Cottonwood Grove Campground
Open year-round, first-come, first-served. Access via South River Road requires a high-clearance vehicle and is impassable when wet. No potable water available; campers must bring their own. Maximum stay is 7 days.
Flash Flood Warning issued July 20 at 7:40PM MDT until July 20 at 10:30PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
FFWGJT The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Southwestern Delta County in west central Colorado... Central Mesa County in west central Colorado... * Until 1030 PM MDT. * At 740 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.7 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... mainly rural areas of Southwestern Delta and Central Mesa Counties
Hydrologic Outlook issued July 20 at 10:32AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
ESFGJT Anomalous moisture has become established across portions of eastern Utah and western Colorado. Scattered thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain are expected this afternoon and early evening. Rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour will be possible with the stronger storms. These rates could lead to flash flooding and debris flows especially over steep terrain and recent burn scars. Also, rain over the past several days has lead to saturated soils, which increase the chances for excessive runoff. As a reminder: Keep an eye on our forecasts through the end of the week and stay tuned for updated hydrology alerts if visiting or if you reside below vulnerable terrain to flash flooding and/or debris flows. Storms across the west develop quickly, leaving little room for lead time in flashy terrain.
About
Cottonwood Grove Campground sits among mature cottonwood trees along the Gunnison River within the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. The campground provides direct river access for anglers and paddlers, with a boat ramp accommodating non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and rafts. The setting offers a quiet, primitive camping experience in one of Colorado's notable river corridors. The campground has six campsites, including one ADA-accessible site adjacent to an accessible fishing pier. Each site features a shade structure, picnic table, and fire ring. A vault toilet serves the campground. There is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. Camping is free on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum stay of 7 days (6 nights). Access to Cottonwood Grove requires a high-clearance vehicle. South River Road is a graded natural-surface road that is passable when dry but becomes impassable when wet. The campground is located 4 miles down South River Road from Smith Mountain Saddle.
Directions
From Austin, Colorado, drive south on 2200 Road for 0.9 miles. Turn left onto H75 Road (signed for Gunnison Gorge NCA). Follow H75 Road, a well-maintained gravel road, for 2.8 miles to enter the NCA. Continue 0.2 miles to Smith Mountain Saddle (4-way intersection). Turn slight right onto South River Road toward West River Trailhead. Follow the graded natural-surface road 4 miles to the campground. High-clearance vehicle required; road is impassable when wet.
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 (970) 240-5300 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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