Cottonwood Recreation Site

Fishing the Salmon River and launching a boat are both on the table at Cottonwood Recreation Site, a BLM-managed campground along the river corridor near campgrounds around May, Idaho. The campground has roughly 15 first-come, first-served sites, with 7 of those sitting directly on the river's edge. Two sites are designated for tents, two are pull-throughs capable of handling large RVs, and the remainder are back-in sites. No reservations are taken, so arriving early pays off, especially on holiday weekends.

Cottonwood trees provide shade across the campground, and reviewers consistently note how clean the facilities are kept. Each site has water hookups, and a dump station is on-site. Vault toilets serve the campground, though at least one visitor found them unstocked during a Memorial Day visit. Horseshoe pits and a sandbox add some low-key recreation beyond the river. Access is easy: the road in is paved, and the campground is well-signed from the highway.

"Very clean and the Salmon river was nice," notes Darin S., who also confirmed the dump station works and water is available at sites. Nightly fees run $10, with a half-price discount for Golden Age Passport holders, and a 14-day stay limit applies. Nearby options worth considering include Deer Gulch to the northeast and Watts Bridge Campground to the southwest. Anglers and paddlers looking for a well-maintained riverside stop will find Cottonwood a practical base.