This is not the standard way to approach The Crestones but it is scenic and avoids the crowds, if you can get a parking spot. The hike is a time-consuming slog with tedious route-finding. And it's a bear to carry camp gear all the way to Cottonwood Lake, so don't even bother camping much higher than 11,800'.

From CO 17 in the town of Moffat, turn east onto Russell Street (County Road T), toward Crestone. Drive 11.8 miles, then turn right (south) onto Camino Baca Grande just before entering town. Drive 5.3 miles and stay left at a water tank to reach the signed trailhead (17.1 miles total from Moffat). The first 2.4 miles of Camino Baca Grande are paved; it then becomes dirt/gravel.

The Cottonwood Creek trail begins at the signed trailhead parking area at 8,450 feet. Follow the well-defined path eastward through pinyon and juniper trees  1  2. The first three miles are mostly clear, with occasional downed trees  3 and rocky sections  4. Just past the three-mile mark, you will enter the unsigned Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The trail soon leads to the edge of Cottonwood Creek, where a short detour to the right reveals a hidden set of waterfalls  5. A few steps back to the trail and you immediately encounter the first scrambling pitch on this approach  6; climb it and continue upward.

The next two miles require careful route-finding through connecting trail sections marked only by cairns on rock slabs. Using the GPX track included in this route is highly recommended, as your pace will likely slow above 10,400 feet while navigating the confusing terrain  7  8. Keep the creek close on your right. Near 11,200 feet, the route curves north to a campsite at 11,250 feet  9. If you've carried your camp gear, consider camping here; hauling a heavy pack through the upcoming terrain to the Cottonwood Lake area is not ideal. Beyond this campsite, ascend a steep, heavily-treed pitch where the trail turns west, following the stream from Cottonwood Lake, before veering north to a massive boulder and a larger campsite at 11,370 feet  10.

Pass the boulder on the right and climb the steep headwall along the right edge of a boulder field  11. After 200+ feet of climbing, weave through the trees to reach boulder fields left of the creek, where you can see the upper terrain of Crestone Needle  12. Follow cairns through the boulders to a flat resting spot overlooking an upcoming waterfall  13. This is a cool spot. Staying in the willows on the left side of the creek, advance to the base of a rock wall. Here, just left of the water, lies the Class 3 crux of the approach  14. Scramble up this angled pitch  15, continue higher to a second pitch just left of the falls  16, and turn right near the top  17.

Above the waterfall, cross the meadow ahead  18, weave through the willows, and ascend the rock slabs of another headwall, on a rightward angle  19  20. Reaching the top of this headwall near 12,000 feet reveals a confusing view of the remaining route  21. Seriously, it is not easy to determine the location of the trail beyond a short distance. Carefully follow the trail segments and cairns north across the basin  22  23. You will finally intersect the standard Crestone Peak trail coming from the South Colony Lakes side  24. Cottonwood Lake sits to your right (east), while the route up Crestone Peak turns to your left (west).