Cottam Camp is a first come, first serve backcountry campsite located just outside of Summerland, California, southeast of Santa Barbara. The campsite is located at the junction of the Forbush Canyon Trail and the Blue Canyon Trail, and it can be reached by hiking or biking. Shaded by willow trees, the campsite has a picnic table, firepit, and creek access. This is a primitive site and has minimal amenities. There is no potable water and trash must be packed out.
Despite the close proximity to Santa Barbara and other cities, Cottam Camp feels remote. It is a great place to go if you are looking to just get away from the city, or go on a day hike and stop for a picnic, or perhaps you want to use the camp as a part of a longer backpacking adventure and take advantage of the many nearby trails such as the San Ysidro Trail, Cold Spring Trail, and Romero Canyon Trail.
The Cottam Camp site is named after two brothers, Russell and Albert Cottam, who obtained a special use permit on a nearby meadow in 1915. The brothers built a cabin and corrals on the land and guided guests over the mountain range to their camp, where they allowed them to fish and hunt.
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