Picnics

2021 picnics reservations will open Wednesday, February 10 at 8:00am. Picnic site reservations can be made online. The 2021 Picnic Site Inventory list will be posted in early February. 

Mountain Park Picnic Sites
Dates available: May 1 – September 30
Daily hours available: 9:00am - 8:00pm
View special notes on mountain park picnic permits below.

Urban Park Picnic Sites
Dates available: April 1 – October 31
Daily hours available: 5:00am - 11:00pm

Important permit notes:

• Only one (1) permit is booked per picnic site, per day
• Insurance is required for mountain park picnic site reservations with more than 100 attendees. 
  • Permitting staff will provide more details if applicable
• Picnic sites are for private, invitation-only use only
• Picnic site maps are provided-- please ensure your picnic's activities are within these boundaries
• Failure to obtain the appropriate permit or not remaining within the site boundaries can result in revocation of the permit and/or a fine
  

Please review picnic site inventory before submitting a reservation request. The inventory list includes: 

• All available urban and mountain picnic sites
• Sheltered vs. non-sheltered (standard) details
• Fees
• Capacity
• Grill availability
• Power/electricity availability
• Restroom availability
• Other misc. details

View picnic reservation instructions while submitting an online reservation request.

To ensure you are reserving a site that meets your group's needs, review picnic site inventory and maps.

Advance Reservation Requirements

Urban Parks
All urban park picnic sites require reservations to be made at least 24 hours in advance, with the EXCEPTION of Ruby Hill sites 2, 3, and 4, which must be reserved at least 72 hours in advance. 

Mountain Parks
Reservation requirements as follows:

• 24 hours: Corwina, Morrison, O'Fallon and Red Rocks Parks
• 48 hours: Bergen, Dedisse, Fillius, Lookout Mountain Parks
• 72 hours: Daniels, Echo Lake, Genesee, Newton Parks

Questions/Technical Support? Please follow the picnic reservation instructions to make your reservation request via Denver Parks & Recreation's Online Service Center.

Email PR_OnlineServiceCenter@denvergov.org for further support after reviewing these instructions.

Denver Mountain Park Picnic Permits: May 1 - September 30

Denver’s Mountain Parks are outside of City limits. Please review the notes below which are applicable to Mountain Park Picnic Site Permits.

A picnic site inventory list which includes mountain park locations can be found at denvergov.org/picnics.

For assistance, call 311 (720.913.1311).

Fire Bans and Restrictions

FIRE RESTRICTIONS are in effect. No open fires or charcoal grills are permitted. ONLY GAS GRILLS PERMITTED.

Additional Stage 1 fire restrictions (if enacted) would restrict all open flames and use of gas grills.

For current fire bans and restrictions in place, visit denvergov.org/mountainparks.

• No fires or charcoal grills are permitted
• No fires are permitted in shelter fireplaces
• No ground fires are allowed
• Only gas grills with an on/off switch or shut off may be used

The following information applies to all Mountain Park Picnic Site Permits:

• Permits are from 9am to 8pm
• Primitive pit toilets or portable toilets are provided at each location
• The use of gas grills is required. No fires and no use of wood or charcoal
• Parking is limited at many sites - please make sure parking at your picnic site works for your group size
• Surrounding meadows are not maintained as playing fields or parking areas for any picnic sites
• Water and electricity are not available at most sites unless specifically noted

Please review the special notes for the following Mountain Park Sites:

Genesee Park, Lookout Mountain Park, and O’Fallon Park picnic sites will not be available for permitting on May 25 (Memorial Day), July 4, and September 7 (Labor Day)

Newton Park (Commissioners, Juvenile, Stromberg)

These picnic sites do not open until May 10.

• Entry gates will be opened or combination to locks provided (call Mountain Parks Staff at 720.865.0900 for combination)
• Please lock gates upon leaving the facilities
• Surrounding meadows are not maintained as playing fields and may not be used for parking
• Existing fire pits and grills may be used unless a fire ban is in effect

O’Fallon Park 

• Parking is only allowed in designated areas
• Parking is limited at this site, do not double-park
• Picnic site reservations are not available weekends
• Only gas grills with an on/off switch or shut off may be used 

Red Rocks Park

• On concert days the picnic shelter must be vacated by 4pm to accommodate event traffic.
• There is limited parking near the shelter, with additional parking in parking lots below
• Everyone in your group must stay in the designated permit site or on designated hiking trails
• Climbing on rock formations is strictly prohibited. Off trail use is prohibited
• Only gas grills with an on/off switch or shut off may be used 

View online reservation request instructions (PDF)

After your reservation request has been submitted and payment information has been entered, an email notification will be sent to you, indicating your request is either:

• Approved - Please print your permit and keep it on your person at all times during your picnic. Please review park rules and regulations which you will also receive with your final permit. Permit change requests can be made by contacting the Parks Permit Office at 720.913.0700 or park.permits@denvergov.org.  
  Please reference your permit number when calling or emailing. Also, note that a $10 processing fee will be assessed to the permit if changes are needed.
  
  
• Denied/Cancelled - Please contact the Parks Permit Office at 720.913.0700 or park.permits@denvergov.org to be refunded.