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Notes:
There are 6 numbered-lakes within the Cottonwood Lake system. The first 5 are within an easy walk of each
other from the Cottonwood Trail where the 6th lake is a more strenuous climb to 11,600'. Starting at the
trailhead (10,040'), it is a 4.5 mile hike to Cottonwood 1 at 11,008'. The lakes had been off-limits to
fishing from 1966 to 1998 while the lakes were used as breeding ponds for Golden
Trout by Calif Fish and Game. However, during that 30 year period, Rainbow Trout made their way
into the lake system and contaminated the gene pool. Some believe that an accidental aerial drop of rainbows fingerlings may have been the culprit. Others believe that some accidental mixing with Rainbow Trout occurred at the Mt Whitney hatchery and the fingerlings were returned to Cottonwood Lakes. However it occurred, the planting of Golden Trout throughout many of the high elevation lakes during this period were from these contaminated sources, estimated to be 83-88% pure. The contamination nullified the lakes as a source for pure strains of Goldens and pressure was created to open the lakes to fishing. The Dept of Fish and Game was under mandate of the Calif Wild Trout program to
open at least one lake and 25 miles of stream each year. These two factors combined opened the lake system
to fishing in 1998. Fortunately, pure sources of Volcano Creek Goldens have been identified within the upper reaches of Golden Trout Creek to allow a pure strain hatchery program to continue. Most of the recent effort by DFG is to ensure the genetic integrity of the Golden Trout by protecting their native habitat from intrusions by other species.
Cottonwood Lakes are under special regulations. All lakes and tributaries within the Cottonwood Drainage require artificial lures or flies with a limit of 2 fish. Cottonwood Lakes #1,2,3, and 4 are open from Sept 1 to Nov 30th with a 14" minimum. The rest of the drainage lakes are open year round, no size restriction. Cottonwood Creek below the lakes is also open year round using artificial lures only and a 2 trout limit.
Records show that Cottonwood Creek was fishless until 1876 when Colonel Sherman Stevens brought 12 Golden
Trout from Mulkey Creek and introduced them to Cottonwood Creek. Around 1890, E.H. Edwards and others
took 50 Golden Trout from Cottonwood Creek and introduced them to the fishless Cottonwood Lakes. The
Goldens that inhabited Cottonwood Lakes were a source for Golden stockings to other areas within the
state since 1918.
Taking the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead from Horseshoe Meadow, you can reach the following local lakes and streams:
Muir Lake: 8 acre lake at an elevation at 11,010. 4.5 miles from trailhead. May consists of Goldens but is now managed as "fishless" by DFG. This lake has been suggested to receive pure strains of Goldens.
Hidden Lake: 6 acre lake at an elevation at 10,850. 4.0 miles from trailhead. May consists of Goldens but is now managed as "fishless" by DFG.
Cottonwood 1: 7 acres at 11,000 feet. 4.3 miles from trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood 2: 5 acres at 11,030 feet. 4.5 miles from trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood 3: 25 acres at 11,045 feet. 5 miles from Trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood 4: 20 acres at 11,150 feet. 6 miles from Trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood 5: 20 acres at 11,160 feet. 6 miles from trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood 6: 5 acres at 11,600 feet. 8 miles from trailhead. Fishless.
Cottonwood Creek: Spring Creek with pockets and pools. Designated a Wild Trout Stream by DFG. Between the mouth of Little Cottonwood Creek and South Fork of Cottonwood Creek, Catch & Release only. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cottonwood Lakes Trail forks at Cottonwood Lake #1 and continues straight to as the New Army Pass trail.
Upper and Lower South Fork Lake: 4 & 5 acres at 11,640 feet. 4.6 miles from trailhead.Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Long Lake: 7 acres at 11,135 feet. 5.0 miles from trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
High Lake: 6 acres at 11,500 feet. 5.8 miles from trailhead. Consists of Golden Hybrids.
Cirque Lake: 7.5 acres at 11,060 feet. 5.0 miles from trailhead. May consists of Goldens but is now managed as "fishless" by DFG.
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| Fishing Regulations (Effective March 1st. 2021)
Inyo County, except Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood Creek drainage areas:
All inland streams, rivers, and canals are open to fishing from the last Sat. in Apr. through Nov. 15, with a five trout daily bag limit, and ten trout possession limit, with no gear restrictions. From Nov. 16 through the Fri. preceding the last Sat. in Apr., a zero trout bag limit applies, and only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. In waters where the bag limit for trout is zero, trout must be released unharmed, and should not be removed from the water
Cottonwood Lakes 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their tributaries.:
Sep. 1 through Nov. 30. Only artificial lures may be used. Minimum size limit: 14 inches total length. 2 trout.
All remaining Cottonwood Creek drainage lakes.:
All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout.
Cottonwood Creek and all tributaries upstream from the confluence of the main stem Cottonwood Creek and Little Cottonwood Creek, including the unnamed tributaries flowing through Horseshoe Meadow (Inyo Co.):
All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout.
Golden Trout Wilderness:
All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout
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