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Cottonwood Pass to Chicken Spring Lake

Inyo · Managed by Inyo National Forest (USFS) · Region: Inyo National Forest
Difficulty 30/100 · Moderateout and back#altitude#pct#beginner-friendly#lone-pine
Distance
15 mi
Total gain
2,962 ft
Net gain
1,405 ft
Net loss
1,405 ft
Elevation
9,724–11,129 ft
Days
2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

Cottonwood Pass is the gentle giant of the southern Sierra: a 10,000-foot trailhead, a mellow 3.5-mile climb to the 11,200-foot pass, and Chicken Spring Lake — a camp on the Pacific Crest Trail beneath Cirque Peak. It is the easiest way to sleep at 11,000 feet in California, and a classic first-night stop for PCT hikers.

Highlights

  • A trailhead at 10,000 feet that does most of the altitude work for you
  • Chicken Spring Lake, an alpine tarn right on the Pacific Crest Trail
  • Cirque Peak and the Mount Langley massif as a side-trip playground
  • Sunset light on the Owens Valley from the pass

How hard is Cottonwood Pass to Chicken Spring Lake?

CaliPeaks rates this route 30/100 (Moderate). The score weights five factors: climbing counts for 45% — 2,962 ft puts this trip at 25% of the reference climb; distance 20% at 15 miles; maximum altitude 15% at 11,129 ft; route technicality 10% (established trail throughout); and trip length 10% at 2 days. A score under 20 suits first-time backpackers; 60+ means serious endurance. See how we score difficulty for the full method.

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead (10,000 ft) · parking: End of Horseshoe Meadow Road, south of Lone Pine
  • Water: Chicken Spring Lake, plus seasonal seeps near the pass; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Lone Pine is 45 minutes down the hill.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Inyo National Forest (USFS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Trailhead quota for Horseshoe Meadow applies during quota season.
  • Reservation window: 60% of quota released six months out, 40% two weeks out, at 7 a.m. PT.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. Campfires are allowed in existing rings unless current Inyo NF fire restrictions are in effect; wood is scarce at 11,000 feet. A California Campfire Permit is required for stoves and fires. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: The pass melts out by early July; Horseshoe Meadow road opens in late May or June.

Heat: Cool at this elevation.

Bugs: Mosquitoes at Chicken Spring Lake through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Even with the high trailhead, altitude is real — acclimate in Lone Pine first
  • Weather moves fast on this exposed plateau
  • Bear canisters are required

Map

Route track shown for reference only — navigate with map and compass. Track source: OpenStreetMap route relation 19131520 (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) (ODbL 1.0).

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Trailhead and destination elevations sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / U.S. Forest Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262. Accessed 2026-09-07. Year-round permit requirement, quota release schedule, and food-storage rules.
  3. Inyo National Forest alerts and fire restrictions. U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/alerts/stage-1-fire-restrictions-effect. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Current Stage 1 fire restrictions affecting campfires and stoves.
  4. Cottonwood Pass Trail route relation 19131520. OpenStreetMap contributors. https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/19131520. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: ODbL 1.0. Route geometry; distance and elevation statistics computed from this track.
  5. SRTM90 elevation data. OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-07. Elevation enrichment for computed gain/loss statistics.