Cottonwood Creek
Idaho
No account needed. We'll keep it on this device.
2.7 mi
Distance
2,490 ft
Gain
1h 49m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Cottonwood Creek
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Want dates, gear and meals worked out too?
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 2.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,490 ft
- Elevation loss
- 2,490 ft
- Highest point
- 4,022 ft
- Lowest point
- 2,879 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Dogs
- unknown
- Bikes
- no
About this trail
Cottonwood Creek is a 5.4-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,490 feet of elevation gain and loss. The trail reaches a maximum elevation of 4,022 feet.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 2,879 ft
- High point
- 4,022 ft
- Total climbing
- 2,490 ft
- Total descent
- 2,490 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 21% grade around mile 1.8 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 5.4 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Most of the climbing comes early, so the second half is easier.
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Headquarters, ID weather station, 13 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan35° high18° low
- Feb39° high20° low
- Mar46° high23° low
- Apr52° high27° low
- May63° high34° low
- Jun70° high40° low
- Jul80° high44° low
- Aug80° high41° low
- Sep70° high35° low
- Oct55° high28° low
- Nov42° high25° low
- Dec33° high20° low
Where it is
- North Fork Ranger District · Ranger district
- Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for North Fork Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
critical · posted Oct 1, 2026
Moose Mountain Fire Area Closure
critical · posted Sep 11, 2026
critical · posted Sep 1, 2026
Barnyard Timber Sale Road and Trail Closures
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- COTTONWOOD CREEK OVERLOOKHiking0.4 mi
- HEMLOCK RIDGE CHiking0.5 mi
- HEMLOCK RIDGEHiking0.8 mi
- PINE CREEK SIXHiking0.8 mi
- Orogrande CreekCanoeing1.7 mi
- Weitas CampgroundCamping6.7 mi
- Washington Creek CampgroundCamping8 mi
- Fourth Of July CampCamping9.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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