Picnicking

Going for a Picnic?

Pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of Rocky Mountain National Park in the many picnic areas spread throughout the park (except on the alpine tundra).

Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round. During the times of day when timed entry reservations are required to enter the park, a timed entry permit is required to access the park's picnic areas.

All park picnic areas are first-come, first-served except Lily Lake Group Site (see chart, available by reservation only, $350 administrative fee).

• Leashed dogs and cats are permitted within established campgrounds and picnic areas. REMEMBER: dogs, cats, and other pets are prohibited in all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park not accessible by motor vehicles, including ALL trails, tundra, and meadows.
• Campfires are permitted in designated picnic areas, and only in metal fire grates provided by the park for such use. All park picnic areas and other areas are closed to the collection of firewood. If you choose to bring in firewood for a campfire in a metal fire grate, please inspect the wood closely to ensure it does not harbor any insects. You must ensure your campfire is completely extinguished.
• The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, petroleum fuel/gas stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in some picnic areas (see chart). Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
• Day use picnicking is prohibited in all park campgrounds during camping reservation season. Off-season picnicking in campgrounds has no additional fee, but you must ensure your campfire is completely extinguished. Any picnicking which interferes with overnight campers is prohibited at all times.
• Horses and other stock are not permitted in picnic areas.

 

Picnic Areas	Picnic Tables	Fire Grates	Portable Grills OK	Toilets	Notes	Park Access or Park Access+ Timed Entry Permit Reservation Required During Reservation Dates & Times?
East Side
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center	4	0	No	Accessible flush toilets	Open year-round
Copeland Lake	5; accessible		Yes			Access
Endovalley	32; accessible	30	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Walking access only in winter.	Access
Hidden Valley	4 accessible in covered pavilion; scattered tables on hillside	0	Yes	Accessible flush toilets	Open year-round. Accessible parking.	Access
Hollowell Park	10; accessible	0	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking. Open year-round. Summer shuttle bus stop on Moraine Park Route	Access+
Lawn Lake Trailhead	3	0	No	Vault toilets		Access
Lily Lake	4; accessible	0	No	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access
Lily Lake group picnic area Available by reservation only. $350 administrative fee to reserve area. email e-mail us	12	0	ONLY self-contained grills ONLY with special use permit	Accessible vault toilets next to parking lot at Lily Lake	¼ mile walk to picnic area.	(The fee is a Special Use Permit, so no reservation is needed)
Longs Peak Ranger Station	7	0	No	Vault toilet		Access
Park & Ride	3	0	No	Vault toilet		Access+
Sprague Lake	27; accessible	16 pedestal grills	Yes	Accessible summer flush & winter vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access+
Tuxedo Park	8	0	Yes	No	Summer shuttle bus stop on Moraine Park Route. Sites near creek	Access+
Upper Beaver Meadows	8; accessible	6	Yes	Vault toilet	Walking access only in winter	Access
West Alluvial Fan	8; accessible	0	Yes	Accessible vault toilet	More tables on road. Accessible parking.	Access
Wild Basin Trailhead	8	0	Yes	Vault toilets	More tables on road	Access
Picnic Areas West Side
Beaver Creek	4	4	No			Access
Beaver Ponds	6	6	Yes			Access
Bowen/Baker	3	0	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Access
Colorado River	6	4	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access
Coyote Valley	7; accessible	0	No	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access
Harbison MeadowsReopened	4 accessible in covered pavilion	4	Yes	Port-a-pottys(Vault toilet to be rebuilt following East Troublesome Fire)	Packed gravel path to picnic tables from parking lot is sloped. Accessible parking.	Access
Holzwarth Historic Site	3	0	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking in unpaved lot.	Access
Kawuneeche Visitor Center	3; accessible	0	Yes	Accessible toilets at Visitor Center	Accessible parking for Visitor Center/not at picnic sites
Lake Irene	8; accessible	0	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access
Timber Lake Trailhead	8	8	Yes	Accessible vault toilets	Accessible parking	Access

 

Picnic Table and Fire Grate at Sprague Lake Picnic Area

NPS/K. Daugherty