wildernet

Salida Ranger District

Quick Facts

Cottonwood Lake Campground

Capacity:	280 People
Elevation:	9,600 Feet (2992.5 Meters)
Length of Stay:	14 Days
Number of Sites:	28
Reservation Status:	Not Accepted

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

Copyright: Amy Pyle-Interactive Outdoors, Inc.
Hand-propelled boats only may access the waters of this 37-acre alpine lake

The Cottonwood Lake Campground is about one mile west of Cottonwood Lake and is wooded with small aspen trees. The entrance station is located at the first access road tot he campground. The site receives heavy use during the summer on weekends and holidays.

This campground has 28 sites most of which can accommodate RVs between 35-40 feet. Campsite parking pads are not level. A number of campsites are ideal for tents. An amphitheater is located behind the entrance station. Slide shows and other interpretive programs are held on most weekends.

Fishing is accessible in nearby Cottonwood Lake and along South Cottonwood Creek. Beaver ponds are located at the Poplar Gulch Trailhead, four miles west of the campground. The Poplar Gulch Trail is six miles long and open to motorized vehicles less than 40 feet in width. Dispersed camping is available one mile west of the campground. No services are provided for dispersed campers. They must pack their trash out of the area.

Directions from Buena Vista: Travel west for 7 miles on Hwy 306 (paved), then turn left (south) on to County Road 344 and drive 4 miles to the campground.

Seasonal Information:
Normal Services Available: Late May through Mid-September (NOTE: The gate to the campground may remain open through 10/31 with no services provided. Late season campers should bring drinking water and pack out their trash.) .

Fee Information

Type	Price	Remarks
single-unit campsite	Call for Current Fee	Services include drinking wate

		Current Conditions & Trip Reports
		Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report Number of People Encountered: 50+ ppl Recommend to a Friend: Neutral Report: Cottonwood Campground is open again. The fee is now $13. Lots of ATVs and Motorcycles on the road. Campground has been completely renovated. Filed By: Maghan ( , CO) Number of People Encountered: 11-25 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Not Recommended Report: An update that I feel should be added is the COttonwood camp ground is closed for the 2004 season due to renovations to the campsites. Sheck this out at the division of wildlife web site. Number of People Encountered: 50+ ppl Recommend to a Friend: Neutral Report: Road is washboard for last two miles to camp, so take it easy. Lake is pristine - lots of fishing going on. Stayed from July 2 through 4, so saw the camp fill up. Quiet after 10 PM though. Seemed like lots of locals there for the weekend. Arrive early if you need a level spot as there are only a few. Nice side trip to Cottonwood pass is 45 minutes from camp. Snow on the ground at the pass July 4th. Good base for rafting trips on the Arkansas. Conditions: Bear precautions necessary, as there were a few wandering through at 2-4 AM. Not much shade - small aspens abundant. Lots of hummingbirds. Dusty conditions. No mosquitous in camp, but plenty at the lake. Water Availability: Water available in camp, although 2 of 3 spigots stopped working furing our stay. Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: 7 miles W of Buena Vista, well East of Cottonwood Pass

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Backpacking	Colorado Trail	No
	Family Camping	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	RV Camping	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	Tent Camping	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	Trailer Camping	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	Camping	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	Cross-country Skiing	South Cottonwood Creek Road	No
	Cold Water Fishing	Cottonwood Lake, South Cottonwood Creek, beaver ponds at Poplar Gulch Trailhead	No
	Four-Wheel Driving	South Cottonwood Road, Grassy Gulch Road	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	No
	Horseback Riding	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, South Cottonwood Road	Yes
	Hunting	Collegiate Peaks Wilderness	No
	Small Game Hunting	Collegiate Peaks Wilderness	No
	Animal Identification	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	No
	Bird Identification	Colorado Trail, Poplar Gulch Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	Yes
	Mushroom Identification	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	Yes
	Pine Cone Gathering	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	Yes
	Plant Identification	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	Yes
	Wildflower Identification	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	Yes
	Lakes & Reservoirs	Cottonwood Lake, South Cottonwood Creek	Yes
	Mountain Biking	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, South Cottonwood Creek Road, Colorado Trail (south of Cottonwood Pass Road)	Yes
	ATV Riding	South Cottonwood Road, Grassy Gulch Road	Yes
	Motorcycle Riding	South Cottonwood Creek Road, Grassy Gulch Road	Yes
	Scenic Driving	Cottonwood Pass Road	No
	Attending Talks & Programs	Cottonwood Lake Campground	Yes
	Viewing Scenery	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	No
	Viewing Wildlife	Poplar Gulch Trail, Colorado Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail	No

Related Activities

Cottonwood Lake - Cottonwood Lake lies south of Cottonwood Pass. It provides an opportunity for lake and stream fishing in a beautiful mountain setting. Hiking, biking and four-wheel driving are accessible from this site.

Cottonwood Lake Picnic Ground - The Cottonwood Lake Picnic Ground has 19 sites that include a table and fireplace. Recreation opportunities accessible from this site include fishing, boating, four-wheel driving, hiking and horseback riding.

Poplar Gulch Trail - The Poplar Gulch Trail leads north miles from St. Elmo to South Cottonwood Creek. It traverses 2 scenic valleys and over a high saddle for views of the Sawatch Mountain Range.