Name: Cottonwood Pass Trail #3505
Rating: 4.5

Toolbox

Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs Off-leash

Features Commonly Backpacked · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Inyo National Forest Office

Shared By:

Mag Miller with improvements by Joan Pendleton

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.5 from 4 votes

#10

in Inyo National Forest

#8672

Overall

4.5 from 4 votes

5 Star		50%
4 Star		50%
3 Star		0%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

10 Views Last Month

367 Since Jun 26, 2018

		0%
		0%
		25%
		25%
		50%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

A venerable foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana) with thick cinnamon-hued bark anchors the switchbacks as the Cottonwood Pass Trail climbs out of the Horseshoe Meadow basin.

Oct 26, 2026 near Lone Pine, CA

The full expanse of Big Whitney Meadow with Cirque Peak's bare top in the distance.

Aug 30, 2026 near Lone Pine, CA

Looking southeast into the far distance from Cottonwood Pass. The forested hills and meadows of Golden Trout Wilderness are seen below.

May 9, 2022 near Lone Pine, CA

Feb 13, 2021 near Lone Pine, CA

The junction of Cottonwood Pass Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.

Aug 30, 2026 near Lone Pine, CA

Big Whitney Meadow from the switchbacks to Cottonwood Pass.

Aug 30, 2026 near Lone Pine, CA

Your Rating:
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites:	Add To-Do · Your List

Cottonwood Pass Trail #3505

8.2

13.2

Point to Point

11,126' 3,391 m

9,716' 2,961 m

1,334' 406 m

1,521' 463 m

7%

40%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Off-leash

Features Commonly Backpacked · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#10

#8672

#10

#722

#8,672

Photos

0 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Cirque Lake Loop

Cirque Lake via South Fork Cottonwood Creek

Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake

Monarch Lakes

Beveridge Ghost Town

Kearsarge Lakes and Bullfrog Lake

Join the Community! It's FREE