Due to very high fire danger, the extended weather forecast, and current fire activity across Colorado, Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are now in effect within Rocky Mountain National Park. The restrictions means that all campfires, including charcoal briquette fires, are not permitted anywhere within Rocky Mountain National Park.
This ban is effective beginning today, June 29th, 2026 and will remain in effect until further notice. Petroleum-fueled stoves and grills may still be used in developed campgrounds, picnic areas and in designated wilderness campsites. Stoves must be able to be turned on and off.
Attention if you are smoker, smoking is also prohibited inside the park, except within an enclosed vehicle, or stopped within a developed paved area devoid of vegetation for at least three feet. Visitors are reminded to properly extinguish all lighted smoking materials and dispose of properly. As always, fireworks are prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, where campfires are prohibited in the park, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and front-country campgrounds. The last time a total fire ban (Stage 2 fire restrictions) was in place in the park was in March 2026.
What are STAGE 2 Fire Restrictions:
STAGE 2 Fire Restrictions help land management agencies reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme fire danger.
PROHIBITIONS
- No building, maintaining, attending or using open fire, campfires or stove fires.
- No smoking unless in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or within a three foot diameter cleared to mineral soil.
- No operation welding, acetylene, or other torch with an open flame.
- No operation or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.
EXEMPTIONS
- Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
- Resident owners and leasers of land within the restricted area are exempt from above restriction provided such fires are within the residence.
- Any Federal, State or Local Officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
*A stove fire is defined as a campfire built inside an enclosed stove or grill, portable brazier, or a pressurized liquid or gas stove, including a spaceheating device.
