Sonora, California is one of the closest cities to Yosemite National Park, but it’s a popular destination in its own right. Founded in 1850, by miners from Mexico, Sonora was named after the Mexican city state of the same name. Also known as the “Queen of the Southern Mines,” this historic Gold Rush town is filled with charm, character and plenty to do. The Sonora Pass is a staggering 9,624 feet above sea level, and makes a fantastic elopement destination. The Sonora Highway, also known as California Highway 108, crosses Sonora Pass on the second highest mountain highway in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You’ll want to travel this beautiful, narrow and winding road to see some of the most spectacular views and get to your elopement destination. Sonora Pass is an unforgettable journey, but let’s talk about how to elope here!

Range Of Light Wed

We're Range Of Light Wed, your elopement planning dream team. We are a group of seasoned local wedding professionals who want to support your elopement or small wedding journey. Our biggest goal is to give you a meaningful experience that feels just how you want it to.

We delight in sharing our home, the Sierra Nevadas, with couples ready to start their lives with big adventures or quiet moments. For us, it’s not just about your elopement itself, instead it’s about the experience of connecting with nature and each other in a deeply personal way. Whether it’s the allure of the Sonora Pass, camping under the stars, or the adventure that comes with exploring nearby Ebbetts Pass, we believe this elopement destination promises a truly unforgettable day or multi-day adventure.

Let’s talk about eloping at Sonora Pass! One of our favorite parts of a Sonora Pass Elopement is that the options here are limitless! There is no shortage of free campsites, hiking trails, jeep trails and forest service roads.

How To Elope At Sonora Pass

Growing up in Sonora we would take drives over hwy 108 to see the gorgeous views, the beautiful mountains, and the stunning nature. This area is seriously one of my favorite places ever. The cool breeze, the fresh mountain air, the birds chirping, the massive granite rocks, the sound of the river, simply put….it’s amazing.

Sonora Pass Road, also known as Highway 108, runs from east-to-west through scenic National Forest lands and across the Sierra Range near Bridgeport, California. The pass connects Mono and Tuolumne Counties about an hour north of Mammoth Lakes, California. The pass is narrow and steep in spots, so it is not recommended for long or large vehicles. Open to vehicles in summer only.

Check out our guide on How To Elope At Mammoth Lakes!

You know one of the best parts of eloping at Sonora Pass? Every single location is dog friendly, and you know how we feel about the pups (bring them, ALWAYS).

Why Should You Elope At Sonora Pass?

This area is one of our absolute favorite northern California elopement destinations. If you want to say your vows by a river, overlooking a lake, in a quiet grove of aspens, in a meadow full of wildflowers or atop a granite mountaintop, the Sonora Pass has it all. Our team of vendors have spent countless hours exploring to find the best locations. We will transform any outdoor location you choose into your own private sanctuary.

When To Elope At Sonora Pass

Summer and fall are generally the best times to elope at Sonora Pass. Like most high elevation passes across the Sierra Nevadas, the highway is closed in the winter, generally between November and May, due to large quantities of snow. So eloping here in Spring or Winter is not advised.

Summer At Sonora Pass

Summer at Sonora Pass is absolutely beautiful and one of the best times of year to elope here. Summer offers access to hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, and camping. Have your gourmet elopement picnic (provided by Robin of Perfect Day Catering) on the East side of the Sonora Pass on the Walker River at Sonora Picnic Area. Keep in mind that summer is a popular time to explore Sonora Pass, but being locals it’s easy for us to find secret spots that offer you a bit more privacy.

Fall At Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass is widely known across California as a Fall foliage hot spot. Every year, the aspens put on a show of changing colors, from fire reds, to ember oranges, and golden yellows. Saying your vows among the autumn colors is insanely romantic. As you gain substantial elevation, the pass snakes through some of the most stunning pull-outs for Fall foliage views. One of our favorite views is looking out towards Deadman Creek with the mountain peaks towering above in the distance. Keep in mind, due to the elevation of Sonora Pass the leaves in this area typically turn later in the season, so if you’ve missed the colors peaking in other regions of the Eastern Sierra, this is a great spot to elope!

Range Of Light Wed Sonora Pass Elopement Package

Range Of Light Wed offers elopement packages with all the essentials - as low-key or as adventurous as you can dream of! We do not provide wardrobe, or any permits required by national parks. We can accommodate up to 15 guests.

