Cottonwood Lakes Basin
Horseshoe Meadows to Cottonwood Lakes Basin
This five-day trip into the Golden Trout Wilderness is an ideal bridge to more advanced backpacking. The route is easy to moderate at 10,000–11,000 feet, with gentle terrain for all experience levels. Five lakes dot the Cottonwood Basin, with several more close by, making it an excellent base camp for day hikes.
Duration: 4 nights
Distance: 11 miles plus day hikes
Best Time: June–Oct.
Submitted by
GSSD Backpacking Trainers
Created
December 2019
Starting Trailhead: Cottonwood Lakes
Ending Trailhead: Cottonwood Lakes
Day 1
Drive to Horseshoe Meadows and set-up camp at the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead Campground. (Don’t get mixed up with the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead Campground.) Relax and acclimate to the high altitude.
Day 2
Head north on Cottonwood Lakes Trail into Cottonwood Lakes Basin. Set-up base camp near Cottonwood Lake Number Three. (5.5 miles)
Day 3
Enjoy day hiking the basin and surrounding peaks. Excellent options include touring the Cottonwood Lakes Basin toward Old Army Pass or hiking to the top of New Army Pass (12,300’).
Day 4
Spend another day hiking and exploring the basin.
Day 5
Hike out in the same manner you hiked in. (5.5 miles)
Head to Lone Pine for showers (Mt. Whitney Portal Hotel, Hostel & Store), lunch, and souvenirs at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center. Drive home.
Itinerary Options
For a less crowded base camp, try Muir Lake, east of Cottonwood Lakes. Cross-country travel between Muir Lake and the rest of the basin is straightforward.
Key Risks
Critters: You’re in bear country. There are strict rules on storing scented items including the need for bear-proof containers. Know before you go and follow all instructions.
Altitude: Monitor participants for any adverse reactions.
Weather: Be on the watch for inclement weather. Old Army Pass often stays snow-covered into July, and New Army Pass can keep a stubborn snow cornice well into midsummer.
Permits Needed
Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit
Resources
Inyo National Forest: Cottonwood Lakes Trail
Inyo National Forest: Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead Campground