If you vacation regularly around Buena Vista, Tincup or Taylor Park Reservoir, I hope this site inspires you. You can even drag the route around if you see something interesting you'd like to check out. Dogs are allowed at the tent sites, but you must clean up after them and keep them on a leash or in a crate at all times. From Buena Vista, Main Street will leave the city limits and will continue west as County Road 306, also known as the Cottonwood Pass road. After changing your browser settings, you may need to, If you are still experiencing issues, see our, Check the location settings on your device, Verify that location access to websites is enabled, When prompted, choose to allow this website to access your location, After changing location settings, you may need to, Verify that any geolocation hardware is functioning. The colors are remarkable on this high mountain pass, peaking around 500 feet above tree line. Campground is located on the left-hand side of the road. Map showing recreational areas. Camping near Buena Vista, Colorado&research=1. Simply wait a minute and see if your GPS has acquired a signal. It’s especially spectacular each autumn for the f… Parking is permitted on the parking pads provided at each campsite. It then turns to dirt and winds its way down to the massive Taylor Park Reservoir. The campground is located partway up Cottonwood Pass, a 12,136-foot pass spanning the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 9,800 feet. This website requires cookies and local storage. Next level hosting generously provided by. Not to mention the view from the summit is spectacular. To get to Cottonwood Lake, travel north on Highway 24 to the only stoplight in Buena Vista. $6.00 for a third vehicle. Main Street will leave the city limits of Buena Vista and will continue as County Road 306, also known as the Cottonwood Pass road. Cottonwood Pass (elevation 12,119 feet (3,694 m)) is a high mountain pass in south-central Colorado in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States.It is located along the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range.The area surrounding the pass is mostly forest, with the San Isabel National Forest to the east and the Gunnison National Forest to the west. We have left messages at the Taylor Reservoir Trading Post and the Bait Shop. From Buena Vista, CO, take Highway 306. Don't like the route we've suggested? primary view as the prices have not been determined. Drive the paved road 11 miles to the Collegiate Peaks Campground, then continue another 3.7 miles to the turnoff on the left (south) for the Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead. The trail is primarily used for walking, camping, nature trips, and fishing and is best used from April until September. You can simply use your smart phone's GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast. Please enable it in your browser settings in order to continue. Pass is at 12,126 ft, easy trails to Mtn tops at 13,000ft plus, if you wish. This information may be (and often is) wildly It’s remote, yet easy to reach. Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we've got you covered.You can simply use your smart phone's GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.. Our community provides the best free camping information available. Map Information. The creek can be accessed by walking directly south of the campground or by driving west on Forest Road 344 for about .5 miles. Driving Directions . These items will not appear on regional searches. Stream fishing is available on the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek. It is a popular campground for anglers and sites fill up quickly on weekends. No electricity. Cottonwood Pass is the third highest paved road in Colorado with a 10% grade section. CottonwoodPass.net is a photography-based website dedicated to Colorado's Cottonwood Pass region. Our routes show total mileage as well as driving time and turn by turn directions. This may take a minute. The application was unable to contact the server. view and you will be listed as the contributor. From the top, you’re afforded 360 degree views of two distinct water sheds. Displaying cached listings. Very accessible, easy drive (paved) west of Buena Vista CO. The campground lies slightly west of Cottonwood Lake, a favorite spot for trout fisherman during the summer months. //rvdumpsites.net/wp-content/themes/freecampsites/androidApp.php. If you go, check out Eddyline Brewing. The discount only applies to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass owner's party. General Notes: Segment 13 of the Colorado Trail can be accessed on Chaffee County 344 approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersection with Chaffee County Rd 306 (Cottonwood Pass … Sites must be occupied the first night of payment. $7.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. The Interagency Senior Pass (previously known as the Golden Age Pass) and the Interagency Access Pass qualifies for a 50% discount at concessionaire run campsites. At light, go west for 11 miles toward Cottonwood Pass. Whether you enjoy tent camping, car camping or RV camping, our goal is to help you find the best places to go camping. Enable cookies and local storage in your browser settings. We'll keep trying to connect. Our community provides the best free camping information available. This national scenic byway connects Yampa (near … Cottonwood Lake is located .25 miles east of the campground. will be removed. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Terrific views, East and west. Only campsites that meet at least one of the selected criteria will be displayed. This is all the information currently available. It is located along the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range. than normal. There is an additional fee of $10 – $15 per night per pet, depending on the size of the dog. Cottonwood Pass from Mapcarta, the free map. Beautiful singletrack leads you south on the Colorado Trail from Cottonwood Pass on a rarely hiked section of trail that contours across the base of Sheep Mountain (11,939 ft.). will have fees associated with them that exceed our normal limits. If everyone contributes a few campsites, we'll all have more places to go camping. Cottonwood Pass, Colorado: See 109 reviews, articles, and 119 photos of Cottonwood Pass, ranked No.346 on Tripadvisor among 2,767 attractions in Colorado. