Alberta Parks · Alberta
Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area - Cottonwood Campground
Alberta Parks · Alberta, Canada · in Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area
- Sites
- 78
- Hookups
- 27 electric, 51 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to September 30
- Cost
- Unserviced $28 CAD; Power (15 amp) $36 CAD per night
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,435 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Phone
- 403-627-1165
About
Cottonwood Campground is in Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area, 13 km north of Pincher Creek on Hwy. 785. Sites are suitable for RVs and tents, with unserviced and powered options. Camp alongside the Oldman River beneath the shade of cottonwood trees. Nearby Oldman River Reservoir is a popular spot for all kinds of water sports. Constant breezes make it an ideal place for sailing and wind surfing.
Reservations can be made 90 days in advance of arrival date.
Shower facilities are available in Castleview Campground . When camping in a powered site:
Use 1-2 electrical appliances maximum at the same time. When campers lose power, it's usually because too much electricity is being used at once.
Do not use adapters to draw power from a 15 amp for an RV with a 30 amp plug.
Have a backup plan. Use other methods to cook, stay cool and keep entertained.
Remember, conserving electricity and timing when you use your electricity in a campsite will ensure you can stay powered. Get more information about using power sites.
Firewood: Firewood is not available. Help stop the spread of forest pests, Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer. Plan to bring or buy firewood locally to burn on site.
Water: Pending weather, normal water service is available by the May long weekend. To support water conservation and as a backup measure, campers are encouraged to bring a supply of drinking water. Shower facilities are available in Castleview Campground , which is located on the north side of the river.
Sewage: A sewage disposal station is located in Castleview Campground (on the north side of the river).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 21° | -34° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 15° | -30° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 26° | -18° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 49° | 29° | 1° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 39° | 29° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 47° | 37° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 54° | 45° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 53° | 46° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 46° | 32° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 36° | 18° | 70° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 29° | 3° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 19° | -15° | 48° | 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
- Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area - Castleview Campground · Alberta Parks · 1 mi · 29 sites
- Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area - Windy Point Campground · Alberta Parks · 1 mi · 11 sites
- Veteran's Memorial Campground · City & Municipal Parks · 6 mi
- Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area - North Fork Campground · Alberta Parks · 9 mi · 7 sites
- Beauvais Lake Provincial Park · Alberta Parks · 15 mi · 84 sites
All public campgrounds in Alberta · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-10. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.