Cottonwood Pit Campground
As you may have guessed, this campground is located in an old gravel pit. When the excavation hit the water table and the pit was filled in with water the operations ceased and the site was abandoned. Now this campground is locally known as a swimming hole, and is also occasionally stocked with trout.
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 | 44.3677° N, 119.8706° 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 ↗ | 38.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 47.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Prepper Up ↗ | 49 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood Patch Campground walkthrough.
Trails nearby
- 4.4 miOchoco Mountain ↗23.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.8 miMascall Corral2 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 5.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.5 miOchoco National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 912,775 acres
- 8.3 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 · 11.7 mi
Guidebooks for Oregon
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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 Pit Campground?
No. Cottonwood Pit 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 Pit Campground?
This is a free facility.
Source: Forest Service
Is Cottonwood Pit Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Pit Campground?
Cottonwood Pit Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Cottonwood Pit Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Campground (1.7 mi, first-come), Big Spring Campground (6.5 mi, first-come), and Barnhouse Campground (7.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby