Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

4 reviews

Cody Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Street, Cody, WY, 82414, USA

Quick Facts

4,790 ft

Price

$3 - $8/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Opens Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Cody Field Office site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Quick Facts

4,790 ft

Price

$3 - $8/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Opens Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Cody Field Office site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

$3.00 - $8.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Fees depend on reservation method: $8 online or app reservations, $9 through the contact center, and $3 for in-person reservations. Additional change...

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free with account · Checks every 2 minutes

150,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

307-578-5900cody_wymail@blm.gov

Help improve this page

See something outdated or incorrect? Let us know!

What Campers Say

N/A

Limited Reviews

Based on 4 reviews

2 Google reviews

Most mentioned

water

"No user reviews are available for this campground, which limits the ability to provide experiential insights."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

Cody Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Street, Cody, WY, 82414, USA

Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

Cody Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Street, Cody, WY, 82414, USA

Driving directionsFrom Lovell, take Highway 14A for approximately 10 miles. Immediately after the causeway on the east side of Bighorn Lake, turn left onto John Blue Canyon Road/BLM Road #1122. Take the first road on the right, and travel this road for roughly five miles until you reach the campground and trailhead.

Accessible via paved Highway 14A and gravel John Blue Canyon Road/BLM Road #1122; road conditions to the campground appear manageable but not explicitly described as seasonal.

Nearby places

Lovell is approximately 10 miles away

Cody is the nearest city.

Nearby supplies

Groceries, camping supplies, and fuel are likely available in Cody, WY, approximately 10 miles away.

Best Time to Camp at Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

The semi-arid climate at Cottonwood Creek brings gloriously dry conditions through much of the camping season, with comfortable temperatures that make both daytime exploration and evening stargazing a pleasure. Spring and fall offer the most ideal conditions, when cool, crisp air mingles with mostly clear skies. While occasional light rain may sweep through, bringing the sweet scent of sagebrush and refreshing the landscape, most days dawn bright and perfect for outdoor adventures. Moderate winds occasionally whisper through the cottonwoods, providing natural air conditioning on warmer afternoons.

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Semi-arid climate yields dry, comfortable conditions through much of the season.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Likely comfortable fall weather and scenic canyon views, but no seasonal reviews exist.

Spring(Mar-May)

3.0 / 5

Spring conditions not detailed; likely usable but variable with runoff and weather.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

2.0 / 5

No winter info; primitive facilities and moderate elevation suggest limited winter appeal.

Planning Tips

About Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

Nestled at the gateway to adventure, Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground offers an intimate escape with just five thoughtfully spaced campsites. Each site comes complete with its own fire ring for evening gatherings, a sturdy picnic table for outdoor dining, and secure food storage boxes to keep your provisions safe from wildlife. The campground caters beautifully to equestrian adventurers with four dedicated horse corrals and a convenient watering trough, making it a perfect basecamp for riders exploring the surrounding trails. Modern toilet facilities ensure comfort during your stay in this rustic paradise.

The Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground accommodates tent camping and appears to be suitable for primitive camping setups, with facilities tailored for equestrian use. RV accommodations are not specifically mentioned.

Weather and SeasonsThe semi-arid climate at Cottonwood Creek brings gloriously dry conditions through much of the camping season, with comfortable temperatures that make both daytime exploration and evening stargazing a pleasure. Spring and fall offer the most ideal conditions, when cool, crisp air mingles with mostly clear skies. While occasional light rain may sweep through, bringing the sweet scent of sagebrush and refreshing the landscape, most days dawn bright and perfect for outdoor adventures. Moderate winds occasionally whisper through the cottonwoods, providing natural air conditioning on warmer afternoons.

ElevationPerched at the perfect vantage point between high desert and mountain country, the campground offers that sweet spot where the air is crisp but not thin, and the views stretch endlessly across the dramatic landscape.

Natural Features and SceneryCottonwood Creek sits in the shadow of spectacular Bighorn Canyon, where ancient limestone walls rise dramatically from the shores of pristine Bighorn Lake. This remarkable location offers campers a front-row seat to one of the West's most stunning geological theaters. The surrounding landscape paints a captivating portrait of contrasts - from the rugged canyon walls carved by millennia of flowing water to the serene waters of the lake reflecting endless Montana skies. High desert flora dots the hillsides with splashes of sage and juniper, while the namesake cottonwoods provide welcome shade along the creek bottom, their leaves dancing in the canyon breezes.

Geological RegionPositioned at the remarkable confluence of Bighorn Lake and the eastern ramparts of Bighorn Canyon, Cottonwood Creek Campground occupies one of the most geologically fascinating regions in the American West. Here, the forces of nature have sculpted a dramatic landscape where towering canyon walls tell the story of ancient seas in their limestone layers, while the semi-arid climate has created a unique ecosystem where mountain and desert environments merge. The rugged terrain showcases millions of years of geological history, from uplifted mountain ranges to water-carved canyons, creating a natural amphitheater of stone that changes color with each passing hour of sunlight.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Groups

No information is provided about group sites at this campground.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutConsists of five campsites, picnic areas, horse corrals, and a trailhead leading to nearby interpretive regions.

Walk-in AvailabilityWalk-up availability only; reservations cannot be made in advance.

Cancellation PolicyReservations are not available, so cancellation policies do not apply. However, for other locations, a $10 cancellation fee and forfeiture of the first night’s fees apply for cancellations made on the day before arrival.

AccessibilityAccessibility features are not mentioned in the authoritative sources.

Site SizeThe campground contains five campsites; however, specific information regarding the size of the sites is not provided.

PrivacyPrivacy levels of campsites are not discussed in the available information.

Total Campsites5 campsites

Amenities available

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

The Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground is primarily geared toward equestrian activities and serves as an access point for trails, though specific recreational activities are not elaborated on in user reviews or authoritative sources.

Winter Activities

Water Sports