Cottonwood Campground
This very rustic, primitive camp is located near Rock Creek and the route of the Historic Summit Trail. The small campground offers seven camp sites interspersed with aspen and surrounded by a mixed conifer forest, which provides shade during summer months. Just a short distance away is a former gravel pit now filled with water in which visitors enjoy a summer swim. For thos looking for a great mountain bike ride on old two-track roads in a remote, challenging setting, this may just be the place!
More like this: first-come in Oregon · tent only in Oregon
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | This is a free facility. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Ochoco National Forest |
| Fees | This is a free facility. |
| Rules | Size & number of trailer sites limited (no dump station). There is a 14 day stay limit on all National Grassland and US Forest Service land including but not limited to campgrounds and other developed facilities. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 44.3892° N, 119.8552° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedStarr 33 Rx
37 mi from the campground · 347 acres
- PrescribedDamon 2A Rx
43 mi from the campground · 85 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 ↗ | 37.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 48.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Prepper Up ↗ | 49.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood BLM Campground Tour -- Salmon River Camping in Idaho
Trails nearby
- 4.1 miMascall Corral2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miOchoco Mountain ↗23.5 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
Ochoco National Forest begins about 6.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.3 miOchoco National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 912,775 acres
- 8 miBlack Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,090 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Roba Ranch, TheBuilding · Paulina · 13.3 mi
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cottonwood Campground?
No. Cottonwood Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Cottonwood Campground?
This is a free facility.
Source: Forest Service
Is Cottonwood Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Campground?
Cottonwood Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Cottonwood Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Pit Campground (1.7 mi, first-come), Barnhouse Campground (6.9 mi, first-come), and Big Spring Campground (7.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby