By:
Submission
The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department (NPRD) manages the Cottonwood Campground and collects fees for camping.
There are about 90 individual campsites available and 2 group tent sites. Each site includes a parking space, picnic table and grill. There are 3 restroom facilities that include sinks and flushable toilets, but no showers. No hookups are available, but a dumpstation is located in Loop 1. Limited services are available during winter months.
GROUP SITES: Reservations for group campsites are required. Sites are for tent camping only. No reservations are accepted for RVs.
RVs: Sites cannot accommodate vehicles more than 40 feet, including vehicles-in-tow. Full hookups are available in the surrounding areas of Gallup, NM; Monument Valley, UT; and Holbrook, AZ.
1/2 mile South of Canyon de Chelly National Monument Welcome Center
Camping: $14.00 per night (up to 7 people) FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS
NO RV Hookups
Group Camping: $50.00 per night (14-30 people) BY RESERVATION ONLY
Day Use/Water/Dump Station: $5.00
Backcountry Permits: (issued 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily)
NPS Backcountry Permit: $2.00 per person, per tour (with authorized guide; only for Canyon de Chelly National Monument)
Navajo Nation Backcountry Permit: $12.00 per person/24-hour period.
Perfect place to shack up for the night. Toilets were hands down the cleanest Most well kept I have ever seen in any back country setting. Big props to the team at the NPS for making such a great hike even better.
Very nice campground. I stayed Jan 29, 2020. I was the only camper and actually I never saw another person past Phantom Ranch. Great stargazing and it was kind of nice to have the grounds to myself. The faucets were still off which is disappointing as the campground is open. The restrooms were very clean and tent sites were clear of debris. Instead of using the faucets I just gathered water from the nearby creek.
I was there in March and it was wonderful. It wasn't too crowded, but even if it had been full I think it would have been ok since the camp sites are further apart than the other main corridor campgrounds. There are a few trees for shade. Running water is only available seasonally, but Bright Angel Creek is nearby if you do need to filter. There are composting toilets. This is a great little campground for such a busy trail.
They tell you to bring backup water purification for a reason! I had iodine tablets that came in handy once the pipeline broke, but some people ignored the messages and were stuck without a filter or purification. Do your diligence when planning your trek. It's a great spot to camp, right next to the creek. Toilets are clean. Some campsites had some shade, others were pretty wide-open for sun. There are 11 sites total so it stayed pretty quiet. Did South Kaibab trailhead to Cottonwood Day 1, up to North Rim and back Day 2, and Cottonwood to Bright Angel trailhead Day 3, which was perfect for our pace.
Great half-way spot between the north rim and phantom ranch. A few spots with shade. Best part is the spotless bathrooms. I've never seen such clean and well-maintained backcountry bathrooms. Pit toilets, but no smell and no graffiti. Nicely done NPS. Stayed there October 10, 2023.
