Cottonwood Lake #1 Access is located at the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, approximately 24 miles southwest of Lone Pine via Horseshoe Meadow Road (closed in winter).

The trailhead offers ample paved parking, a walk-in campground with 12-13 sites, bear-proof food lockers, vault toilets, and piped water; day-use parking is free, though overnight camping requires a fee and wilderness permit (available at recreation.

gov with daily quotas May-November). Lake #1 is accessible via a moderate 11. 6-12. 4 mile round-trip hike from the trailhead, situated in the John Muir Wilderness at approximately 11,000 feet elevation with scenic views of Cirque Peak and Mount Langley.