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Established Camping

Cottonwood Group Campsite

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Cottonwood Group Campsite is located near Afton, Wyoming, within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The area features flat terrain with surrounding forested landscapes. Campers can experience temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 80°F in summer, and nearby attractions include the Intermittent Spring and the Bridger-Teton National Forest trails.

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Location

Cottonwood Group Campsite is located in Wyoming

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Afton, Wyoming, take Highway 89 south approximately 7 miles to Smoot. After a half-mile look for directional signs to Cottonwood Lake Campground. The Forest boundary is about one mile up the access road, and the campground is 6 miles beyond that. Continue past the first loop of the campground, then turn left at the 'Y' intersection onto the east loop. The group site is at the far northern edge of this loop, just past the water pump.

Address

671 North Washington
Afton, WY 83110

Coordinates

42.6411111 N
110.8169444 W

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Connectivity

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

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    AT&T
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Access

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

2 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 7, 2025

small campground in the woods

This is about Cottonwood Campground, not just the group site. It's pretty small, about 16 (?) sites. It's about 8 miles up the road from Hwy 89. The road is mostly one lane, though a little wider in some spots, so if you are towing, hope you don't encounter someone coming the other direction. There are some potholes all along the road, so if you're towing, it's slow going. 

The campground is about 1/4 mile or less from the lake. Group camp is up the right hand fork (not towards the lake). The Group site is large, with room for several tents. When I was there a church group of about 18 people with 5-6 tents was there. The sign says it requires reservations. There are 2 pull through sites up the right hand fork; the rest are back in or walk in. The walk in sites do not have tent pads or even room for a tent so I'm not sure what you would do there. The left fork goes to an equestrian area with a couple of non-equestrian sites also.

Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. I collected a lot of trash from fires rings.

There were vault toilets that were very clean to start with, though a camper pooped on seat in one of them, so gross. I don't know why people are so filthy sometimes.

There are trailheads from the CG and from the south end of the lake.

No signal on Verizon.

I enjoyed staying here.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Group Campsite by skoerber@moscow.com , June 7, 2025
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Group Campsite by skoerber@moscow.com , June 7, 2025
Reviewed Aug. 11, 2018

Ranger Review: Humangear at Cottonwood Lake Campground

Campground Review: As you enter the forest boundary, there is a sign alerting you to road damage. The road is pretty rough getting into the campground. You will encounter some pretty significant potholes and washouts. Just take it slow, you’ll be fine. Also, the campground is not on the lake, it is about a 1/4 mile from the lake. The campground is quite nice back in the trees. There are 2 separate forks, one for equestrians and the other allows off-road vehicles.

I camped at site 13. It was near the water supply and a couple sites away from the restroom. It was also very close to the ORV trailhead. The only bear boxes are located by the restroom, which I though was unusual. I just made sure any food items were stored away in my vehicle and locked vs storing in the bear box. The campground was about half full on a Friday. The group site does require a reservation. The site I occupied had a small iron fire ring with a grill component. Some other sites had much larger cement fire rings. The lake is spectacular! it is the prettiest shade of teal. There is a boat dock at the far end of the lake. Near the parking area there is a beach area where you can kayak and paddle board from. The lake has brown and cutthroat trout. They were jumping like crazy in the evening and the fly fishing was excellent! I used my favorite yellow caddis. It was a little more difficult from shore but the boaters were killing it. I could have easily spent the whole weekend up here. My reason for visiting this area was to get away from the madness of the Lincoln County Fair that I was in the area attending and supporting my kids in 4-H. I prefer the solitude of camping in the forest ca the commercial campground at the fairgrounds.

This campground is recommended it you are interested in the following: horseback riding, fly fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, ORV, wildlife viewing. Something for everyone!

Gear Review: Humangear http://www.humangear.com/ Quick Bites, Go-Tubes, FlexiBowl. As a Ranger with the Dyrt, I occasionally receive gear to field test while camping. While planning for this trip, I brought some easy dinner items to quickly toss together. Prior to leaving, I mixed up some sauce at home and transported it in my GoTube. It was perfect! The opening to the soft silicone container is nice and wide. I added some chili sauce, soy sauce, and Sriracha to the tube and replaced the lid and shook it to mix. The lid has a nice mechanism that will lock the lid to prevent it from opening during transport. When squeezed, the contents are very controlled and there is no drip once you release. I used the FlexiBowl to mix up my concoction at camp. I emptied a tin of canned chicken int the bowel. The top inch or so of the bowel will fold down to create a wider opening. I used my Go-Bites spork to mix the sauce i brought with the chicken. I ate this on crackers. It was delicious after a long day. Pardon my dark demo video, it was 9 pm when I got around to eating. Prior to having the Humangear Go-Bites double ended spork, I had a light my fire spork. I was doing a side by side demo of the strength and barely put any effort on the ends of the light my fire sport and it split in two. I'm a fan of the Humangear eating utensils. I have also use the DuoBites which are a fork and spoon that slide into each other for transport and so they stay together. I really like both utensils that i have tried! I also have to throw in a GREAT word for the Humangear CapCap! This is a huge step up in my Nalgene game! I don't know how i got by without one! No more spills down the front of my shirt! Bonus!

Site13
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Group Campsite by Carrie C., August 11, 2018
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Group Campsite by Carrie C., August 11, 2018
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Group Campsite by Carrie C., August 11, 2018
  • (13) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cottonwood Lake Campground located in Wyoming?

Cottonwood Lake Campground is located about 8 miles up from Highway 89 near Afton, Wyoming. The campground is situated in a forested area, though interestingly, it's not directly on Cottonwood Lake despite its name. Access requires navigating a mostly one-lane road that has some rough sections with potholes and washouts, so drivers should proceed slowly, especially when towing.

What camping options are available near Afton, Wyoming?

Near Afton, Wyoming, campers can stay at Cottonwood Campground, located about 8 miles from Highway 89. This small campground offers approximately 16 sites in a forested setting. The access road is narrow and rough in places, so caution is advised when towing. While Cottonwood provides a more remote camping experience, visitors should be prepared for basic facilities. For those needing different accommodations, checking with the local Forest Service office in Afton about additional camping options in the area is recommended.

Does Cottonwood Lake Campground offer group camping facilities?

Yes, Cottonwood Lake Campground features a dedicated group camping site known as the Cottonwood Group Campsite. This is in addition to approximately 16 regular campsites throughout the main campground area. The group site provides a designated space for larger parties wanting to camp together, making it ideal for family reunions, organized outings, and other group camping experiences.

What recreational activities are available at Cottonwood Lake in Wyoming?

Cottonwood Lake offers various outdoor recreational activities for visitors. While the campground itself isn't situated directly on the lake, the nearby water body provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and potentially swimming during warmer months. The surrounding forested area is ideal for hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography. The natural setting creates a peaceful environment for relaxation and enjoying the Wyoming wilderness.