Nevada · Hiking

Cottonwood Creek

2.1 mi
round trip
664 ft
climb
6,901 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Is Cottonwood Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Cottonwood Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cottonwood Creek is an easy, short hike in northern Nevada on Bureau of Land Management land, set in the Wells Field Office within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest's Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District. It's a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs about 426 feet over a 2.08-mile round trip, reaching a high point of 6,901 feet from a starting elevation of about 6,513 feet. The trail is open roughly from mid-June through October 30, and the estimated time to complete it is about an hour. The most comfortable stretch is typically late spring through early fall. At a nearby weather station, typical averages run from highs around 65°F in May to 86°F in July, with September easing back to about 76°F. That station sits roughly 940 feet lower than the hike's high point, so expect it to run cooler up top. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The closest neighbors are Camp Creek, about 2 miles away, and North Fork Camp Creek, roughly 3 miles off. Gods Pocket Peak and Wildcat Creek lie within about 6 miles.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Cottonwood Creek

    Best months: April–June and August–October. 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

      37° / 16°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 26°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      55° / 30°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      65° / 37°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 43°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 49°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 47°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 39°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 30°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 22°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      37° / 16°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibbs Rch - Jarbidge 24se, NV, 11.9 mi away at 5,960 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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