Cottonwood Campground near Lander, Wyoming, will be closed to visitors for the entire month of June. The BLM Lander Field Office announced the shutdown as crews prepare to move in with heavy equipment to carry out infrastructure repairs at the site.
Campground Closed for the Month of June
The closure covers the full campground and runs through all of June 2025. No partial access is available during this period — the entire site is off-limits while repair work proceeds.
The BLM Lander Field Office made the announcement early to give visitors as much lead time as possible. Summer is a busy season for recreation in central Wyoming, and a month-long closure of a popular campground can scramble plans quickly. Anyone who had Cottonwood on their itinerary should start looking at alternatives now.
If Cottonwood Campground was on your summer itinerary, now is the time to make other arrangements. The BLM is asking visitors to plan ahead and consult the Lander Field Office’s online resources for alternative recreation sites in the area. Options exist — but the earlier you look, the better your chances of securing a spot during peak season.
Infrastructure Repairs Driving the Closure
Two specific problems are behind the shutdown. Crews are replacing a large culvert inside the campground and repairing a washed-out road in the same area — both jobs requiring heavy equipment operating on-site.
That heavy equipment is the central reason the campground cannot stay open during repairs. The BLM cited public safety as the primary concern. Families with children, hikers, and campers sharing space with active construction machinery presents obvious hazards that simply are not worth the risk.
Road washouts and culvert failures are not unusual in Wyoming. Spring snowmelt and seasonal storms put significant stress on drainage infrastructure, particularly in campgrounds near creek corridors or low-lying terrain. When a culvert fails, the road above it can erode quickly — making the damage both a safety issue and a logistical headache.
Replacing a large culvert is not a quick job. It typically involves excavating the damaged section, pulling out the old pipe or structure, setting a new one in place, and rebuilding the road surface on top. Doing that work safely and correctly takes time, which is why the BLM is reserving the full month rather than attempting a shorter, riskier window.
Reopening Expected by Early July
The BLM Lander Field Office expects repairs to be completed by early July. The agency is specifically targeting a reopening before the Fourth of July holiday weekend — one of the busiest periods of the summer for outdoor recreation across the country.
That target gives crews roughly the entire month of June to finish. Whether the timeline holds will depend on conditions on the ground: weather, equipment availability, and the actual scope of the damage once crews start digging.
A formal public announcement will go out once the campground officially reopens. Visitors planning a Fourth of July trip should watch for that notice before heading out — arriving at a campground still under repair means a wasted trip. Checking the BLM Lander Field Office website or calling ahead is the safest approach. An outdoor recreation planner is available to answer questions about site conditions and alternatives.
Background on Cottonwood Campground and BLM Land Management
Cottonwood Campground is described by the BLM as a popular recreation destination within the jurisdiction of the Lander Field Office, which oversees public lands across a wide stretch of central Wyoming. The campground draws visitors looking for outdoor access in a region known for open landscapes and strong recreational offerings.
The BLM manages approximately 245 million acres of public land across the United States, located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska. That land is managed on behalf of the American people, with a mission focused on sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for present and future generations. Beyond surface land, the agency also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate nationwide — responsibilities that span recreation management, wildlife habitat, energy development, and cultural resource protection.
For visitors affected by the Cottonwood closure, the Lander Field Office website lists other recreation sites in the area. It is worth reviewing those options early, especially if you are planning around the Fourth of July weekend, when competition for campsites across the region runs high.
What You Need to Know
Cottonwood Campground near Lander, Wyoming, is closed for the full month of June 2025. Two infrastructure repairs are driving the shutdown — a large culvert replacement and a washed-out road fix — both of which require heavy equipment on-site.
The BLM Lander Field Office expects work to wrap up by early July, with a goal of reopening before the Fourth of July holiday weekend. A formal announcement will follow once the site is ready. Until then, the campground remains completely off-limits, and no exceptions are being made for partial access.
For alternative recreation sites, the BLM Lander Field Office website is the best starting point. For direct questions, contact Outdoor Recreation Planner Michael Coyne at 307-332-8428, or reach the Lander Field Office at 307-332-8400.
Carlos is an engineer with strong expertise in technical and industrial topics. He previously worked at international companies such as Siemens and speaks Spanish, German, English, and Italian.
