U.S. Forest Service · Bridger-Teton National Forest · Afton, WY

Cottonwood Group Campsite

Cottonwood Group Campsite is located near the scenic Cottonwood Lake below Salt River Pass in the forest of western Wyoming.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable2 sitesFrom $35 per nightPets okFires okTents only

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

More like this: first-come in Wyoming · reservable in Wyoming · tent only in Wyoming · pets allowed in Wyoming · group sites in Wyoming

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
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Photos courtesy of fs · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
Host/management1
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 guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
001Back-inGravelFull25 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$35/night

This group campsite can accommodate up to 25 guests and is most appropriate for groups camping in tents. Two vehicles can be parked at the site (van-sized vehicles are the largest the site will accommodate) and six additional vehicles can be parked at the adjacent Cottonwood Lake Day Use Area. Single-family sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

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.
SeasonMay 25th
ForestBridger-Teton 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 online at http://www.recreation.gov/
Fees$35/night

Bridger-Teton National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cottonwood Group Campsite10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.25 inches of precipitation, 21.8 inches of snowFebruary: 1.31 inches of precipitation, 15.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.47 inches of precipitation, 12.2 inches of snowApril: 1.46 inches of precipitation, 5.0 inches of snowMay: 2.36 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowJune: 1.82 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJuly: 1.05 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.11 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowOctober: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 3.7 inches of snowNovember: 1.34 inches of precipitation, 11.4 inches of snowDecember: 1.41 inches of precipitation, 17.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 15.3°F averageFebruary: 19.1°F averageMarch: 28.4°F averageApril: 37.5°F averageMay: 46.7°F averageJune: 54.5°F averageJuly: 62.0°F averageAugust: 61.0°F averageSeptember: 51.9°F averageOctober: 40.7°F averageNovember: 27.8°F averageDecember: 16.8°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Afton, 8 miles from the campground at 6,248 feet, station USC00480027 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 88 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Afton, Wyoming, take Highway 89 south approximately 7 miles to Smoot. After a half-mile look for directional signs to Cottonwood Lake Campground. The Forest boundary is about one mile up the access road, and the campground is 6 miles beyond that.

Nearest townAfton, Wyoming
Coordinates42.6411° N, 110.8169° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearMountain Top Outdoor Shop ↗6.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.3 mi
RV sales & serviceAirstream of Wyoming ↗30.6 mi

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

Explore

Video

Cottonwood BLM Campground Tour -- Salmon River Camping in Idaho

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trailheads within three miles

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 →

Bridger-Teton National Forest begins about 7.4 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

Peaceful North Fork Creek flows through the campground. Its banks and the surrounding canyon are forested by dense stands of pines and aspens, which offer excellent shade and privacy. Vibrant summer wildflowers are abundant.

Recreation

The lake offers great canoeing and boating for smaller craft and fishing for brook and cutthroat trout. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails are in the area, as well as a motorized route for trail vehicles <50". The west loop of the campground includes horse corrals. The east side, where the group site is located, includes the motorized trail head, so trail vehicles are allowed passage.

Guidebooks for Wyoming

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

  • Camping Wyoming and the Black Hills
    Kenneth Lee Graham, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range
    Ben Adkison, 2023
    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 Group Campsite?

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 Group Campsite?

$35/night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Cottonwood Group Campsite?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Cottonwood Group Campsite open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 25th.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Cottonwood Group Campsite have?

2 sites, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Group Campsite?

Cottonwood Group Campsite is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Group Campsite?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Group Campsite. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood Group Campsite?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Cottonwood Group Campsite?

The lake offers great canoeing and boating for smaller craft and fishing for brook and cutthroat trout. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Group Campsite?

Afton, Wyoming.

Source: Getting there

What if Cottonwood Group Campsite is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Lake Campground (0.2 mi, first-come), Swift Creek Campground (7.4 mi, first-come), and Allred Flat Campground (13 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby