
• Picking wild blueberries
• Cozying up in your cabin after a fun day of adventuring
• Skiing/Snowboarding
• Rock climbing

Where to Eat

Hatcher Pass Lodge is at the top of the pass for close convenience, but open hours will vary. You’ll have to bring your own food if staying within the pass, or travel down to the Palmer/Wasilla area for restaurants about 30-45 minutes away from the lodge area. Some local favorites:

• The Noisy Goose (casual American)
• Evangelo’s (Italian)
• Basil Ginger (upscale Chinese and Thai)
• Everett’s (Fine dining with scenic lake views)
• Chepo’s (casual Mexican)

Best Time to Elope at Hatcher Pass

Environmental conditions and elopement possibilities will drastically change within Hatcher Pass from the summer to winter, and can vary from the lower areas of the pass to the upper areas. For access to the uppermost area of Hatcher Pass, July-September is the best timeframe since this is when Fishhook Rd should be open. This is the most popular, best time of year to elope here. No matter the time of year, aiming for a Monday-Thursday elopement can help minimize the crowds even if just a little bit, but this is especially recommended during the summer when it’s busiest in Alaska. You should also aim for planning your Hatcher Pass elopement in the early morning or late evening to avoid large crowds. Alaska summers are long so this could mean being up earlier/later than you’re used to in lower 48 states.

Because of the elevation, Hatcher Pass can be a bit more on the cooler side than sea-level destinations. It’s not uncommon to have temps in the 70s to 80s in the warmer months, and in single digits or negatives during the coldest. Here’s a seasonal breakdown:

Spring (March-May)

March and April: Still heavy snow and the summit road of Hatcher Pass will be closed. Other roads through the Pass may also be closed from time to time during extreme weather conditions or avalanche concerns. Winter activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, will be occurring, but will slow down by April, pending when the snow melts too much to continue. Temps usually average in the 20s °F in March and slightly warm up by April. This isn’t the most ideal time to be here due to the mass amount of snowmelt and the ‘in between’ phase.

May: Snowmelt will begin to rapidly increase. It’s a wet time of year with mega-loads of snow melting, but on the plus side it’s a slower/less crowded season. The road to the summit will still be closed until July due to heavy snow. The lodge area up in the mountains should be accessible with low risk of road closures, especially as the month progresses. Gold Mint Trail area should be fully accessible with most everything melted away, so it will be wet and muddy. Temps will average in the 40s to low 50s °F. This can be a good time to elope to avoid heavier crowds and be out of the more risky road conditions of winter – just as long as you’re alright with the wet, brown landscape with patches of snow.

For an extensive review of conditions in the late Spring, check out this May Elopement: Hatcher Pass during Snowmelt.

Summer (June-August)

June: Lower areas are easily traversable now, but uppermost areas may still have patches of snow melting. The summit road may open by the end of the month. Crowds will start rolling in to enjoy the pass during the brief lush and green months. High chance of clear skies. Temps will average in the 50s and 60s °F. Great time to elope here, minus the con of not being able to drive to the summit most of the month if not all of it!

July: The road to the summit will for sure be open by now. This is one of the best times to visit if you want to see the top. Wildflowers, like the colorful magenta fireweed, are blooming. Crowds will be thick at this time since it’s the peak of busy season. High chance of clear skies. Temps still averaging in the 50s and 60s °F. Perfect time to visit.

August: Usually the wettest/cloudiest month of the year, raining upwards of more than half the month. Though the rain is usually just a mild drizzle that comes and goes throughout the day. It can add such a lovely moody vibe to the landscape. A personal favorite, especially because it means the bonus waterfalls may be cascading down the sides of the mountains. The summit road is still open. Crowds will thin out just a bit. Fall colors may start to show by late month. Temps will vary on cloud/rain coverage – can be in the 50s and 60s when the sun is out, but otherwise can drop in the 40s. Great time to visit.

Check out this Moody August Elopement at Hatcher Pass for an extensive look of late summer in the pass.

Fall (September-November)

September: By early/mid month the fall colors will be settled into Hatcher Pass. Because of all the rain Alaska gets, autumns are incredibly rewarding. It’s a stunning time to visit for the pops of reds, oranges, and yellows. It’s another rainy month, which turns to snow sticking by mid/late September, especially in the upper areas. Crowds will start to die down as we enter snow season again. The summit road will generally close by mid/late September, pending winter conditions. Temps will average in the 40s °F. I’d recommend early month for best advantages.

