Cottonwood Island campground
Cottonwood Island
Some nearby points of interest in the area include the Rio Grande National Forest, which offers a wide range of outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. There are also several hot springs located nearby, including the Del Norte Hot Springs and the Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa.
The Cottonwood Island Campsite offers basic amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables. There is a vault toilet available for use, but there is no potable water on-site, so visitors are advised to bring their own water or treat river water before drinking.
Interesting facts about the area include that the Rio Grande River is the fifth-longest river in North America, and it flows from its headwaters in Colorado all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is also an important source of water for agriculture in the region.
The best time of year to visit the Cottonwood Island Campsite is during the summer months, from June to August, when temperatures average around 70 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 40 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. However, visitors should be prepared for sudden weather changes, as the area can experience thunderstorms and heavy rain during the summer.
What's on-site at Cottonwood Island
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Cottonwood Island, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyons Gulch Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Lyons Gulch Dispersed | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Gypsum Hills Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Upper Colorado Rec Area | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Gypsum Hills Area Campsite | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Cottonwood Island -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Near Dotsero | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Eagle River Below Gypsum | 648 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Emma | 508 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Near Edwards | 141 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Cottonwood Island -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bison Lake | 17.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Bison Lake | 17.0 in | -2.0 in | → |
| Carbondale 4.6 Nne | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Glenwood Springs .64 S | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Carbondale 4.8 Ne | 0.0 in | 0.2 in | → |
| Wolcott 2.3 N | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Wilderness Flat Tops
- Two Rivers Park
- A E Axtell Park
- Hyland Park
- Sister Lucy Downey Park
- Routt National Forest
Boat launches
- Cottonwood Island Boat Ramp
- Lyon's Gulch Boat Ramp
- Dotsero Landing Boat Ramp
- Community Boat Ramp
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
- Grizzly Creek Garfield County
Fishing spots
- Gypsum Ponds
- Deep Lake Fishing/Picnic Area Fishing Site
- Trappers Lake
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Sylvan Lake
- Fryingpan River
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Cottonwood Island as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Cottonwood Island
Can I make reservations at Cottonwood Island?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Cottonwood Island?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Cottonwood Island.