Cottonwood Grove Campground
Open
— Open year-round, first-come, first-served. Access road requires high-clearance vehicle and is impassable when wet.
About
Cottonwood Grove Campground offers a peaceful riverside camping experience along the Gunnison River in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Situated among mature cottonwood trees, this free, six-site campground provides a rustic setting for anglers, paddlers, and those seeking solitude in western Colorado's canyon country. One site is ADA accessible and features an adjacent accessible fishing pier, making the river experience available to all visitors.
The campground includes basic amenities such as shade structures, picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet. A boat ramp provides access to the river for non-motorized watercraft only, making this an ideal launching point for kayakers and rafters exploring the Gunnison Gorge. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. The maximum stay is seven days and six nights.
Access requires a high-clearance vehicle, as South River Road is a graded natural-surface road that is passable when dry but impassable when wet. Visitors should plan accordingly and be prepared for changing road conditions. This remote location offers an authentic backcountry camping experience with opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in one of Colorado's distinctive conservation areas.
Directions
From Austin, Colorado drive south on 2200 Rd. for 0.9 miles. Turn left on H75 Rd (sign indicates Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area access). H75 Rd is a well-maintained gravel road entering the National Conservation Area in about 2.8 miles. At Smith Mountain Saddle (4-way intersection), follow the sign for South River Road and West River Trailhead (slight right off H75 Rd). South River Road is a graded natural-surface road passable with high clearance vehicles when dry, impassable when wet. The campground is 4 miles down this road. From Delta (US 50 and CO 92 junction), go east on CO 92 for 5.5 miles to CR H75 Road on the right. Continue on H75 Road for 4.3 miles, then follow directions above.
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