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)

Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground

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. 

camp at elevation 

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!

Great high alpine campsite!

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.