An adventurous elopement in the High Sierra

Far above the valley’s many thundering waterfalls and the steady churning of the Merced river you’ll find my favorite little corner of Yosemite national park, the northern rim. Located along Highway 120, also known as the Tioga Road, the northern section of Yosemite national park is a far more wild landscape than the rest of the park. Far from the many hotels and tour buses you’ll find it to be a far less crowded experience than down in the valley. But the north rim is still just as gorgeous. When eloping couples ask me where I most recommend for their adventure in Yosemite, this is it. With much of the road sitting at around 8,000 feet of elevation you can experience some of the best parts of the high Sierra without having to do all the backpacking and switchbacks.

Famous trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir trail owe much of their acclaim to the mind boggling natural beauty of the high Sierra. Stunning vistas, craggy towering peaks, granite wrapped lakes and pine forests everywhere in between make up this outdoor wonderland. And as you can imagine all that makes for some incredible backdrops for an elopement. Andrew and Candice were looking for the perfect spot to say their vows and have a short but sweet photo shoot to capture the memories of their wedding day. One of the things that makes this area perfect for a shoot is the diverse locations and backdrops located so close togeather. So I knew the Tioga would be just the perfect place for them. We started the days journey in the late afternoon at my absolute favorite location Olmsted point. Here on the sloping granite cliffs these two lovebirds said I do to a stunning backdrop featuring both clouds rest and Half Dome. Despite the rest of the park being busy on this weekday in September we were alone out on the point. This allowed them plenty of privacy so they could just focus on each other and the joy of getting married. We didn’t spend too long here after the ceremony as we would be back to capture the sunset here. So we grabbed our things and made the short hike back to the cars to set off for our next destination.

Just a few minute from Olmsted we made a quick stop at Lake Tenaya. This granite wrapped lake is a destination unto itself. Its crystal clear waters, rocky shoreline, and pine forests would be enough to make this a must stop for any visit to Yosemite but once you add in the mountain peaks and granite domes that surround the lake you have a view that’s to die for. We hiked along the lake and took in the views while creating some incredible photos. This is one of those spots that just calls for a romantic dip and a little slow dancing. We could of easily spent the whole day here but after exploring the lakeshore for an hour it was time to move on.

A short drive from the lake we found ourselves in a completely different world. The granite domes and peaks gave way to quiet meadows and the gently flowing Tuolumne river. Here we trekked out to the riverbank among the golden grass and granite boulders as the sun sunk lower in the sky casting everything in a golden light. A first dance by the river and many tender moments in the quiet of this meadow made for a series of incredible memories I was privileged to photograph.

As sunset drew near we rushed back to Olmsted to end things where we began. Andrew and Candice choose this time to sit togeather and take in their first sunset as husband and wife while reading some letters their family had wrote for them. It was a incredibly sweet idea and I think it’s a perfect way to include your family when eloping. We watched the sun set on the Sierra range and Half dome slowly turned a brilliant orange drawing our little adventure in the golden state to a close. Despite traveling just a few miles we got three vastly different landscapes each more beautiful than the last. Making the most of our time and creating some absolutely incredible elopement photos. It’s not always about crazy hikes and 12 hours of coverage. With the right location and a little planning you can create an adventure you’ll never forget in just a few hours.