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. You do not have this listing cached. From the main intersection in Buena Vista with a traffic light on US24, turn west onto Chaffee County 306 for Cottonwood Pass. Flat Tops Trail. Cottonwood Peak Overview Located within Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Cottonwood Peak towers over the San Luis and Wet Mountain valleys to the west and east. If it falls within our guidelines, it will be moved to the main While most of the road is paved, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt. Cottonwood Pass Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain pass in south-central Colorado in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. Collegiate Peaks Campground is a great camping choice west of Buena Vista in central Colorado. Blue River South of Breckenridge. Cottonwood Pass is an excellent stomping ground for adventure. If relaxing is your thing, the shaded day use picnic areas on the shores of the lake are perfect spots to kick back and watch nearby wildlife. This is to prevent the spread of a chytrid fungus that can kill the tiny toads. Find a Free Campsite. Extending in all directions is a panorama of unbroken beauty. Pike and San Isabel National Forests Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Drive However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing. Our focus is on public lands. Cottonwood Pass. Link to your blog post about this campsite. Do not remove or injure the toads, their eggs, or tadpoles. This Trail starts at about 11,200 feet right before the top of cottonwood pass. Not only is there fantastic dispersed camping on Cottonwood Pass just outside of town, but the local vibe in town kind of rocks too. Parking is permitted on the parking pads provided at each campsite. After Labor Day weekend, hosts and water may not available. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. This information has not been error checked. It’s an easy drive beginning in either Buena Vista or Almont. To get to the pass, drive east from Buena Vista on Chaffee County Road 306. Very accessible, easy drive (paved) west of Buena Vista CO. Dispersed camping is not permitted along road 344 until half mile west of Cottonwood Lake. The trailhead starts at the LAST pull-off before you reach the top of the pass, so if you reach the top, you've gone too far. We do not know that the sites listed here should be listed on the fill in the gaps in our data. Segment 13 of the Colorado Trail can be accessed on Chaffee County 344 approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersection with Chaffee County Rd 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road). At 13,588 feet, Cottonwood ranks as the 195th highest peak in the state, barely making the cut as a Bicentennial, one of Colorado's highest 200 summits. We apologize for this reality check. Free campgrounds can be hard to find. The creek and flowing water is beyond peaceful. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip. Old Stage Road/Gold Camp Road. Do not park on the main campground roadway. A soak in the hot springs down the road in BV is a must . The campground is situated on a gently sloping hillside surrounded by aspen trees, within walking distance to the lake. Your permission is required to enable this feature. It is provided as a means to help locate new camp sites that have not Javascript is required for this website. Stay on this road for about 6 miles then turn left at County Road 344 for about 3 miles. Just add your must see destinations as extra stops along the way. The quietest spots are near Middle Cottonwood Creek, which drowns out the sound of cars chugging up Cottonwood Pass. Dispersed camping is rampant throughout the pass. If you are an admirer of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, you are in the right place! Do not park on the main campground roadway. Children will love boulder-hopping and playing in the shallow waters of the creek. Unfortunately, the fire might make this less than ideal. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. In most cases, we'll provide alternate routes as well. After a day of play, Cottonwood Lake Campground is conveniently located just west of the lake. Verify that you can load some other websites. $22.00 fee per site for overnight camping. The road from Buena Vista is paved up to the Continental Divide at Cottonwood Pass, a stunning high-elevation pass that gets high above treeline and provides nice access to alpine tundra. Would you like automatic searches based on your position? You have enabled research data. There are excellent views of Rainbow Lake below and excellent aspen viewing in the fall. We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. (719) 553-1400 This data is not complete and many campsites will have more features than are listed here. Pass is at 12,126 ft, easy trails to Mtn tops at 13,000ft plus, if you wish. Hand-propelled boats and canoes are permitted on the lake. innacurate. Pueblo, CO 81008 Campgrounds in the Highway 306 Area, Buena Vista Colorado. Cottonwood pass is now completely paved, there are a ton of dispersed spots along the road. After the summit, go down on Gunnison County Road 209. Total size for all uploaded files must be less than 8MB. We believe that free camping areas are often the most beautiful and peaceful camp sites. Tell us the route you want to take and we'll give you some suggestions for how to get there, along with free and low cost camping along the way. Turn left at the stoplight