Cottonwood Campground
Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No reservations. No potable water available. 14-day stay limit.
Air Quality Alert issued August 8 at 7:36PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Air Quality Alert issued August 5 at 2:33PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. An Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog, is in effect for Hermiston in Umatilla County. Ozone pollution is expected to reach levels that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart or respiratory conditions. DEQ expected the Air Quality Advisory to last until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
About
Cottonwood Campground is a very rustic, primitive camp located near Rock Creek and the route of the Historic Summit Trail in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest. The small campground offers seven campsites interspersed with aspen and surrounded by a mixed conifer forest, which provides welcome shade during summer months. This free, first-come, first-served campground is best suited for tent camping and small trailers, as site sizes and access roads limit larger RVs. Each site has a picnic table, and vault toilets are available. No potable water is provided, so campers must bring an adequate supply. There is no dump station on site. The campground provides a quiet base for exploring the surrounding forest, including the Historic Summit Trail. A 14-day stay limit applies to all Ochoco National Forest lands.
Directions
From Mitchell, Oregon: Travel east on Highway 26 for 13 miles to Forest Service Road 12, then go south on FS Road 12 for 14 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 200 and continue to Cottonwood Campground. From Paulina, Oregon: Travel east on County Road 112 for 3.5 miles, then north on Beaver Creek Road (County 113) for 8 miles to FS Road 42. Take FS Road 42 north for 8 miles to FS Road 12, then go north on FS Road 12 for 7 miles. Turn right onto FS Road 200 and continue to the campground.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (541) 416-6500 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| USFS Cottonwood Campground | |
| Ochoco NF Alerts & Notices |
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!