Established Camping
Cottonwood Recreation Site
Cottonwood Recreation Site near Ellis, Idaho, is surrounded by rugged terrain with a mix of forested areas and open spaces. Temperatures can range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit during spring and fall to highs in the 80s during summer. Nearby, visitors can explore the Salmon River for fishing and rafting or visit the nearby Salmon-Challis National Forest for hiking and wildlife viewing.
Description
The BLM Cottonwood Recreation Site sits among groves of cottonwoods along the scenic Salmon River and provides a beautiful setting for fishing and camping. It also has a boat ramp, allows RVs, provides accessible campsites and includes a day use area with barbecues, tent sites and group camp sites. 15 camp sites total. This is one of a number of sites on the Upper Salmon River. The headwaters of the Salmon River are in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. BLM recreation sites along this stretch start at the East Fork confluence, followed downstream by Deadman Hole, Bayhorse Campground, Challis Bridge, and Cottonwood Campground.
Fee Info
Camping fee: $10/night; standard stay limits. Day use area with horse shoe pits and reservable covered group shelter: $25/day (Call Challis Field Office at 208-879-6200 for reservation)
Location
Cottonwood Recreation Site is located in Idaho
Directions
north of Challis, Idaho. Travel north from Challis on Highway 93 for approximately 14 miles. The recreation site will be on your left between the highway and the Salmon River.
Coordinates
44.68277704 N
114.07882655 W
Detours Nearby
Blind Creek Campground
1 hr 1 min away
Meadow Lake Campground
2 hrs 1 min away
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 29 min from Idaho Falls
- 2 hrs 44 min from Pocatello
- 3 hrs 16 min from Twin Falls
- 4 hrs 17 min from Boise
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
