Idaho Power announced that Cottonwood Campground at C.J. Strike Reservoir will close next week as the company begins dock replacement work.
The area will be closed from Sept. 8 through Oct. 31 while new floating docks are installed, the campground announcement indicates.
The construction is part of a multi-year effort to upgrade visitor facilities at the reservoir, which is among southern Idaho’s most visited destinations for fishing, boating, and water sports.
The new docks are designed to better withstand fluctuating water levels and strong winds.
C.J. Strike Reservoir, located south of Mountain Home, draws visitors throughout the year. Its campgrounds, boat ramps, and day-use areas provide important access for recreation and contribute to the local economy. Idaho Power currently manages four campgrounds at the site.
The company has been completing dock upgrades in stages. North Park received new docks in 2023, and work at the Narrows was finished earlier this summer.
According to an article published by Mountain Home News on September 3, improvements at Loveridge Bridge are expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
During the Cottonwood closure, boaters and campers will still have access to North Park and Jacks Creek East.
According to its website, the 12-acre Cottonwood Park is located at the end of Cottonwood Road near mile marker 72 on Idaho Highway 78, about 26 miles south of Mountain Home.
The campground sits at the Bruneau delta on the south side of the reservoir and offers sites suitable for both RVs and tents. A day-use picnic shelter is available for reservations.
Amenities at the park include 31 RV sites with shared water but no electric hookups, vault toilets, fire rings, a boat marina, and a waterfront walking path with interpretive signs.
Day use is free, and a seasonal RV dump station is located at the nearby C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area.