October-November: Winter activities usually commence by mid/late October, but sometimes begin in the early part of the month. The summit road is closed, however access to the rest of the Pass will remain open until avalanche concerns or severe road conditions otherwise close it down. Temps will average in the 10s to 20s °F by November.

Winter (December-February)

Winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, etc. will continue in Hatcher Pass until April/May, when the majority of the snow will begin melting. You’ll need strong winter gear and likely AWD/4WD with winter tires to elope in this timeframe. The road to the lodge and Gold Mint Trail is usually plowed throughout winter, but can get closed pending brutal winter conditions. The road to the summit will be closed. If you’re up to braving the cold, there’s lots of winter fun to be had here! The only downside is the high risk of road closures during bad snow storms/avalanche concerns. Temps will average in the single digits and teens.

Aurora Season (August-April)

Hatcher Pass is a great place to see the northern lights because of minimal light pollution in the area. Odds of seeing the Aurora are greatest during the darker months, generally from late-August to mid-April. Months like September and March can be some of your greatest odds because of increase in aurora activity, while months like August may not be the best of the best odds because of increase in clouds and rain. Viewing hours are typically best between 10:00pm-2:00am, when the skies are darkest.

Elevation of Hatcher Pass: Your Health

With Hatcher Pass reaching upwards of 3,886ft from sea level, as you can imagine the air gets thin up there. If you’re from a place at sea level or with low elevation, and/or you have health conditions that may be affected by thin air conditions, like asthma, keeping things easy with short walks and no vigorous/long hikes or activities may be recommended when you begin planning activities for your Hatcher Pass elopement. Asthma attacks, altitude sickness, and other issues can on occasion happen at these heights if you overexert yourself. Be prepared by staying extra hydrated and full of electrolytes, and speak to your care provider about any concerns before your trip to Hatcher Pass. You can talk with your elopement expert vendor too so that they can recommend safe and comfortable activities for you to do in the area or recommend limiting your time higher up in the pass so that you still get to enjoy this incredible place.

Elevation of Hatcher Pass: The Weather

Mountains with elevation as high up as Hatcher Pass, and being a coastal state, comes with unpredictable weather. You should always expect and be prepared for the likelihood of short bursts of rain and wind while in the mountains. The rain can often times just be light drizzles, and can begin and end within 5 minutes. I would recommend bringing a raincoat with you if you plan on going far from the main areas and your vehicles, just in case.

Obtaining Your Alaska Marriage License

Alaska marriage license applications are a bit more of a lengthy process than some states. Plan accordingly, especially if coming from out of state, to ensure you get your license on time. Two witnesses are required to marry in Alaska, these witnesses could be random hikers, your vendors, or any loved ones you bring with you to see you get married. Here’s additional license info:

• Cost: $60 for license (check or money order made payable to “Alaska Vital Records”), $70 if Priority Mail is required because you cannot pick up locally or need it quickly.
• Submit the completed application WITH payment to the records office closest to your ceremony location (Alaska Vital Records in Anchorage or Juneau, or an Alaska Court location: Court Locations)
• Must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent.
• Form of identification, like drivers license or passport, required.
• Both parties must be sworn in by a Licensing Officer or Notary and sign the application IN PERSON, in their presence. This can be done at the Anchorage Vital Records Office, at any Alaska Courthouse, by an Alaska postmaster, or by a notary in your home jurisdiction.
• Once issued, the license is valid for only 90 days. You must get married before expiration, or re-apply and pay again.
• A specific ceremony script isn’t required, but you both have to be present in front of an officiant and 2 witnesses and give your consent to the marriage.
• After the marriage has taken place and all parties have signed, you must turn it in to the Anchorage Vital Records Office, or mail it to them for registration once you get home.

You can download the application form at the Alaska Dept. of Health website.

Finding Vendors For a Hatcher Pass Elopement

It’s helpful for you to work with vendors familiar with Hatcher Pass so that they can best guide you on what to expect of the weather, road closures, crowds, etc.. I’ve photographed couples within Hatcher Pass during multiple seasons and it’s always so different because of how the weather affects the possibilities. This is the type of location you want a seasoned elopement photographer for who knows the area or has done extensive research to best prepare you.

I hope you found all of this information I’ve sourced in my years exploring Hatcher Pass, and my decade as an elopement expert, as useful! It’s truly one of my favorite places to visit when I want to enjoy the outdoors, and such a fun spot with easily accessible and gorgeous views for an elopement that anyone of any skill-level can enjoy.

Wanna elope here? Reach out!

I’d love to chat with you about eloping at Hatcher Pass! You could have an incredible time here, and I just know we could make magic.