Stayed at Cottonwood campground three weeks ago. Did not encounter anything that made me feel unsafe. The sites are asphalt as well as the roads. "Wild flowers" (weeds)separate the sites. Some are shaded by the cottonwood trees, others are in full sun. They are not crowded together. Friends and I took a half day jeep tour of the canyon. The river was running high and fast so we had to stay in the northern Canyon Del Morte. A good part of the time we were driving in the river. It was a great tour, saw several ruins, lots of petroglyphs, the guide was very knowledgeable.