BLM · E Centro, CA

Cottonwood Campground

Among the live oaks in southeastern San Diego County is Cottonwood Campground. The campground offers a tranquil and refreshing experience. Cottonwood Campground is an excellent starting point for day hikes, overnight backpacking trips, and equestrian use. The campground is located in the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area. A trail out of the campground leads to the Sombrero Peak Area, Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The Pepperwood Trail and Sombrero Peak Trail are both rated moderate to strenuous. The trails are sandy in composition and meander through public, state, and private lands. Elevations range from 3,000 to 4,500 feet.

First-come, first-served

More like this: first-come in California

Cottonwood Campground
Photo from the area. blmcalifornia (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cottonwood Campground40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.69 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.82 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.59 inches of precipitationApril: 0.90 inches of precipitationMay: 0.40 inches of precipitationJune: 0.08 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.75 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.49 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.53 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.70 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.39 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.30 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.7°F averageFebruary: 41.9°F averageMarch: 45.2°F averageApril: 50.5°F averageMay: 56.9°F averageJune: 65.3°F averageJuly: 71.2°F averageAugust: 70.2°F averageSeptember: 64.9°F averageOctober: 56.0°F averageNovember: 47.3°F averageDecember: 42.2°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mt Laguna #3, 7 miles from the campground at 5,920 feet, station USC00045968 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year.

Getting there

From Interstate 8, take the Boulevard exit. Proceed south to the first stop sign. Turn left/east on Old Highway 80. After approximately 2 miles, turn left on McCain Valley Road. A sign with mileage information is located at the junction of McCain Valley Road and the road to Sacatone overlook.

Nearest townE Centro, California
Coordinates32.8002° N, 116.3383° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗10.6 mi
Outdoor gearBorrego Outfitters ↗31.6 mi
RV sales & serviceBobby Combs RV Centers - El Cajon ↗34.4 mi

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

Explore

Video

Cottonwood BLM Campground Tour -- Salmon River Camping in Idaho

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Carrizo Gorge Wilderness begins about 3 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.

Guidebooks for California

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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: How first-come camping works

What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Campground?

E Centro, California.

Source: Getting there

What if Cottonwood Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Burnt Rancheria (6.2 mi), Cibbets Flat Campground (6.5 mi, first-come), and Wooded Hill Group (6.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby