3.4511 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Cottonwood Pit Campground, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon
Families or groups wanting a free summer base camp with actual swimming will find this pond genuinely worth the 13-mile drive from Mitchell. Weekdays stay quiet, trout fishing is seasonal, and the spacious layout handles a full crew without feeling crowded.
Bring every drop of water you'll need, because none is available on-site. Winter road conditions are rough, temps drop below 10°F at night, and the seasonal scores reflect it: this place earns its reputation in summer, not December.
Reference information about Cottonwood Pit Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>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.</p>
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Summer brings the warmest and most reliable weather, with daytime highs in the mid-60s to mid-80s°F and nights in the 40s to 50s°F. This is when the swimming hole and trout fishing are at their peak. Water temperatures are pleasant, and spring-to-summer stockings keep fishing productive. Weekends can be busy with families and locals, but weekdays stay quiet. Winter temperatures drop to around 26°F during the day and below 10°F at night, with snowfall. Spring warms from 47°F to 65°F, and fall settles into the crisp 50-60°F range.
Summer is peak: warmest weather, swimming hole and trout fishing are at their best then.
Size & number of trailer sites limited (no dump station).
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