Cottonwood Canyon Trail #502

Dogs Leashed

Features Fishing · River/Creek

The only amenity at the trailhead is a couple of bear boxes.

From the trailhead at the end of Cottonwood Road you are immediately immersed in a grove of majestic oaks. The creek, lined by oaks and cottonwoods, cascades down boulders, making waterfalls, pools and rapids. At first the grade is gentle but steady, then the trail gets steeper. It winds up a canyon which narrows and widens. Pinyon pines are everywhere.

At 1.35 miles there is a bridge crossing built in 1963. At 2.1 miles there is a great campsite used by loggers back in the days when wood from this area was transported down the canyon via a flume and then turned into charcoal before being shipped across Owens Lake to supply the mines in the Inyo Mountains.

At 3.4 miles there is a second creek crossing. At 5.3 miles the trail meets Horseshoe Meadow Road. At this point you could turn around or continue up the road to access any of the many trails beginning from the horseshoe meadow area.

California Black Oak, Pinyon Pine, Sagebrush, and many more