Cottonwood Creek
Campground · California · 48 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 48
- Bookable sites
- 45 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 6
- People per site
- 5,643 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Cottonwood Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, four miles south of Sierraville. Its location makes it a great base camp for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest.
Recreation
Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail are both short, foot trails that begin in the campground. The surrounding area offers additional trails and fishing opportunities.Facilities
The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.Natural Features
The campground sits along Cottonwood Creek, in a stand of Jeffrey pine, and red and white fir trees. The forest provides shade and privacy between sites, but noise from the highway can be heard within the campground.Contact Info
This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 606-3978 for general information.Nearby Attractions
Lake Tahoe is located about 40 minutes from the campground. Scenic Tahoe offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.Sardine Lakes, within the beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 35-minute drive northwest of the campground, via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Stampede Reservoir is a 45-minute drive southeast.
The facts
- Season: May 24 – October 14 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 48 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 45 ft
- Up to 6 people per site
- Loops: COTTONWOOD CREEK
Site types
- 48 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.
48 campsites at Cottonwood Creek
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 002 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 003 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 004 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 005 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 006 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 007 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 008 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 009 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 010 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 011 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 013 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 014 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 015 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 016 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 017 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 45 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 018 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 019 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 020 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 021 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 022 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 023 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 024 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 025 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 026 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 027 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 028 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 029 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 030 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 031 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 032 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 033 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 034 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 035 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 036 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 037 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 038 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 039 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 040 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 041 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 042 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 043 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 044 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 045 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 046 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 047 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 048 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 049 | COTTONWOOD CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Truckee, travel north on Highway 80 to Highway 89 approximately 20 miles to the campground. From Sierraville, travel approximately 5 miles south on Hwy 89, the campground will be on the left side of the highway.
39.54944, -120.31639 · 39°32'58.0"N 120°18'59.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 5.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Cottonwood Creek
- Can you reserve a site at Cottonwood Creek?
- Yes, Cottonwood Creek is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Cottonwood Creek have?
- 48 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Creek?
- 45 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Creek?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Creek.
- Are campfires allowed at Cottonwood Creek?
- Campfires are allowed at Cottonwood Creek. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Cottonwood Creek also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Cottonwood Creek's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $20.00 per site $5 for extra vehicle
Restrictions:
- No day use parking. Camping outside designated campground is prohibited in this area. Off-road vehicle use is prohibited within the campground. Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal files may not be allowed. Bears freque
Camping near Cottonwood Creek
- Cold Creek 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Upper Little Truckee 5.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lower Little Truckee 6.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sardine Peak Lookout 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Yuba Pass Campground 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Little Lasier Meadows Campground 11.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Little Truckee Summit OHV/Snowmobile Staging Area 3.6 mi · Facility
- Bear Valley Campground 4.3 mi · Campground
- Kyburz Flat Interpretive Site 5 mi · Facility
- Kyburz Marsh Watchable Wildlife Site 5 mi · Facility
- Lake of the Woods 5.1 mi · Facility
- Sagehen Creek Campground 8.6 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 530-994-3401
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-21.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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