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
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.