Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco OR

Cottonwood Canyon is an amazing Oregon State Park where you can Hike, ride bikes, fish, and lay out in the sun. I came here in late September where it wasnt 100 degrees. It was at most 90 on one of the days that I was out here and I was able to make it through. I was tent camping and had a Snow Peak Tarp to get great shelter. This campsite has no cell service which is great for the soul. Work couldn't reach me and I couldn’t be tempted by the internet and social media. The showers and bathroom were extremely clean which made my experience more glamping like. This place has a nice western feel with fun signs and old memorabilia from the cattle ranch days. The park does get extremely windy but the nigh sky and open lands make this a very nice retreat from the busy city of Portland. I plan to visit this place in the winter to experience the land in a whole new way.

We've been going to Cottonwood Canyon since it was opened. It's now on the Oregon Parks reservation system for at least part of the year, so be sure to check first before heading there as it's popularity has significantly increased since it's opening. Yes there are rattlesnakes, the occasional cougar sighting, still it's an amazing ecological delight with plenty of historical connections to the areas ranching past. Spring flowers are always a delight to see, and there are some nice smallmouth bass in the John Day river.if you're a hiker, there are some nice trails where you might see the occasional river otter, shore and waterfowl birds, elk, rabbits, deer, and big horn sheep. Cabins, dry camping are available although there isn't an RV dump here so plan to haul it with you to a different place to dump the black and grey tanks.

Beautiful clean well maintained park. Since it is the newest in Oregon, the signs and paths are in amazing shape. I highly recommend this park. Very quiet and very serene.

Be prepared to get a bit dusty!

This is a popular resort, campground in the middle of nowhere. It’s deep in the cavern, and has a wonderful river running through the middle of it. It’s an excellent stopping point for those of us traveling south for the winter.

The stargazing at night is amazing, the cabins are great, they come with a fire pit, we weren’t able to use due to the fire danger. All was saved by the propane grill with a burner and propane provided! The bathhouse was clean and the showers were large. There was even a dishwashing sink. We enjoyed our time relaxing and disconnecting from the glow of the blue screen and connecting with nature.

Had such a great experience camping here. Starting with being 10 dollars a night to camp, and having zero cell reception.how serene and sensational the views are there you truly get the chance to get in touch with the desert nature. The stars at night were magical and our group saw no less than 7 shooting stars per night. The campsites had plenty room and were spaced out enough you didn't feel to crammed next to other campers. Cottonwood also has the option to stay in a cabin or backpack in tocamp. With a solar station where you can charge your devices and very clean restrooms and hot showers it was a great weekend. The John Day river is within walking distance and has pretty calm currents which alow people of all ages to enjoy. Lots of people fishing and saw lots of people bring their dogs! If you are looking for an area to get away from your everyday life and make some wonderful memories with loved ones I greatly recommend this place.

This is Another great Oregon state park- spacious spots, great park hosts, very clean showers and bathrooms. Good fishing, and good trails although the hike up the hill is tough. It is quiet and gets dark. There is water in campgrounds, and showers centrally located

One of my favorite places. Spent two nights here where we got a taste of the weather. One very nice day, followed by monsoon rain.then nice again. I couldn't complain one bit though. Bathrooms are very well taken care of as well as nice showers to get refreshed before you get back on the road.

I had one of the best camping experiences here at Cottonwood. I loved the rustic look of the ranches, the hikes and even the tree full of bees. One night while sleeping in a hammock I wakened to see a bright light in the sky with a tail to it. I'd never seen such a sight so I grabbed my camera and shot a photo then went back to sleep. That was July 3rd. Months later I realized I'd taken a photo of the Nowise Comet. Had I known what I was seeing I'd take a whole lot more photos. That was amazing.

I really love this place it's like stepping back in time. The cut out letters as you walk down to the crystal clear river really set the stage of the history in this canyon.amazing.

A fantastic state park with constantly improving amenities. Their campground is always clean and thei wind barriers and picnic table covers are awesome.

Several nice trails and abundant river access make this state park great for families and folks of all ages.

This is one of the best campsite/campgrounds we’ve ever stayed in. Although it is in the desert they have done their best to create shade with both lots of trees and wooden shade canopies at every second site. We had site number five.
This was a wonderful campsite incredibly clean and intentional. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a park with so much intention built in, from the Rusty handmade signs to the shade canopies at the site. The sides are huge and the amenities incredibly clean. We would absolutely go again.

What an incredible park! This might be one of my favorite places to camp. Oregon put a lot of care into developing this campground. Clean bathrooms, great walking trails, and incredible spot for stargazing.

No cell service or electric hookups and the winds blow steadily. But it silent, remote and great for star gazing, hiking and gravel bike riding. But, anchor your tent well.

Great rest spot as I make my way west on my version of the Oregon Trail by bicycle from the Green River in Wyoming.

Great campground, excellent hiking, gorgeous scenery.

The campground was very clean and nice. Excellent camp host.

Overall great experience.

Trails are uncrowded even on Memorial Day weekend! QUIET. Lots of wildlife. Bring A LOT of extra water. maps worked until close to the park but still bring directions. Brought home 2 ticks on each dog & 1 tick on us despite staying on trail. Know that you will need to take time to de-tick after visiting in spring & summer. The park is a gem & worth it for hikers.

Such a thoughtfully designed park! Tent sites are comfortable, cabins look fantastic, bathrooms are clean. There are solar chargers, carts to move gear into cabins and an interesting visitor center. Love the trails on either side of the river, plus there's a boat ramp right down the road. Felt like a little escape without having to drive too far!

Nice quiet place to camp, hike or enjoy the river. Some nice trails going around the park, all of which are dog friendly.