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

Cottonwood Lake (Co)

Share:
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

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

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$20 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability
Cottonwood Lake (Co) — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and | CamperWatch