Cottonwood Lake Dispersed Camping

It was a bit crowded, but you wouldn’t know it with everything so spread far apart and the running creek drowned out all sorts of noises. All you hear is the creek so much beauty.

Lots of sites. Right side are steep and not class B friendly. Left side near the creek are flatter. Some need 4x4. Had a great night and a fire !

This dispersed camping area is just down the road from Cottonwood Lake and its main campground. There’s a solid mix of spots—some walk-in sites, large flat areas perfect for drive-in camping, and even a big open space that can easily accommodate RVs or trailers. There’s also a porta-potty on-site, which is a nice bonus for a dispersed setup.

As you continue down the road, it does get narrow and very rocky. There’s a posted sign noting that 4WD is required beyond a certain point, and it's best to respect that—2WD vehicles could easily cause damage or get stuck.

Wildlife was abundant during our stay! We spotted moose in the lake and deer darting through the trees nearby. One heads-up: we did find a few ticks at our site, so if you’re bringing pets or hiking through brush, take precautions.

Overall, a scenic and peaceful spot with lots to explore—just come prepared!

We got a spot with amazing views just past Cottonwood Lake campground. It’s awesome here. There is a creek full of Brook Trout right across the street.

Great marshy area for wildlife viewing. Nestled at about 9600 feet with mountains springing up all around