Cottonwood Spring

Cottonwood Spring Review

Home to the native Cahuilla people for centuries, this spring provided water for travelers and early prospectors. The area, which supports a large stand of fan palms, is a stop for migrating birds and a winter water source for bighorn sheep. A number of gold mines were located here, and the area still has some remains, including an arrastra (gold-mining tool) and concrete pillars. You can access the site via a 1-mile paved trail that begins at sites 13A and 13B of the Cottonwood Campground.