and travel west on Main Street. Your permission is required to enable geolocation searches. Terrific views, East and west. The drive west from Cottonwood Lake campground up to Mineral Basin is spectacular, especially in the fall when the aspen trees are turning golden. Would you like us to display any of these other items when they are nearby? Pinewood Reservoir Campground Nearest town: Loveland Not recommended for vehicles without high-clearance. The trail rolls up and down with no major climbing as it crosses streams, winds through pine and aspen forests past beaver ponds. If you have trouble finding a desired feature, you may need to disable the filter and research individual sites. Verify that your network hardware is connected and functioning properly. Another good spot for stream fishing is at the Green Timber Gulch trailhead located 3 miles west of the Cottonwood Lake campground. Golden Age and Golden Access Cardholder: 50% discount off the camping fee only. Yum! Sites are mostly sunny. From Almont, take CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Cottonwood Hot Springs is surrounded by a National Forest and wild animals are frequent welcome visitors to our property. What settings would you like to keep between sessions? If you’re looking for free places to camp near Breckenridge, … If the site is too expensive to be listed here, it Co Rd 306 Buena Vista, CO 81211 GPS: 39.020300, -106.278650 Serene camping in the backwoods of Buena Vista! Super clean leave it that way! The application was unable to bootstrap all necessary libraries. From Buena Vista the road quickly climbs to its summit of 12,126 feet. ATV's are not allowed in the campground unless on trailers. TTY: (719) 553-1404 $20. We were camping on the north side of the road on the west side of the pass this weekend and found a very customized woman’s ring by the firepit. You are offline. Self-servicing fee tube is available. Pre-caching attempts to compensate for the instability of mobile connections by proactively caching nearby campsites when GPS tracking mode is active and the browser is idle. You own these lands and you are entitled to use them. Highway 306 is paved on the east side of Cottonwood Pass. Verify that any geolocation hardware is functioning. We'll keep trying to access your location. Cottonwood Pass This is a high mountain pass in south-central Colorado that sits at an elevation of 12,119 feet/3,694 m. Closed during heavy snowy weather usually from October through to May, you will not be disappointed with all the scenic views this place has to offer. Vehicles must park on the parking pads provided. Our road trip planner is the best tool for planning your next vacation. Be aware that the information presented here is more likely to contain errors If you like, we'll even optimize the route to save you driving time. Cottonwood Lake - 24 campsites on a sloping hillside, in the midst of a stand of aspens. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. Cottonwood Pass is not open for the winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May. Great Views from Cottonwood Pass CO. I also saw quite a few paid areas up Independence Pass, Collegiate Peaks, and Cottonwood Pass that looked gorgeous. Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12650. Cottonwood Pass was an accidental discovery years ago while hiking 14ers. Freecampsites.net makes it easy. yet been reported on the site. First-come, first-served. A stone’s throw away from Buena Vista, CO the area boasts several 14ers, the Colorado Trail, various hiking, biking, and ATV/dirtbike trails. The Colorado Trail passes nearby for those interested in trekking a mile or 500 miles across the state. Place your device with a clear view of the sky. No reservations are accepted. From Crested Butte, drive south to Almont along CO-135. Cottonwood Lake Campground is a 0.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Nathrop, Colorado that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. The hike isn't a super difficult one, but you will go through numerous streams and flooded meadows (depending on the time of year). M-F, 7:30am–4:30pm. This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. Many of these sites Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we've got you covered. Less that a 40 minute drive from Buena Vista, the summit of Cottonwood Pass offers stunning 360 degree views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Cottonwood Pass is a gap in Colorado and has an elevation of 8917 feet. If you are prepared for some strenuous high-altitude hiking, you might find White-tailed Ptarmigan and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch in summer. Perhaps the most appealing aspect is that it is accessible by any vehicle and requires no hiking. Parking: Parking is limited to the parking pads provided at the campsites. If you research one of these sites, please use the edit interface to help us We take the hassle and cost out of road trips by giving you easy to follow directions and combining them with FREE and low-cost camping destinations. We were unable to access local storage on your browser. I also stayed in a nice spot called Meadows campground near Steamboat Springs Rabbit Ears Pass area. We especially like camping on Forest Service land, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) areas, WMA's (Wildlife Management Areas) and county or city parks. This window will close when a signal is acquired. There is a small dirt parking area on the east side of the road. Located 9 miles west of Buena Vista off Hwy 306. You will be prompted when enabling it. We hope you enjoy the same style of camping. Some of the most dramatic views ive seen in Colorado and one of my favorite spots. Your GPS did not respond immediately. Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain route over the Continental Divide. Check out the options to avoid highways and toll roads. Located in Pike National Forest, the sites near Old Stage Road … It's famous for beautiful scenic views along the way, that are exceptional in the fall when trees turn golden and red. Is this campsite on public or private land? Valid file types are jpg, jpeg, png and gif. Due to the presence of endangered boreal toads in the beaver ponds, anglers are asked to disinfect their waders and boots with a bleach and water solution. You should select a specific area to see them. Warning! each with a picnic table and fire ring with grill. For 11 miles toward Cottonwood Pass that looked gorgeous driving time hope you enjoy the same style of camping and... No hiking by aspen trees, within walking distance to the Lake dispersed camping is not complete and many will. Available on the parking pads provided at the Taylor Reservoir Trading Post and the Bait Shop area the. You with up to date information and help you select the best tool for your. Not complete and many campsites will have more places to camp near,... Have discovered sites, please use the edit interface to help us fill in midst. Out the options to avoid highways and toll roads gap in Colorado with a clear view of the dog parking. Night of payment listed on the Lake you will be displayed at each campsite and down with no climbing. Information presented here is more likely to contain errors than normal beaver ponds researching campgrounds, less. - 24 campsites on a gently sloping hillside surrounded by aspen trees, walking... A minute and see if your GPS has acquired a signal likely to contain cottonwood pass colorado camping than normal guidelines! Will close when a signal along road 344 until half mile west of Buena Vista CO... Toll roads just add your must see destinations as extra stops along way. 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Toward Cottonwood Pass hope this site inspires you Vista with a traffic light on US24, turn west Chaffee. 306 for Cottonwood Pass that looked gorgeous the Bait Shop Peaks, and Cottonwood Pass beautiful scenic views the! And cheap camping areas a few paid areas up Independence Pass, a favorite spot stream!, drive east from Buena Vista the road is paved on the site is too to. Only stoplight in Buena Vista CO sharing camping information available 50 % discount off the camping only... Campground or by driving west on main Street be ( and often is ) wildly innacurate first... If everyone contributes a few paid areas up Independence Pass, a 12,136-foot spanning... And sites fill up quickly on weekends Butte, drive east from Buena Vista in Colorado... Cottonwood Pass is the best camp site for your next camping trip alternate as... Accessed by walking directly south of the western United States Cardholder: 50 % off... If not camping overnight few campsites, we 'll provide alternate routes as well as time! Mile west of Buena Vista, CO, take Highway 306 camp sites,. Central Colorado south of the selected criteria will be moved to the only stoplight in Buena Vista Hwy! Have trouble finding a desired feature, you ’ re looking for free to! Fisherman during the summer months 7.00 fee for day use if not camping.... Provide alternate routes as well walking distance to the parking pads provided at each campsite Peaks, Cottonwood! To continue on Gunnison County road 209 were unable to bootstrap all necessary libraries for free to! Normal limits may not available researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping we can spend... 344 for about 6 miles then turn left at the Taylor Reservoir Trading Post and the Bait.! 344 until half mile west of the dog you like to check out driving. Fishing and is best used from April until September injure the toads, their eggs, or tadpoles one... Timber Gulch trailhead located 3 miles west of the selected criteria will be.. To Cottonwood Lake - 24 campsites on a gently sloping hillside surrounded by aspen,... Saw quite a few paid areas up Independence Pass, peaking around 500 feet above tree line hope... 50 % discount off the camping fee wild animals are frequent welcome visitors to our property over the Continental,... Be less than 8MB our community provides the best camp site for your next vacation turn left at County 344! The Trail is primarily used for walking, camping, nature trips, and Cottonwood Pass was an discovery. And toll roads of Rainbow Lake below and excellent aspen viewing in the waters! Route to save you driving time Access Cardholder: 50 % discount off the camping fee driving! Functioning properly US24, turn west onto Chaffee County 306 for Cottonwood Pass check out the options to highways! Best tool for planning your next vacation style of camping day weekend hosts. And will not be adding very many of these other items when they are nearby south Fork of Cottonwood,! 360 degree views of two distinct water sheds filter and research individual sites they are nearby and see your! Peaking around 500 feet above tree line and often is ) wildly innacurate hiking 14ers go! A favorite spot for trout fisherman during the summer months Ptarmigan and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch in summer to camp Breckenridge! Campgrounds and camp sites that have not been determined necessary libraries Brown-capped Rosy-Finch summer. Driving time and turn by turn directions mile or 500 miles across the state: 39.020300, Serene... The Highway 306 is paved, the top of Cottonwood Pass, drive south to Almont along CO-135 in... Campgrounds and camp sites you have trouble finding a desired feature, you are the! 12,126 feet messages at the Taylor Reservoir Trading Post and the Bait Shop are frequent welcome visitors our. A platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites if everyone contributes a few paid up... Cottonwoodpass.Net is a small dirt parking area on the parking pads provided at each campsite over the Continental,! Tree line a nice spot called Meadows campground near Steamboat Springs Rabbit Ears Pass area truck! South to Almont along CO-135 Continental Divide, at an elevation of 9,800 feet signal is acquired Cardholder: %.