Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Cottonwood Canyon State Park is rugged and vast, from the vertical cliffs carved by the John Day River to deep side canyons and arid, rocky grasslands that extend for miles in all directions. The park’s 8,000-plus acres are open for exploring, stargazing and contemplating the elemental forces that carved this unique landscape.

The Pinnacles Trail and the Lost Corral Trail, each 4.3 miles one way, follow either side of the John Day River downstream. The Lost Corral Trail, leaving from JS Burres, is open to both hikers, bikers and equestrians. The Pinnacles Trail, leaving from the end of the campground, is open to bikers and hikers.

Upstream, the Hard Stone Trail travels 1.5 miles one way and open to foot traffic only. Or, you can strike out on your own along old, unmaintained ranching roads that lead into the back country. The J.S. Burres day-use area is a popular boat launch for rafts, kayaks, canoes and drift boats.

If you’re an angler, the John Day River has steelhead, catfish, carp and smallmouth bass. As an added bonus, there’s another 10,000 acres of public land surrounding the park managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Whether you come to Cottonwood Canyon for hiking, camping, boating, horseback riding, fishing or hunting, consider a few basic steps to stay safe. Carry plenty of water; potable water is available only at the developed day-use area and in the campground. Have a plan for your day, and tell someone about it. The park doesn’t have cell phone coverage anywhere, so you can’t rely on your phone in an emergency.

Driving directions: The park is located on Highway 206 between Condon and Wasco. Because the park is new, online mapping services may not show the park name or location. On the left of this page you’ll see a Driving Directions link that takes you to Google Maps. When you’re on the map page, you’ll see a green pin that represents the latitude and longitude coordinates for the park entrance road. Enter your location to see driving directions to the main park entrance.

Lone Tree Campground info:

21 primitive sites for tents and self-contained RV's (max site size is 75 feet). Available first-come, first-served.

Group tent camp for up to 25 people.

Potable water.

Vault toilets.

Hiker/Biker camp with 7 sites.

Major Features & Activities

Camping
Hiking Trails
Picnicking
Wildlife
Fishing
Horse Trails
Boating