Idaho · Hiking · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Cottonwood Creek

17.7 mi
round trip
879 ft
climb
7,206 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Cottonwood Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Payette 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 Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the nearest town is Fourway Junction, about 21 miles away. The route is an out-and-back of about 17.7 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 880 feet from a low point of about 6,259 feet to a high of about 7,206 feet. The trail surface is natural, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 76°F in July and August, and temperatures on this route run cooler than that station's figures because it sits well below the trail's elevation. Cold Meadows Airfield campground sits just 0.1 mile from the trail. Coyote Spring and Cold Mountain are both within about 2 miles, and Starvation is about 3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Cottonwood Creek

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      31° / 5°

    2. Feb

      33° / 8°

    3. Mar

      38° / 13°

    4. Apr

      46° / 20°

    5. May

      57° / 28°

    6. Jun

      64° / 35°

    7. Jul

      76° / 39°

    8. Aug

      76° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 31°

    10. Oct

      52° / 24°

    11. Nov

      36° / 14°

    12. Dec

      28° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dixie N, ID, 31.6 mi away at 5,740 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.