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Established Camping

Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground

6 Reviews

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Cottonwood Pass Walk-in Campground, near the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead in California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. This campground is known for its well-kept sites and a friendly vibe that keeps campers coming back.

With amenities like drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, it strikes a good balance between comfort and the great outdoors. Campers rave about the peaceful surroundings, with one visitor noting, “The campgrounds look very dispersed and well kept.” The area is surrounded by towering trees, making it a beautiful backdrop for your camping experience.

If you're up for some adventure, this campground serves as a perfect launch point for hiking trails, including the popular route to Cottonwood Lakes. Many families have enjoyed weekend getaways here, with one reviewer sharing, “My kids have been treated to this place for weekends off the grid since they’ve been toddlers.”

Keep in mind that bear activity is common, so make sure to use the provided bear lockers to store your food safely. Whether you're prepping for a backpacking trip or just looking for a peaceful retreat, Cottonwood Pass offers a great mix of amenities and access to stunning trails.

Description

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Located in the Horseshoe Meadow Recreation Area this trailhead campground has 18 walk-in sites suitable for backpackers and hikers to use the night before they are going to hike into Golden Trout Wilderness via the Cottonwood Pass trail. Please self-register at Horseshoe Meadows Campground when you arrive. Sites include food storage boxes, tent pads, and tables, fire grates, piped water, and toilet facilities. One night stay limit. Horseshoe Meadow Area Campgrounds Guide (pdf)

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Location

Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground is located in California

Directions

Located at the end of Horseshoe Meadow Road, 24 miles southwest of the town of Lone Pine, California. From center of Lone Pine, turn west at the stoplight and follow Whitney Portal Road for 3 miles. Then turn south onto Horseshoe Meadow Road.

Coordinates

36.44791758 N
118.16904582 W

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Access

Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

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WiFi
Unknown
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T-Mobile
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Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Drinking Water
Toilets

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

3 hrs 13 min from Bakersfield
4 hrs 15 min from Visalia
4 hrs 23 min from Hanford
4 hrs 45 min from Fresno

Taylor

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 19, 2020

Very nice

The campgrounds look very dispersed and well kept. The people were very encouraging of us on our adventure. We’d go back for the people alone.

Michael A.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 29, 2019

Hidden Gem

I’ve used this spot for more 2-5 day jaunts than I can remember. My kids have been treated to this place for weekends off the grid since they’ve been toddlers. Peaceful. Beautiful. Accessible.

Jennifer D.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2018

camp at elevation

get acclimated to higher elevation prior to your Sierras backpacking trip. restrooms and bear lockers are provided. use them as there is a lot of bear activity. cover any odorous items in your vehicle. pretty campground with tons and tons of trees. steps away from multiple trails.

Erin M.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 7, 2017

Backpacking to cottonwood lakes

The trail head camp ground was very nice and well maintained. Vault toilets and fresh water with plenty of access to bear boxes to properly store your food. The trail to cottonwood lakes (JM93) was an amazing hike. I picked up permits for this trail in Lone Pine at the visitor center.

SiteJust parked and slept in the bed of our truck

Month of VisitAugust

(9) View All

Anya L.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 27, 2017

Nice views, close to golden trout wilderness

Great campground, acclimated here the night before heading up mount Whitney. Spacious, a nice trailhead for an acclimation hike and bear boxes. Only issue was our campsite neighbors thought it would be good fun to throw rocks at other, larger rocks to kill the time and we couldn't get to sleep for a while.

Month of VisitJuly

Kristen C.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 24, 2016

Great high alpine campsite!

We stayed here the end of August before backpacking Mt Langley and Whitney. It's a great campsite to stay at to acclimate ahead of time for your trips and to get a good early start on the trail. The hiking opportunities are endless from here,as this is a popular campsite for those climbing Mt.Langley. We were able to leave our car here for the 8 days we backpacked through Inyo NF and coming out of the Whitney Portal eventually. The sites are all really nice,they've got their own firepits and bear boxes to store all your stuff. Definitely recommend it for a nice weekend getaway or use for longer trips!

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