Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground
Located in the Horseshoe Meadow Recreation Area, the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead campground has 13 walk-in sites suitable for backpackers and hikers to use the night before they are going to hike to Cottonwood Lakes. Self-register when you arrive. Sites include food storage boxes, tent pads, tables, fire grates, and toilet facilities. Potable water available. The backpackers walk in campsites share parking with the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $10.00 per night during summer season. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. Self-register at campground. |
| Fees | $10.00 per night during summer season. |
| Rules | One night stay limit at campgrounds. Campfires only in metal fire rings provided. Wood gathering is prohibited. Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36") |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.4534° N, 118.1690° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
49 mi from the campground · 466 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 8.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Big Willi Mountaineering Company ↗ | 12 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood Lake Campground Tour
Worth a stop
- 14.9 miOlancha Dunes Ohv Area ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCottonwood Lakes ↗6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.1 miCottonwood Pass Stock0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miCottonwood Pack Station Cutoff0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miCottonwood Pass ↗8.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miTrail Pass ↗10.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.5 miMulkey Pass ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Golden Trout Wilderness begins about 0.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.6 miGolden Trout Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 303,713 acres
- 8.1 miAlabama Hills National Scenic Area ↗National Scenic Area · Bureau of Land Management · 18,831 acres
- 10.6 miSequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 768,222 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground?
No. Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground?
$10.00 per night during summer season.
Source: Forest Service
Is Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground have?
13 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground?
Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian Camp (0.1 mi, first-come), Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground (0.4 mi, first-come), and Tuttle Creek Campground (8.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby