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Cottonwood Lake (Co)

Federal campground in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest

Location: Molina, CO, CO

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-lake-co to be notified when sites open up.

Peaceful campground with plenty of shade and privacy, featuring helpful camp hosts. Excellent for disconnecting with no cell service and a 4.7/5 rating from 122 Google reviews.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — bear-proof food containers required. Also: Pacific Marten, Long-tailed Weasel, Least Chipmunk, Canada Jay, Steller's Jay, Great Horned Owl, Fox Sparrow.

Insider tips for Cottonwood Lake (Co): First-come, first-served only — arrive early to secure a site Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for payment Bring bear-proof food containers

Skip Cottonwood Lake (Co) if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You require cell service — no cell service at campground. You need advance reservations — first-come, first-served basis only.

Best time to visit Cottonwood Lake (Co): May-October — Official seasonal operations window.

Nearby campgrounds: Crag Crest (Cedaredge, CO), Ward Lake (Cedaredge, CO), Little Bear (Cedaredge, CO), Island Lake Campground (Delta, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood Lake (Co)

Cell signal at Cottonwood Lake (Co) (Molina, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

    CamperWatch
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    CamperWatch›CO›Cottonwood Lake (Co)
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    Federal campground in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Cottonwood Lake (Co)

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    Molina, CO, CO★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

    Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonMay through October
    Stay limit14 days
    HookupsNo hookups.
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire Rings
    Recreation
    Picnic Tables

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available✕ You require cell service — no cell service at campground✕ You need advance reservations — first-come, first-served basis only

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    First-come, first-served only

    arrive early to secure a site

    Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for payment

    Bring bear-proof food containers

    Best: May-October

    Official seasonal operations window

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: American Black Bear present in area — bear-proof food containers required. Also: Pacific Marten, Long-tailed Weasel, Least Chipmunk, Canada Jay, Steller's Jay, Great Horned Owl, Fox Sparrow.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    N/A· Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
    N/A

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Cottonwood Lake (Co) cost per night?+
    Cottonwood Lake (Co) costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is Cottonwood Lake (Co) open?+
    Cottonwood Lake (Co) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Cottonwood Lake (Co) have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Lake (Co)?+
    Cottonwood Lake (Co) is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at Cottonwood Lake (Co)?+
    Cottonwood Lake (Co) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Cottonwood Lake (Co)?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Cottonwood Lake (Co) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Cottonwood Lake (Co) open, and what are check-in times?+
    Cottonwood Lake (Co) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $20 /night★ 4 (0)
    SeasonMay through October
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Cottonwood Lake (Co) cost per night?+
    What season is Cottonwood Lake (Co) open?+
    Does Cottonwood Lake (Co) have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Crag Crest

    Cedaredge, CO

    From $20/night

    Forest campground camping

    Ward Lake

    Cedaredge, CO

    From $20/night

    Little Bear

    Cedaredge, CO

    From $20/night

    Island Lake Campground

    Delta, CO

    From $26/night

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