Cottonwood Lake
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations). Cottonwood Lake is a National Forest campground near Buena Vista, Colorado.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Cottonwood Lake sits inside Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Fee unknown, see agency
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
- ✕ Potable water
On site: Toilets. No potable water.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 9,400 ft
38.7828, -106.2902 in Chaffee. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Cottonwood Lake?
No. Cottonwood Lake is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
Is there drinking water at Cottonwood Lake?
No. Cottonwood Lake has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Who manages Cottonwood Lake?
Cottonwood Lake is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Cottonwood Lake
Taylor Park Reservoir's mapped center point is 17 miles from Cottonwood Lake in a straight line. Current water level: Taylor Park Reservoir water level on reservoirfinder.com.
Hot springs nearby
Nearest to Cottonwood Lake, in straight-line miles: Cottonwood Hot Springs (hot spring, 4.1 miles), and Mount Princeton Hot Springs (hot spring, 7.7 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
Collegiate Peaks - Sites
- 56
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Cascade - Sites
- 21
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $25 per night
- Sites
- 15
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Chalk Lake - Sites
- 19
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $25 per night
More campgrounds: camping near Buena Vista and campgrounds in Chaffee.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30