Our Sonora Pass elopement package includes: Highway 108, Kennedy Meadows, Donnel Vista, and all of our secret local spots!

On-site hair and makeup
Personal florals for 2 people
Officiant
Complimentary Champagne
Gourmet Picnic Lunch
A personal organic cake
A table for 2 where local laws allow
A ceremony arch or ground florals
Seating for up to 15 when selected
Collaborative Timeline Planning
Location Suggestions
6 Hours of Photography Coverage (with option to extend)
Full Resolution files with printing rights.
Online gallery for printing and sharing.
NO TRAVEL FEES

Sonora Pass Elopement Package

Where To Elope At Sonora Pass

Walker River Canyon

The West Walker River hugs Highway 395 and provides beautiful scenery, especially in Fall. The Walker River Canyon and Antelope Valley are peppered with aspens, pines, willows, and cottonwoods that create a gorgeous array of greens, yellows, and oranges in the Autumn.

Sonora Picnic Area

Located on Highway 108 (Sonora Pass Road) between Bridgeport and Walker the Sonora Picnic Area is a fantastic elopement location. Keep in mind, it’s only open in summer. This area has a pit toilet and a huge parking lot. As an added bonus, it's very close to Bridgeport, and you or any out of town guests could stay there.

Leavitt Meadow

Nestled amidst Jeffrey Pines, alongside the West Walker River, the 2 mile-long Leavitt Meadow is situated around 7,100 feet in elevation and is a prime spot to see the Eastern Sierras in all their glory. The Leavitt Meadows Trailhead is the starting point for horse or foot trails, and climbers use this trail to approach Tower Peak, which offers both technical climbs and scrambles. The trail is rated moderate and is 9 miles round trip with 1,282 ft elevation gain.

Leavitt Falls

Driving 1.3 miles west from the Leavitt Meadow Pack Station, you’ll find a sign and turnoff on your left for Leavitt Falls. A short trail, at just 1.8 miles, or a quick drive leads to a platform overlook, and this viewpoint is especially unique because it’s not often you find a waterfall and fall colors side by side in California. The wooden viewing platform makes it easy to soak in panoramic views of the waterfall, and Leavitt Meadow below. The waterfall cascades over 250 feet in several steps, and while there’s no trail to the base of the falls, you get great views from the viewing platform. There is also a pit toilet here.

Kennedy Meadows

Kennedy Meadows is one of our favorite elopement locations on the Sonora Pass. This fantastic spot makes eloping easy, and offers all the amenities (although they are rustic). You can have your ceremony in the "main" meadow with zero walking, or the upper meadow for more privacy and an incredible view. It's a 1/4 walk but you can also get permission to open the gate and drive it. There's a restaurant, cabins, and historic bar on site. We love Kennedy Meadows!

Donell Vista

We can’t complete this list without mentioning Donell Vista! The majestic overlook offers sweeping views of the Middle Fork Stanislaus River Canyon, and Donnell Reservoir. The incredible views from this vista truly showcase the granite cliffs that the Sonora Pass is known for. The short and easy walk on a ¼ mile paved trail is handicap accessible and offers pit toilets.

Dispersed Campsites On Forest Service Land

There are a ton of easily accessible granite overlooks along the Sonora Pass, so if you want a big mountain view with minimal effort, there’s a few places you can pull right off the road to an incredible scene. There are also several, free, dispersed campsites where you can host your elopement river side in shady aspens, or surrounded by towering granite.

Range Of Light Secret Spots

Being locals and growing up in this beautiful slice of paradise affords us the ability to suggest our favorite secrets spots! We’ve got so many on the Sonora Pass, and would love to help you plan your perfect elopement here.

Where To Stay In Sonora Pass

Pinecrest, Strawberry & Leland Meadows

These tiny mountain towns are all excellent jumping off points for your Sonora Pass adventure elopement. They’re on the mountain but close enough to amenities such as small mom & pop grocery stores and gas before embarking on your adventure.

Sonora Bridge Campground

The Sonora Bridge Campground is a 23-site campground open in June, July, August and September. Located on the West Walker River in a pine forest, this location provides peaceful rustic camping for fishermen and hikers on Sonora Pass traveling between Bridgeport and Walker. Views encompass the high Sierra peaks that surround Sonora Pass. Scenic Leavitt Meadows is just 4.5 miles west (see above for more information). Sonora Bridge Campground is dog friendly and offers potable water and toilets. Sites here are first-come, first-served so make sure to arrive early to secure your spot.

Leavitt Meadows Campground

With 20 rustic sites overlooking the West Walker River, Leavitt Meadows Campground is a great spot to stay for your Sonora Pass elopement. You’ll be camping in an area shaded by pines and popular with hikers, rock climbers and solitude seekers, and of course adventure elopers! Surrounded by high alpine lakes, peaks and trails, we love the Leavitt Meadows Campground. There is a pack station close by, however water, vault toilets and bear lockers are all provided at the campground. Sites at Leavitt Meadows Campground are first-come, first-served so make sure to secure your spot early in the day.

Range Of Light Wed Tip: If you’re planning to camp it’s important to know that this is black bear country. Bears and other wildlife can be present on trails at any time of the day or night. Feeding and approaching wildlife is both illegal and dangerous. Make sure to properly store your food in the bear lockers while camping. Bear canisters are required for wilderness food storage for overnight hikers.

Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station

You’lll find the Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, a place that has been a gathering point for over a century. A crossroad for horseback riders, fly fishermen, backpackers, campers, PCT trail hikers and photographers in Sonora, California, makes this an excellent Sonora wedding venue. It was even featured in the movie Wild.

The Kennedy Meadow Resort is situated among the towering pines along the banks of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. The resort has been operating for 90 years and now offers several wedding venues. You can even get married here - if you are thinking of doing a micro-wedding, Kennedy Meadows Resort’s new wedding venues are available from May 1st through June 15th and September 9th through October 9th. A few wedding venue locations are available, including the Upper Valley (no size limit) and the Lower Valley (100 person max).

Your Sonora Pass Adventure Elopement Might Look Like…

Take Sonora Pass to Highway 395
Take a break at Levatte Peak where you will find views of the Levatte Valley.
Visit mono lake visitors center then travel five miles to Mono Lake to see the hauntingly beautiful tufa formations and stunning migrating birds.

Other Things To Do Along Sonora Pass

Columns of Giants

About 24 miles east of Pinecrest, California on the Sonora Highway, you don’t want to miss the short hike to see this geological wonder in Stanislaus National Forest. The easy ¼ mile hike takes you to geologic formations with spectacular views of basalt columns.

Off Roading

There are so many amazing off roading (4x4) trails along the Sonora Pass. It’s a fun way to get to a private spot to exchange your vows! We love it!

Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway

Only a few miles to the north of Sonora Pass you’ll discover beautiful Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (Highway 4) that offers mountain lakes, fantastic camping, and a plethora of other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Marriage License and Requirements For Sonora Pass

You’ll need to get your California marriage license to elope at Sonora Pass. In California, you need to apply for a marriage license at a County Clerk’s office. In this case the Tuolumne County Clerk's office is closest.

Your California marriage license will cost around $85 if you get it in Tuolumne County.

You’ll need one witness, and there are no age limits on your witness (we’ve got you). You’ll also need an officiant (we can take care of that for you).

Find more information about a Tuolumne marriage license here.

Sonora Pass Permits

You can host your wedding on the Sonora Pass and in Stanislaus National Forest for free by obtaining a special use permit. Depending on the size of your party, you may need a non-commercial group use permit for your Sierra Nevada wedding celebration. You can get the permit application here, and submit this form to the local permit administrator in the Ranger District where you would like to hold your event.

Things To Keep In Mind

During the summer and fall months mosquitos can be an issue, but no need to worry we have you covered! It’s also important to remember that you are in the Eastern Sierras and rattlesnakes can be present anywhere along the Sonora Pass. We’ll keep an eye out for them for you!

Leave No Trace

At Range Of Light Wed we always practice Leave No Trace, and our favorite places are often the most impacted by the presence of humans. If you’re familiar with this area in California, the growing popularity shows in terms of the amount of waste left behind. We love that people are getting outside and enjoying the Eastern Sierras, but it’s more important than ever to follow Leave No Trace (LNT) guidelines and protect these unique places.

Range Of Light Wed always follows Leave No Trace, but here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

If you pack it in, pack it out.
Dispose of waste in proper receptacles.
Obey signs telling you to stay on the trail.
Don’t disturb local flora and fauna.
Be aware of what flowers you bring into the area (e.g., baby’s breath is an invasive species—our Susan always considers this when planning your elopement florals).