Nestled in the mountains just behind Boulder, Brainard Lake Recreation Area provided an amazing backdrop for Karryn and Rob's adventurous fall engagement session, full of yummy food, a gorgeous sunrise, and their favorite game to play as a couple. It was such an authentic and laid back session, I hope it inspires you to plan something similar for your engagement photos!

Keep reading to hear the story of their day and how you can plan an amazing Engagement Session at Brainard Lake in Colorado!

Brainard Lake engagement photos in the fall. Photography by Trail Magic Elopements and Micro Weddings.

Looking for more Colorado engagement inspiration? We got you!

Navigating Brainard Lake Timed Entry Reservations

Brainard Lake is a stunning and accessible location near the Denver Metro area, which means it is popular for photographers and hiking enthusiasts alike! In recent years the park service has started a timed entry reservation system to help manage crowd levels and keep the area protected for future enjoyment!

The Timed Entry system can be a bit confusing and can change year to year, so here are the basic things you need to know for 2025:

Timed entry reservations operate from June through mid-October. In 2024 the main Brainard Lake gate closed for the season on October 13th.
Entry times are available in interval time frames from 5am - 8pm, 7 days per week.
Reservations are for a particular parking lot in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
Reservations are available to purchase for $16 on recreation.gov (America the Beautiful and Interagency Passes can be applied to the reservation to lower the fee)

If you’re planning an engagement session for Brainard Lake Recreation Area during the summer or fall months, I’d suggest reserving your timed entry ticket sooner rather than later because they do sell out quickly, especially on weekends. In addition to booking our entry tickets early, Karryn, Rob, and I opted to arrive at the gate by 6am to enjoy sunrise and avoid the mid-morning crowds.

Arriving before sunrise at Brainard Lake Recreation Area

After a 4am wake up call, Karryn and Rob arrived at Brainard Lake with camping chairs, a portable stove, and all the fixings for their traditional breakfast ritual. The decision to begin their session before sunrise gave us lots of time to enjoy the area without crowds and allowed us to witness a beautiful sunrise while eating warm breakfast burritos and chocolate chip muffins!

The morning didn’t go without a couple amusing mishaps. One of Karryn and Rob’s favorite things to do together is make their morning coffee and Karryn made sure to bring their favorite brand with them for the session. Unfortunately, when she was about to pour it into their cups, the kettle toppled over onto the rocks and we lost the whole pot! She ended up saving a little, but it made for a big laugh & a promise to visit their favorite coffee shop in Nederland after the session.

Cooking breakfast, skipping rocks, and playing some Cribbage

My favorite part of Karryn & Rob’s engagement session was their decision to incorporate activities that genuinely reflected their relationship. Instead of solely focusing on posed portraits, I got to capture the story of their morning engaging in their favorite pastimes. It allowed for incredible images full of sweet, candid moments.

One thing Rob insisted we do was set up the Cribbage board. It’s a tradition they've maintained on their camping adventures together, so he wanted to capture that. Their cribbage game became some of my favorite photos of the session because it was full of laughter and playful banter that perfectly captured their dynamic relationship and shared value of having fun together.

Essential Tips for Your Brainard Lake Engagement Session

If you’re looking to have your own engagement session at Brainard Lake, here are my top tips for a memorable experience like Karryn & Rob:

Best time of Day

The optimal timing for engagement photos at Brainard Lake typically falls within the golden hours – either just after sunrise or before sunset – for a beautiful, soft light across the lake and mountains.

*Pro tip: My personal favorite time of day is sunrise because of the direction of the light and mountains. You get that dreamy pinkish alpine glow on the peaks behind you!

Best Season

Brainard Lake Recreation Area is open year-round, and there truly isn’t a bad time to visit.

Summer season ranges from June - mid October
Summer season is best for hiking all of the different trails in the area and parking closest to the lake. Bring your kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard for a truly memorable experience!
Winter season is from Mid October - June.
If you visit in the winter, you have to park at Gateway Trailhead and walk 2 miles into the park to reach the lake. Don’t let this discourage you though, it’s a spectacular place to snowshoe!!

Weather & Climate

Brainard Lake is tucked deep in the mountains at 10,000+ ft above sea level. This means that weather conditions can change rapidly at this elevation, so bringing appropriate layers and weather-proof gear ensures comfort throughout your session regardless of unexpected weather shifts.

Always come prepared and if you’re unsure, hire a local engagement photographer that knows the area and can help you with all the preparation & advice!

Multiple Locations for all types of adventurous couples

While Brainard Lake offers accessible shooting locations directly from the parking area with no hiking required, numerous trails provide opportunities for more adventurous couples seeking varied backdrops, from dense pine forests to pristine alpine lakes like Mitchell Lake and Lake Isabelle.

Tips for candid, beautiful photos

Incorporating meaningful activities that reflect your relationship, as Karryn and Rob did with their breakfast preparation and cribbage game, can help create natural, relaxed moments that translate beautifully in photographs.

Karryn and Rob's engagement session at Brainard Lake exemplifies how incorporating genuine interests and activities can transform a photo session from a potentially awkward experience into a fun, goofy, and natural celebration of your relationship. The success of their engagement photos stems from their willingness to be truly themselves – making breakfast burritos at altitude, playing their favorite game, and simply enjoying each other's company in one of my favorite spots in Colorado. I hope their story serves as inspiration for you and your mountain engagement session!