Cottonwood Creek
- 12.8 mi
- round trip
- 8,502 ft
- climb
- 8,972 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Cottonwood Creek open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Stoddard Bridge Construction Closure
Agency alert covering Salmon-Challis National Forest · Order 0413-07-17 · USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Cottonwood Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that starts at about 8,800 feet and climbs to a high point of 8,972 feet, with a total elevation gain of 8,502 feet over the course of the trip. That makes it a long, steep route, and the steepest stretch comes at about 4.6 miles in, where the grade reaches 45 percent. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is open year-round. Plan on about 8.5 hours for the round trip. Nearby, Rat Creek and Trapper Creek are both hikes within a few miles, and Warm Spring Creek offers canoeing. Tin Cup Campground is about 6.6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- The Sawmill Station28 mi away
- Camp Perkins48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
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