Campground · Grand Canyon National Park
Sleep beneath the canyon walls beside Bright Angel Creek.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Canyon Tour Guide
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Guide
Cottonwood is a small backcountry campground on the North Kaibab Trail, 6.8 trail miles below the North Rim in the Bright Angel Creek corridor. It is an overnight stop for hikers going below the rim, not a drive-in campground, and camping requires a backcountry permit. Choose it as part of a planned canyon trip, not for a quick roadside night.
Each campsite has a picnic table, pack pole, and metal food-storage can. The campground also has toilets and an emergency phone. Bright Angel Creek is nearby, and cottonwoods provide some shade, though shade varies from site to site.
Hikers use Cottonwood as a base for day hikes toward Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, and Manzanita Canyon. Deer, ringtail cats, and squirrels live in the area, so keep an eye out around the creek and camp.
Wildlife
718 sightingsCalifornia CondorMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
533 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
169 sightingsAmerican BisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,891 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
59 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
27 sightingsGray FoxMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateRibbon Falls Trail from Cottonwood Campground3.2 mi · 2.3 hr · At the trailheadA short inner-canyon walk to a spring-fed travertine waterfall
EasyBright Angel Point Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 1.9 mi awayA half-mile to a narrow, exposed point over the canyon
ModerateTransept Trail2 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.3 mi awayFollow pine shade to overlooks above a deep side canyon.
ChallengingRim-to-Rim: North Kaibab to Bright Angel23.5 mi · 16 hr · 3.4 mi awayA point-to-point crossing from North Rim forest to the South Rim.
ModerateUncle Jim Trail4.7 mi · 3 hr · 3.4 mi awayA forest loop with a wide view down Bright Angel Canyon.
EasyBridle Path1.6 mi · 1 hr · 3.4 mi awayA short, hard-packed connector from North Kaibab to the former lodge lot.
ChallengingNorth Kaibab Trail14.2 mi · 10.5 hr · 3.4 mi awayA steep, forested 14.2-mile descent to the Colorado River.
ChallengingRoaring Springs Trail9.4 mi · 7.5 hr · 3.4 mi awayA strenuous North Rim descent reaches a spring pouring from the cliffs.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayRibbon FallsA shaded waterfall and pool deep in the inner canyon.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayBright Angel PointA high rim panorama framed by the canyon’s temple buttes.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayRoaring SpringsA lush waterfall at the end of a steep canyon hike.
Sight · 2.9 mi awaySupai TunnelA four-mile hike to a tunnel framing streaked sandstone.
Store · 3 mi awayNorth Rim General StoreA seasonal shop for campground supplies and trail snacks.
Campground · 3 mi awayNorth Rim CampgroundA forested base for a North Rim stay.
Gas station · 3.1 mi awayNorth Rim Service StationA seasonal fill-up just beyond the campground turn.
Sight · 3.2 mi awayCoconino OverlookA steep 1.4-mile out-and-back earns a Roaring Springs Canyon view.Parkwolf’s Grand Canyon ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
