4X4Explore.com - Cottonwood Basin

Cottonwood Basin

Maps:

USGS 7.5' Map:

Lava Creek

Statistics:

Difficulty:	Number:	Miles:	Altitude:	Obstacles:	Time:
Easy 2	FR 444	3.00	9,410 to 10,090 ft.	NA	1-2 hours

County:

Eagle

Adopted by:

Managed by:

White River National Forest,
Holy Cross Ranger District

24747 US Hwy 24 (P.O. Box 190)
Minturn, Colorado 81645

(970)963-2266

Summary:

Cottonwood Basin 4WD road is a connector between Cottonwood, FR 402, and High Trail Gulch, FR 445.

Attractions:

Hunting

Seasonal
Closure:

Agency - Nov 23 to May 20

Best Time:

June - Possible snow drifts
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible

Trail Heads
Accessed:

Camping:

There are a few small dispersed sites along the Cottonwood Basin road.

Base Camp:

This would not be a good area to base camp. There are few sites.

Fall Colors:

Poor - Most of the area is pine forest.

Navigation:

From Wolcott, CO. head northwest on Colorado Hwy 131 North toward Yacht Club Drive and go 13.6 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 1/Trough Rd and go 9.6 miles. Turn right onto Route 11 and go 1.0 mile. Turn right onto Cottonwood Creek Rd and go 0.7 miles. Take a sharp left to stay on Cottonwood Creek Rd and go 1.5 miles to a kiosk where you enter public lands. Continue on the road your on which becomes Cottonwood, FR 402. Continue straight to stay on Cottonwood and go 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Sheephorn, FR 401 and go 1.2 miles. At the intersection continue straight to start Cottonwood Basin, FR 444.

From Kremmling head south on Colorado Hwy 9 S/6th Street toward Eagle Ave and continue to follow Colorado Hwy 9 South for 2.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 1/Trough Rd and go 14.7 miles. Turn left onto Route 11 and go 1.0 mile. Turn right onto Cottonwood Creek Rd and go 0.7 miles. Take a sharp left to stay on Cottonwood Creek Rd and go 1.5 miles to a kiosk where you enter public lands. Continue on the road your on which becomes Cottonwood, FR 402. Continue straight to stay on Cottonwood and go 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Sheephorn, FR 401 and go 1.2 miles. At the intersection continue straight to start Cottonwood Basin, FR 444.

History:

Description:

Cottonwood Basin is a mostly graded road that continues on from the end of the Cottonwood road, FR402. It heads through the pine forest around the north side of Cottonwood Peak. The road was most likely constructed for logging operations based on its width for most of its length. There are areas where large mud puddles form if there has been enough rain.

There are a few dispersed campsites along the road, one near one of the few open meadows the Cottonwood Basin road passes through. You will pass old closed off logging roads on the north side as you continue around Cottonwood Peak. At the only real intersection you will want to turn right and head down hill. The left hand road will do two switchbacks up the flank of Cottnwood Peak before coming to a dead end. The road after the right turn will drop down hill and be more of a natural surface road with less construction evident. The pines will start to give way to aspen trees and the road will come to a small meadow where a sign will indicate FR445, High Trail Gulch, to the left. Another sign will indicate a road to the right, but it does not show on the MVUM.

Data updated: February 26, 2014 4WD Road driven: August 31, 2013 Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2014