Picnic Areas

Long Branch Park is a reserved use area only. Click here for more information.

The open picnic area offers picnic tables and grills on a first come, first serve basis.  Reserving tables is strongly discouraged. For larger groups, reserved shelters are available by reservation only. Click here for more information. 

Adjacent to the public parking lot is a large wooded picnic area with over 20 picnic tables and charcoal grills. The picnic area is available on a first come first serve basis.CBFH is a "Carry-in-Carry-out" facility, so please help us keep the park clean and beautiful.

First-come, first-use sites feature a grill and approximately three picnic tables each.  Picnickers are responsible for removing their own ash from the grill and trash from their picnic site.

There are indoor and outdoor seating areas. Outside food is permitted. Please remember, however, that your food and beverage purchases at the zoo directly support the care and feeding of the animals. Click here for more information.

Enhance your visit by having a picnic at one of the many sites at the Nature Center.  No fires or grills of any kind are permitted at the Nature Center.

First-come, first-use picnic tables & grills are available.  Picnickers are responsible for removing their own ash from the grill and trash from their picnic site. Three picnic shelters for larger gatherings are available by reservation only. Click here for more information.

Highland Forest features two outdoor shelters, Community and Torbert (available May-October) perfect for your next casual family function or group outing.

The general picnic area is used on a first come, first serve basis.  Reserving tables is strongly discouraged and like all areas of the park, the public is expected to remove and dispose of all trash properly in our conjunction with Carry in-Carry out policy. For larger groups, reserved shelters are available. Click here for more information. No glass is allowed and alcohol is limited to one six pack per legal adult. No beer kegs.

There are two main public picnic areas within Onondaga Lake Park.  The Willow Bay area of the park offers dozens of picnic tables and charcoal grills amongst acres of beautiful trees along the northern shoreline of Onondaga Lake.  The Cold Springs area of the park also has picnic tables and charcoal grills available for public use, in a quieter setting along the shore of the Seneca River.  Click here for more information about shelter reservations.