Cottonwood Creek Trail

At the upper end of the trail, the elevation at the creek is 7,000 feet and the top of the canyon wall is 7,900 feet. The trail is about 4 1/2 miles long and winds through BLM-managed public land, Bighorn National Forest land and State of Wyoming land. The trail accesses the Bighorn National Forest where one can continue hiking or horseback riding on primitive roads and trails. Vegetation in Cottonwood Canyon include narrowleaf cottonwood, willow, waterbirch, red osier dogwood, big sagebrush, juniper, mountain mahogany, Rocky Mountain maple, Indian ricegrass, ninebark, limber pine, Douglas-fir, aspen, and bluebunch wheatgrass. Things to note: Bring drinking water as Cottonwood Creek disappears underground at times. If using water from the creek, filter it or otherwise treat before drinking.