This interesting park South of Nelson is accessible a from Highway 6, or from the Great Northern Rail Trail. The park area is on the NW end of the lake. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, a cook shelter, and dock in the park area. In this area, the rail trail parallels the length of the lake and highway 6, providing a convenient, level trail for exploring along the lake from the park. I cycled to Cottonwood Lake from Elwyn Street, in Nelson (approx. 10 km one-way). This park is a nice stop near Nelson and was a nice end point for my out and back bike trip today.

An absolutely stunning park tucked into the trees mere minutes from Nelson. Was there around the dinner hour on a long weekend and there was only. 2 other cars in the lot. My only complaint is there's a boat that has been swamped/beached right near the parking lot and looks abandoned. This needs to be cleaned up!

This is a beautiful spot just south of Nelson, good place for a stop.

Quiet stocked lake just south of Nelson, beach, dock, fire pits, floating dock. No over night camping.

A nice little lake. Easy to get to. Some good trails to use. Sasquatch lives around here.

I love this park and have for decades the people who care for and tend it are amazing, it does sadden me that private land owners have been allowed to log so close to the park and its really taken something away from the magic of cottonwood lake. I can only try to explain to my son how it was when I first started going there maybe his children's childrens children will be able to experience it as it was. The lake though close to roads and towns always felt like they were world's away a small day cabin and picnic tables, dock for fishing off and bbq pit round off the area. Parking is level and spitting distance to the lake, it's a mountain lake so cold and not usually considered the best for swimming unless you are truly Canadian. If you can get past the obvious clear cutting up to the park border and they manage to convince the people to not cut down the rest it's a great spot.

Beautiful spot but in 2020 there is a threat to clear cut the forest on private land right beside the park.

Perfect ice on this winter's day.

Beautiful little lake, feels secluded even though you’re close to Nelson. You can throw your fishing line in and maybe catch something. Bring your friend and family, have a BBQ, there’s a shelter if it rains. The outhouses are clean.

A beautiful touch of nature. Even though you're close to town and the highway, you feel like you're in a secluded part of the forest. Especially beautiful in the autumn as the leaves change. We didn't explore too fully but there are picnic tables (some covered), newly built outhouses, firepit and dock just off the beach with benches.

This place has a nice deck to jump in and out of the water, a nice beach and 2 view points to each oposite sides of the lake. Looks like it is more for fishing and swinging than hiking. I liked it.