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Cottonwood Lake Campground
The campground is situated on a gently sloping hillside surrounded by aspen trees, within walking distance to the lake. It is a popular campground for anglers and sites fill up quickly on weekends. If the campground is full, dispersed camping is permitted along road 344 half-mile west of Cottonwood Lake.
Prior to Memorial Day weekend and after Labor Day, camphosts may not be on site.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | Check out: 12 pm (noon) Quiet hours: 10 pm to 6 am |
|---|---|
| Reservations: | First-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted. |
| Fees: | $20 per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $8.00 for a third vehicle. $8.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. Sites must be occupied the first night of payment. Interagency Senior/Access passes valid for 50% discount to the camping fee for one site. |
| Open Season: | May 19, 2023 - Oct. 15, 2023 |
| Restrictions: |
|
| Closest Towns: | Buena Vista, Colorado |
| Water: | No water available. Bring drinking water. |
| Restroom: | Yes, 2 accessible toilets |
| Operated By: | Rocky Mountain Recreation Company |
| Information Center: | Salida Ranger District at (719) 539-3591. |
General Information
Directions:From Buena Vista, Main Street will leave the city limits and will continue west as County Road 306, also known as the Cottonwood Pass road. Stay on this road for about 6 miles then turn left at County Road 344 for about 3 miles.
Parking:
Parking is permitted on the parking pads provided at each campsite. Do not park on the main campground roadway.
General Notes:
Segment 13 of the Colorado Trail can be accessed on Chaffee County 344 approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersection with Chaffee County Rd 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road). There is a small dirt parking area on the east side of the road.
Activities
Campground Camping
| No. of Sites | 25 each with a picnic table and fire ring with grill. No electricity. |
RV Camping
Lake and Pond Fishing
Cottonwood Lake is located .25 miles east of the campground. Hand-propelled boats and canoes are permitted on the lake.
River and Stream Fishing
Stream fishing is available on the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek. The creek can be accessed by walking directly south of the campground or by driving west on Forest Road 344 for about .5 miles. Another good spot for stream fishing is at the Green Timber Gulch trailhead located 3 miles west of the Cottonwood Lake campground.
Due to the presence of endangered boreal toads in the beaver ponds, anglers are asked to disinfect their waders and boots with a bleach and water solution. This is to prevent the spread of a chytrid fungus that can kill the tiny toads. Do not remove or injure the toads, their eggs, or tadpoles.
Day Hiking
General Info:
General NotesSegment 13 of the Colorado Trail can be accessed on Chaffee County 344 approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersection with Chaffee County Rd 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road). There is a small dirt parking area on the east side of the road.
Viewing Scenery
The drive west from Cottonwood Lake campground up to Mineral Basin is spectacular, especially in the fall when the aspen trees are turning golden. Not recommended for vehicles without high-clearance.