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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Cottonwood Lakes

Ends at Cottonwood Lake Number Four
Inside Inyo National Forest
1,381 ft of climbing

12.3 mi out & back · 1,655 ft gain · 11,207 ft high point · Moderate

From Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead

In Inyo National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

This trail ascends to Cottonwood Lake Number Four and Five in Inyo National Forest. Cottonwood Lake Number Three lies along the route among nine other nearby lakes and peaks.

Elevation

1,655 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

8.1 mi from the trailhead
Tuttle Creek Campground
Campground

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

11 mi from you
Mount Whitney
- Summits Mount Whitney
- Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- 4,166 ft of climbing
21.2 mi loop · 10,694 ft gain · Moderate
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 7 mi away

Out: 1,310 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Cottonwood Lake Number FourDestination · 6.2 mi in
Cottonwood Lake Number FiveDestination · 6.2 mi in
Cottonwood Lake Number ThreeAlong the way · 5.6 mi in
Flat TopNearby · 4.1 mi in
Hidden LakeNearby · 4.2 mi in
Cottonwood Lake Number OneNearby · 4.9 mi in
Muir LakeNearby · 5.1 mi in
Cottonwood Lake Number TwoNearby · 5.1 mi in
Army Pass PointNearby · 5.9 mi in

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 12.3 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 1,655 ft round trip
High point: 11,207 ft
Low point: 10,029 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 3
Start: Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead
Trailhead: 36.4532° N · 118.1701° W

Get directions Open the map

10.0 mi from the trailhead

Whitney Portal

Campground · California

10.0 mi from the trailhead

Lone Pine

Campground · California

11 mi from you

Kern Peak

Summits Kern Peak
Inside Golden Trout Wilderness
2,814 ft of climbing

10.6 mi out & back · 3,080 ft gain · Very hard

Golden Trout Wilderness

Mount Whitney Mountaineer's Route

Summits Mount Whitney
Inside Inyo National Forest
6,518 ft of climbing

9.2 mi out & back · 6,552 ft gain

Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Mount Whitney

Summits Discovery Pinnacle
Inside Inyo National Forest
5,526 ft of climbing

21.1 mi out & back · 7,274 ft gain · Very hard

Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Farewell Gap

Ends at Farewell Gap
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
1,669 ft of climbing

10.0 mi out & back · 3,121 ft gain · Moderate

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 3 mi away

Upper Bubbs Creek - Forester Pass North

Ends at Forester Pass
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
2,749 ft of climbing

8.3 mi loop · 2,588 ft gain · Moderate

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 6 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Thu60°40°Sunny
Fri61°40°Sunny
Sat60°39°Mostly Sunny
Sun57°34°Sunny
Mon54°36°Sunny
Tue57°38°Sunny
Wed59°Sunny

Thu: Sunny · wind 6 to 12 mph SSW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain

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- 4,227 ft of climbing
10.8 mi out & back · 4,300 ft gain · Very hard
Inyo National Forest · Camp 8 mi away
Grass Lake Trail
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- Camp 2 mi away
5.1 mi out & back · 1,329 ft gain
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Seven Lakes Point Loop
- Ends at Twin Lakes
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- Camp under a mile away
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Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Sherwin Lakes
- Passes Sherwin Lakes
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- 1,059 ft of climbing
5.9 mi out & back · 1,080 ft gain · Moderate
Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away