State Forest · Minnesota
Cottonwood Lake Campground
State Forest · Minnesota, United States · in Bowstring State Forest
- Sites
- 10
- Cost
- $17 per night, taxes included
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,371 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 218-328-8982
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
The campsites are considered "primitive," designed to furnish only the basic needs of the camper. The campsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring, a table, vault toilets, garbage cans, and hand-pump drinking water.
The campground is close to Cottonwood Lake, but not right on the water. The campground is very wooded, mostly pine.
Cottonwood Lake is a panfish and bass lake, with a boat launch.
This is a pretty remote area.
10 primitive campsites. First come, first served for individual sites; pay the camping fee online on the day you arrive, or at a state park ranger station. Managed from Parks and Trails Grand Rapids area office (218-328-8982). In Bowstring State Forest.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 0° | -27° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 20° | 1° | -26° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 20° | -9° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 30° | 15° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 44° | 31° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 57° | 44° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 63° | 52° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 61° | 54° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 56° | 40° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 40° | 25° | 69° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 27° | 6° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 24° | 14° | -20° | 45° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Moose Lake Campground · State Forest · 3 mi · 11 sites
- North Star · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 39 sites
- Pokegama Dam Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 13 mi · 22 sites
- Clubhouse Lake · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 48 sites
- Schoolcraft State Park · Minnesota State Parks · 15 mi · 28 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.