U.S. Forest Service · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · Entiat, WA

Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground is located 38 miles up Entiat River Road from Highway 97A on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Entiat Ranger District in central Washington's Entiat Valley, on the banks of the Entiat River at an elevation of 3,100 feet. There are 25 first come, first served campsites along the Entiat River. Vault toilets and garbage service are on site. Maximum trailer length of 25' is recommended. The road can be rough in spots and access difficult depending on the time of year and road conditions.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Washington · reservable in Washington · big rigs in Washington · pets allowed in Washington

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Cottonwood campground sign.Cottonwood CampgroundCOTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (WA)COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (WA)
Photos courtesy of Entiat Ranger District, USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups25
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site map

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

15 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesExtra Vehicle Fee $11.00

There are 25 basic campsites that are first come, first served along the Entiat River. Vault toilets, garbage service, and water are available on site. Maximum trailer length 25 feet.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at recreation.gov
FeesCamping: $20/Night for single unit, $9/Extra vehicle. Day use: $5/vehicle/day
RulesTrailers 22 ft. max.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cottonwood Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 3.40 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.49 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.73 inches of precipitationApril: 1.41 inches of precipitationMay: 1.64 inches of precipitationJune: 1.10 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.54 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.47 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.90 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.44 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.07 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.50 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.6°F averageFebruary: 32.2°F averageMarch: 38.3°F averageApril: 45.1°F averageMay: 53.3°F averageJune: 59.4°F averageJuly: 66.9°F averageAugust: 66.3°F averageSeptember: 57.8°F averageOctober: 45.9°F averageNovember: 35.4°F averageDecember: 28.3°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cle Elum, 20 miles from the campground at 1,900 feet, station USC00451504 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 25 inches a year.

Getting there

From Wenatchee take State Route 97A north 17 miles along the west bank of the Columbia River. Turn left on to Entiat River Road (Chelan County Route 19). Continue on Entiat River Road (which becomes Forest Road 51) past the end of the pavement to mile post 38 where you will see Cottonwood Campground on the left.

Nearest townEntiat, Washington
Coordinates46.9072° N, 121.0261° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    West Fork

    33 mi from the campground · 310 acres · 16% contained

  • Wildfire
    Three Queens

    37 mi from the campground · 9,575 acres · 33% contained

  • Wildfire
    King

    40 mi from the campground · 3,427 acres · 36% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗13.2 mi
RV sales & serviceOpenRoad RV ↗21.8 mi
Outdoor gearWorley-Bugger Fly Shop & Guide Service ↗23.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The Silver Falls National Recreation Trail is a 1.8 mile hike beneath towering cedar and pines, along Silver Creek to the base of Silver Falls. Along the way, hikers are treated to views of the 141-foot cascade, as well as the Entiat valley below, and the mountains above. Beautiful stone staircases and bridges along the trail offer many stopping points to take the perfect photograph. At Entiat River Road mile marker 27.8 is Box Canyon. This geological formation is about 65 million years in the making and the chasm spans a run of about 500 feet and ranges from 75-150 ft. deep. Fish Tail Falls can be observed from the view point running over, under and through a pile of large boulders, cascading another 15 feet. At times you can see salmon in this pool. At mile marker 32.2 on Entiat River Road is Entiat Falls. This broad 25 foot cascading natural waterfall makes quite a rejuvenating impression. Bring a picnic lunch or just stretch your legs and enjoy. Take precaution as river rocks can be very slick. Cooper's Store and Cafe in Ardenvoir is approximately 28 miles down valley and is the nearest source of gasoline, groceries, miscellaneous camping supplies and telephone services.

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

William O. Douglas Wilderness begins about 6.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offers stunning scenic vistas, with high, glaciated alpine peaks, valleys of old growth forest and rugged shrub-steppe country making up the diverse landscape. Elevations range from below 1,000 feet to more than 9,000 feet. The surrounding forest provides excellent habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Visitors can expect many days of warm, sunny weather in the summer, and winters with clear skies and plenty of snow. Nestled in a young lodge pole pine and spruce forest, the area surrounding the campground is home to abundant wildlife, including mule deer, cougars, native fish, black bears, pine marten, moose, bald and golden eagles and a variety of woodpeckers and owls.

Recreation

Guests at Cottonwood Campground will find that the surrounding area offers opportunities to hike, fish, mountain bike and enjoy a long list of outdoor recreational activities throughout the year. Anglers will enjoy casting a line into the Entiat River above Entiat Falls. The campground is located four miles above the falls. Carving through a wide, U-shaped valley, the river is dominated by relatively shallow riffles interspersed with pools, plunge pools and glides where the trout fishing is quite good. Populations of rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, and Eastern brook trout are found in this tributary. Selective gear rules apply to fishing in the Entiat River. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for fishing rules and regulations.

Guidebooks for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Washington camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Waterfalls in Washington
    Sawyer Scheer, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

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 Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Cottonwood Campground?

Extra Vehicle Fee $11.00

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Cottonwood Campground?

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Cottonwood Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Cottonwood Campground have?

25 sites, including 25 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Cottonwood Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Trailers 22 ft.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Cottonwood Campground?

Guests at Cottonwood Campground will find that the surrounding area offers opportunities to hike, fish, mountain bike and enjoy a long list of outdoor recreational activities throughout the year. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Campground?

Entiat, Washington. The Silver Falls National Recreation Trail is a 1.8 mile hike beneath towering cedar and pines, along Silver Creek to the base of Silver Falls.

Source: Getting there

What if Cottonwood Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sawmill Flat Campground (5.7 mi), Halfway Flat Campground (6 mi, seasonal), and Little Naches Campground (6.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby