There are numerous picnic sites on the East side of the park that are not within the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Below is a list of the sites, along with their general location and any amenities they offer. Please note that between May 26, 2023 and October 22, 2023, a Park Access timed entry reservation will be required to access these sites between the hours of 9am to 2pm.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) west of downtown Estes Park on Highway 36. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 4
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: No
Toilets: Flush Toilets
Copeland Lake
Location: 14 miles (22.5 km) south of Estes Park on Highway 7, located next to the Sandbeach Lake trailhead. 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Estes Park, turn right onto County Road 84 West. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: ????
Fire Grates: ?????
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Vault toilets, located at Sandbeach Lake Trailhead
Endovalley
Location: 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Fall River Entrance Station. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 32, with more along Fall River Road
Fire Grates: 30
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Vault Toilets
Notes: In the winter, this picnic site is only accessible by walking to it. The walk from the West Alluvial parking lot to the Endovalley picnic site is 1 mile (1.6 km).
Hidden Valley
Location: 5.9 miles (9.5 km) west of Beaver Meadows Entrance station on Trail Ridge Road. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 4 in Pavilion, more scattered on hillside
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Flush Toilets, year-round
Lawn Lake Trailhead
Location: 2.7 miles (4.3 km) west of Fall River Entrance Station. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 3
Fire Grates: No
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: No
Toilets: Vault Toilets
Lawn Lake Horse Ramp
Location: 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Fall River Entrance Station. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 2
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: No
Toilets: No, but vault toilets are located nearby at the Lawn Lake Trailhead
Lily Lake
Location: 7.1 miles (11.4 km) south of Estes Park on Highway 7. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 4
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: No
Toilets: Vault Toilets
Lily Lake group picnic area
Location: 7.1 miles (11.4 km) south of Estes Park on Highway 7, .25 mile (.4 km) walk to the picnic site. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 8
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Only self-contained grills only with special use permit
Toilets: Vault Toilets located .25 miles (.4 km) in the Lily Lake parking lot.
Notes: This is available by reservation only for large groups. There is a $350 administrative fee to reserve the area.
Longs Peak Ranger Station
Location: 10.7 miles (17.2 km) south of Estes Park on Highway 7. 9 miles (14.5 km) south of Estes Park, turn right onto Longs Peak Road. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 7
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: No
Toilets: Vault Toilets
Upper Beaver Meadows
Location: 1.8 miles (2.9 km) west of Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. .8 miles (1.3 km) west of Beaver Meadows Entrance station, turn left onto the Upper Beaver Meadows Road. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 10
Fire Grates: 6
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Vault Toilet
Notes: In the winter, this picnic site is only accessible by walking to it. The walk from the closure gate on Highway 36 to the Upper Beaver Meadows picnic site is 1 mile (1.6 km).
West Alluvial Fan
Location: 3.4 miles (5.5 km) west of the Fall River Entrance Station. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: 8, with more along Fall River Road
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Vault Toilets
Wild Basin
The Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park has a number of small picnic areas located along Wild Basin Road, many of them are tucked in the trees beside the stream. There are also a number of picnic tables at the Wild Basin Trailhead at the end of the dirt road.
Location: 16 miles (25.8 km) south of Estes Park on Highway 7. 12 (19.3 km) miles south of Estes Park, turn right onto County Road 84 West. Click here to view on map.
Number of Tables: There close to 20 picnic tables in the Wild Basin area.
Fire Grates: 0
Portable Fire Grates Permitted: Yes
Toilets: Yes