Cottonwood Lake campground
Cottonwood Lake
Reservations are accepted at the Cottonwood Lake camping area, allowing visitors to secure their spot in advance. This is particularly recommended during the peak season, as the campground can get crowded. Speaking of the best time to visit, the summer months from June to September offer the most ideal weather conditions for camping and outdoor activities in the area. The campsite is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
While exploring the Cottonwood Lake camping area, it is important to be cautious of the altitude and potential changes in weather. Situated at an elevation of approximately 9,500 feet, visitors may experience altitude sickness, so it is advisable to acclimate gradually and stay hydrated. Additionally, thunderstorms can occur in the afternoons during summer, so campers should be prepared with proper rain gear and be cautious of lightning strikes. Overall, Cottonwood Lake camping area provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity of the Colorado wilderness.
What's on-site at Cottonwood Lake
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 Lake, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegiate Peaks Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Collegiate Peaks | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Cascade | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Iron City Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Iron City | ✗ | ✓ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Cottonwood Lake -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Below Granite | 379 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Taylor Park | 210 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Nathrop | 430 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Above Clear Creek Reservoir | 147 cfs | → |
| Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir | 148 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Granite | 145 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Cottonwood Lake -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Elmo | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Saint Elmo | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nathrop 3.3 Wsw | 0.0 in | -0.5 in | → |
| Buena Vista | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nathrop 1.9 Wsw | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Park Cone | 1.0 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 Collegiate Peaks
- Mcphelemy Park
- Wilderness Fossil Ridge
- Thonhoff Park
- Wilderness Mount Massive
- Wilderness Hunter-Fryingpan
Boat launches
- Ahra - Fishermans Bridge Rec Site
- Ahra - Railroad Bridge Rec Site
- Ahra - Ruby Mountain Rec Sits
- Cr 300 22504, Nathrop
- Ahra - Number 4 Rec Site
- Ahra - Hecla Junction Rec Site
Fishing spots
- Cottonwood Lake
- Cottonwood Lake (Buena Vista)
- Chalk Lake Fishing Site
- Baldwin Lake
- Mirror Lake (Almont)
- South Fork Clear Creek
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 Lake as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Cottonwood Lake
Can I make reservations at Cottonwood Lake?
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 Lake?
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 Lake.