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About this place
Cottonwood Lake is a beautiful and fun place to photograph and explore in the heart of the Colorado Rockies.
Wherever you are in Colorado, turn your route towards Buena Vista in South West Colorado - you will not be disappointed.
To start, Buena Vista is a really cool town with great places to eat and visit. So make sure you check out the city before heading up Cottonwood Pass.
When you are ready to head into the mountains, hop on Buena Vista's Main Street or Hw 306 up Cottonwood Pass. Continue for about 7 miles - the road will follow a river that is great to pull off and capture. Once you hit Hw 343, take a left. The road starts paved, however in about a quarter mile turns to dirt. It is taken well care of so you won't need a 4WD to make it to the lake. Continue on 343 for 3 miles until you run into Cottonwood Lake.
The lake sits at the base of Mt. Princeton, so the views are incredible. There is great fishing there as well, and easy access boat drops for canoes and kayaks.
This is definitely a great place to explore for the day and makes a great place for photography and relaxing.