Lake Meredith allows backcountry stoves, not open fires

At developed and primitive Lake Meredith campsites, use an NPS fire ring or grill, a portable stove or grill, or your own elevated fire pit. The signed 2026 superintendent's compendium controls those choices.

Backcountry means every park area not listed as developed or primitive. Open pit and ring fires are barred there. Do not build a rock ring or dig a fire pit. A portable camping stove that can be shut off quickly is permitted.

When no park fire closure is in effect, dead and downed wood may be gathered for fuel, including driftwood. Do not cut trees or shrubs. A pallet may not be burned unless every nail, screw, and other fastener has been removed. Fireworks are prohibited at Lake Meredith and Alibates. The rule is stricter than finding a bare patch that looks safe: the park category and the listed equipment matter. A park burn ban stops every fire, including one in a provided ring. In ordinary conditions, a campsite ring and a backcountry shutoff stove are different legal tools; under a closure, the ring stays cold.