It was another early morning. Ethan and Kristin had married earlier in the year, but also wanted to have photos in the mountains. So they booked a hiking elopement session in Kananaskis with me! And when they wanted to do it at sunrise, I was even more excited, of course ;). Have I mentioned how much I love my clients? One of my favorite things about hiking elopements is having time to chat with my couples during the hike up the mountain. I love getting to know you, and it helps you relax a lot more during the session once we start shooting. This day was no different. Headlamps donned, we started our trek up King Creek Ridge in Kananaskis in the dark.

I often like to suggest that we turn our lights off for a few seconds throughout the hike, so we can see the stars. When you’re out in the middle of the mountains like that, the galaxies above are like nothing you’d ever see in the city. It’s incredible.

Why King Creek Ridge is great for a hiking elopement in Kananaskis

King Creek Ridge in Kananaskis is great for hiking elopements and adventure sessions for these reasons:

1. It’s relatively short. While the first part of the hike is steep, it’s not long before you are at the ridge. The remainder is a nice walk along the ridge up to the summit.
2. There is lots of variety. When you look back along the ridge to where you came from, there is a very distinct, jagged peak that looks absolutely amazing for photos. To the east, the slabs of rock form rounded peaks that offer incredible opportunities for unique composition in your elopement photos. To the north are layers and layers of interesting peaks, bordered by the hiway way down in the valley. Definitely keep this one on your list in your hiking elopement location search in Alberta!
3. It’s easily accessible. Just drive down hwy 40 south from hwy 1, and you can either park in the parking lot near the trailhead or on the side of the road. The trailhead is right there and is easy to see!

The Sunrise Hiking Elopement Session

As we reached the summit of King Creek Ridge for Kristin and Ethan’s adventure session, the wisps of clouds turned fiery pink in every direction. The light was soft, and the mountains against the morning sky created the most stunning backdrops. After the couple changed into their wedding clothes, Ethan bent down to help Kristin tie her hiking boots. We were ready!

The light was beyond amazing that morning, and I couldn’t stop exclaiming about how excited I was! The photos were incredible. One of my favorite things about this shoot was the opportunities for some epic wide angle shots. Check out the photos below to see what I mean!

And if you need somewhere to grab lunch after your hiking elopement or adventure session, check out Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. in Canmore!

Are you ready to book your hiking elopement or session in Kananaskis? I’m ready to start helping you choose a location and get planning, and then come along to capture it all. Click here to reach out!