$20 / night

Camper submitted image from Cottonwood Lake Campground - 1

Camper submitted image from Cottonwood Lake Campground - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Cottonwood Lake Campground - 3

Camping

Camper submitted image from Cottonwood Lake Campground - 4

Roads

Camper submitted image from Cottonwood Lake Campground - 5

People

Established Camping

Cottonwood Lake Campground

15 Reviews

About

National Forest

Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands

Overview

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.

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Location

Cottonwood Lake Campground is located in Colorado

Coordinates

38.782798 N
106.290197 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol

SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE

$20

/ night

First Come - First Served

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Contact

General Info

Nick D.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2023

Beautiful but crowded

Really beautiful scenery. Love the lake with plenty of fishing and kayaking/boating. Camp sites are diverse and interesting and well kept. Most are smaller and very few accommodate a big rig. The lake is VERY popular so during the day especially it is very busy. Night time was quiet and great for looking at stars. Would recommend.

Site3

Month of VisitAugust

Emma

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2022

Cottonwood lake camp ground

Amazing hosts and well kept grounds. Able to be in an Aspen grove and walking distance to the lake

Sitecamp 2

Month of VisitJuly

Ronda C.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2021

Beautiful mountain campground

A beautiful campground nestled in an aspen grove and evergreens. Cottonwood creek and Cottonwood lake are close by. The first come first serve sites are spacious and well laid out. There is a very nice day use picnic and fishing docks on the lake. Beautiful lake for SUP, kayaking, fishing or just passing time. Easy access to the lake and surrounding area. Added bonus if you head further down the road from the campground there is ample disbursed camping in the area if that works for you!

Site14

Month of VisitSeptember

(11) View All

Kristina B.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2021

Beautiful

Sites are spaced decently. Near lots of great dispersed camping & great alternative if unable to grab nice dispersed site.

Site19

Month of VisitSeptember

(4) View All

Michael S.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2020

Really beautiful!

This is a great campground, as most sites are spread out... Feels fairly private.

Erik S.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 7, 2020

Cottonwood Lake is a pleasant campground in a nice setting.

Cottonwood Lake campground near Buena Vista is my favorite campground on this particular road (my other favorite campground in the vicinity is Cascade). Some of the campsites are roomy and have a fair amount of privacy due to the Aspen trees around the area. Sunrise was nice and the lake was pretty. It’s far enough from the main road that there isn’t any traffic noise. Some of the campsites are on hilly terrain and are terraced with steps between different levels of the campsite. The lake is just a short walk from the campground.

Site3

Month of VisitAugust

(5) View All

Stella C.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 28, 2019

Most everything needed but showers and electrical.

This campground has what I desire most in one, a lake, and rushing waters within walking distance of campsite. It has decent fishing for small rainbow trout and is stocked on the regular. The sites have trees around them or in them and that is always a plus for me when choosing a campground. There are vaulted toilets, in both the campground itself and near the fishing pier's at the lake. FCFS-(1st come, 1st serve), which I like. It isnt too long of a drive back in to town for supplies and I have always felt safe camping here! Enjoy

SiteA few spots

Month of VisitJuly

(9) View All

Zach W.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 2, 2019

Best spot

Awesome spot for what ever you like to do while you camp!

Alyssa B.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 5, 2018

Just as beautiful as last time!

this campground is always a beautiful time. the weather was cool, but warm in the sun. plenty of things to do like fishing, hiking, ATV trails, etc. the lake is just breathtaking scenery. Highly recommend!

Madeline H.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 13, 2018

Love this Campground!

Frequent camper here.

Lots of trees, so hammocking is a great option. Fills up fast and first come first serve, so arrive accordingly. Toilets are always clean and stocked. Very easy to find and the road is not bad on the way in. In a neat little valley surrounded by mountains, and by the side of Cottonwood Lake. People come here just to fish, so bring your gear! Lots of deer activity.

Month of VisitAugust

Alyssa B.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 21, 2018

Quiet and beautiful

We came here last year during the summer and it was so beautiful and quiet. Great scenery, not crowded, plenty of sites to choose from. Mosquitos were killer, so bring plenty of bug spray or whatever you use for repellant! We will be coming back this summer!

Month of VisitAugust

Amber A.

Ranger

Reviewed May. 28, 2017

Great aspens in fall

You can drive up to this campground and it’s a primitive site (vault toilets, minimal water). Amazing views of the lake, Collegiate Peaks, Continental Divide, the valley, wildlife. It’s a great base camp for some serious day hikes and 14ers. Thankfully you can only use human-powered boats on the lake, so bring a kayak if you have one. You need to take a dirt road to get to the campground but it’s accessible to sedans unless there’s been a lot of heavy rain/snowmelt. There are no reservations so get there early in the summer. All the sites seemed to be equally beautiful, ours had phenomenal views even though though it seemed a little close to our neighbors. Buena Vista is not pronounced the way you expect :)

Month of VisitNovember

Audrey D.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 13, 2016

Great for fishing & families!

The sites at Cottonwood Lake Campground are surrounded by a large grove of aspens, so they're relatively secluded. The campground is situated about a quarter mile from Cottonwood Lake, a small, pretty lake with a wide boatlaunch area - no motorized boats allowed though! The last part of the road to get to the campground is dirt, but it is well-maintained so nearly any car can handle it. The campground is also nearby the Cottonwood Hot Springs and Buena Vista if you need a nice soak and a pizza after a long day of fishing! 4 stars out of 5 because it is lacking in expansive views.

Maria P.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2016

Beautifully Pricey

First come first serve has never seemed to let our family down; 4 out of 5 times we'll get a spot on a late Sautrday morning. It's great for multi-tent car camping with family & friends. Very well kept & clean sites with fire/grilling pits & picnic tables. Well placed sites allow for a more secluded feel & your neighbors aren't 5 feet from your tent. It's pricey, but for good reason I suppose

Shasta B.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 9, 2016

Cottonwood Lake Campground

This campground is a decent size, not too big but has several sites available if you are looking for basic car camping. No showers, vault toilets and beautiful scenery. It's a short walk to access natural water and has moderate shade. It's especially beautiful for Aspen Fall colors.