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Cottonwood Pass

Discussion

8 replies
Posted by Bill Bean on July 18, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Heading for Crested Butte after work today. After reading reports on the wildflowers update I'm wondering if Cottonwood Pass is open or if I'll have to go over Monarch. Anybody out there have a road report?
Posted by Mel Ladewig on July 18, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Cottonwood is open. I believe Tincup is too.

Mel-
Posted by Bill Bean on July 18, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Thanks Mel. Cottonwood it is.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on July 18, 2008 at 10:42 AM
See this thread from Todd for proof. Second shot was from Cottonwood Pass.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=31759&CGISESSID=e1fe5dce0afc4f25f6535e8627a50f56&u=25685
Posted by Don Grall on July 18, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Cottonwood has been open for about 6 weeks. There's not much snow left as of last Sat. but the creek is still running pretty well.
Posted by Paul Gana on July 18, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Is there any place to camp along Cottonwood Pass?
Posted by Mel Ladewig on July 18, 2008 at 4:01 PM
I believe you could search for a recent discussion on this as well Paul. I don't know personally as I've never tried, but it seemed there would be plenty of open places on the lower west side. On the east side there is a FS campground at Cottonwood Lake which tends to be very busy in my experience.

Mel-
Posted by Bill Bean on July 18, 2008 at 5:14 PM
On the west side there's a decent spot to camp about halfway between the pass and Taylor Reservoir and several campgrounds between the reservoir and Almont.
Posted by Don Grall on July 18, 2008 at 11:16 PM
There are a couple of places on the east side as well, a free area with about a dozen spots just west of the of official FS campground on the south side of the road. Also about a mile past the Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead there is a small road heading south off a hairpin turn that will take you to a campsite about a quarter mile in (good clearance needed on vehicle,but 2wd will get you there). There's also a paved rest stop west of the Yale trailhead that is used regularly by self-contained vehicles, no signs about no camping.