Picnics

Urban park picnic sites:

• Dates available: April 15 – October 15
• Daily hours available: 5:00am – 11:00pm

Mountain park picnic sites:

• Dates available: May 1 – September 30
• Daily hours available: 9:00am – 8:00pm

Important notes:

• Only one (1) permit is booked per picnic site, per day
  (with the exception of some sites in Washington Park which have two blocks of time available to permit)

• Insurance is required for mountain park picnics with more than 100 attendees
  (more details will be provided if applicable)

• Picnic sites are for private, by-invitation gatherings only
  Public events such as runs/walks, festivals, fundraising, promotional activities, concerts and other community events are strictly prohibited
  Find more information about public events or inquire with staff to be directed to the correct permit application

• Site maps with boundaries can be found by clicking a park's name in the Picnic Site Inventory List(PDF, 116KB)
  Please ensure your picnic's activities stay within these boundaries

• If you are in need of an athletic field for sports play/activities in addition to a picnic site, please contact the Parks Permit Office

• Restroom access is not guaranteed; please do not contact the Parks Permit Office to inquire about status
  Maintenance requests can be submitted at denvergov.org/pocketgov or by calling 311 City Services (720-913-1311)

• Failure to obtain the appropriate permit, or not remaining within the picnic site boundaries, can result in revocation of the permit and/or a fine

• Please review the Picnic Site Inventory List(PDF, 116KB)  before submitting a reservation request to ensure the site you select is adequate for your gathering

Denver’s mountain parks are outside of Denver's city limits. Please review the notes below which are applicable to all picnic permits in Denver Mountain Parks:

Mountain Park Picnic Season:

May 1 – September 30; daily from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Holiday Closures:

Corwina Park, Genesee Park, Lookout Mountain Park, and O’Fallon Park are unavailable for permitting on Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.

Fire Bans and Restrictions: 

 FIRE RESTRICTIONS are in effect. No open fires or charcoal grills are allowed. ONLY GAS GRILLS ARE ALLOWED. Additional 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 allowed
• No fires are allowed in shelter fireplaces
• No ground fires are allowed
• Only gas grills with an on/off switch or shut off are allowed. Gas grills must be placed so that they are at least twelve (12) inches off the ground and not on picnic tables or benches

Parking: 

Parking is limited at many picnic sites and is only allowed in designated areas. Please ensure there is sufficient parking at your picnic site for your group size. Surrounding meadows cannot be used as overflow parking.

Decor:

Affixing decor or other items to trees or structures is prohibited.

Picnic Site Access

Entry gates will be opened or lock combinations provided. Call Mountain Park Staff for information: 720-865-0900.

Download the full Mountain Parks Picnic Site Information sheet.(PDF, 85KB)

For additional questions about picnic sites in Denver Mountain Parks, please call 720-865-0900. 

Permit change requests can be made by contacting the Parks Permit Office. Please reference your permit number (ex: R12345) when calling or emailing.

Permit holders may cancel due to COVID-19 at any time for a full refund.

Contact the Parks Permit Office by phone: 720-913-0700 (press 6 to leave a message) or email: Park.Permits@denvergov.org.

• Permit holders may cancel due to COVID-19 at any time for a full refund

• Permit holders may reschedule due to COVID-19 at any time
  Cancelations or change reschedule requests can be made by contacting the Parks Permit Office; please reference your permit number (ex: R12345) when calling or emailing

• Permit holders will be contacted as soon as possible if State or City Orders affect the status of park and facility permits

• Parking lot and road closures have been implemented in several parks to allow more room for physical distancing; view additional operational updates for more details about potential impacts