Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood Campground is a BLM campground in California.
- Type
- BLM campground
- Location
- California
- Coordinates
- 32.80020, -116.33826
- Activities
- Auto Touring, Biking, Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Photography, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 760-337-4400
About Cottonwood Campground
Among the live oaks in southeastern San Diego County is Cottonwood Campground. The campground offers a tranquil and refreshing experience. Cottonwood Campground is an excellent starting point for day hikes, overnight backpacking trips, and equestrian use. The campground is located in the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area. A trail out of the campground leads to the Sombrero Peak Area, Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The Pepperwood Trail and Sombrero Peak Trail are both rated moderate to strenuous. The trails are sandy in composition and meander through public, state, and private lands. Elevations range from 3,000 to 4,500 feet. This makes the area an excellent escape from the hot summer temperatures of lower elevations. Most precipitation is received from December through April. Thundershowers are common during July and August. Winter temperatures range from the 50s (F) to below freezing, with occasional snowfalls. Summer temperatures range from 60 to 95 degrees (F).Cottonwood Campground is a year-round facility with 25 developed campsites. Fire rings, tables, and vault toilets are found in the campground. Horses are allowed only in the east loop of Cottonwood Campground. No group camping sites are available. No off highway vehicle (OHV) use is permitted in Cottonwood Campground or on McCain Valley Road. A $6.00 per campsite fee is required for camping at all BLM campsites. All sites are available on a first come first served basis. Except f
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Dump Station · 41 mi
- Water fill
- City of San Diego · 46 mi
- Propane
- Mobil · 34 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 110 designated routes (61 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Campsite by large oak tree PCT | Private campground | 4.8 mi | — | — |
| Lark Canyon Campground | Private campground | 6.0 mi | — | — |
| BurntRanchCG PCT | Private campground | 6.1 mi | — | — |
| Burnt Rancheria | National forest campground | 6.2 mi | — | No hookups |
| Burnt Rancheria Campground | National forest campground | 6.2 mi | — | — |
Open Cottonwood Campground in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.