Derby did not deserve to lose but they would have been beaten but for a wonder double save from Stephen Bywater 12 minutes from the end.
Kenny Miller had given the home side a 19th minute lead but Bywater was powerless to prevent a deflected Nicolas Anelka shot finding the net in the 32nd minute.
Both sides pressed hard for a winner in the second half but a draw was about right although Derby will be more disappointed with the result, because they need to win these games at home to have a chance of staying up.
Stephen Pearson did all he could do supply a victory with a powerhouse display in midfield and edged out the impressive Claude Davis as the man of the match.
Bolton are starting to look more like the side that became established in the Premier League under Sam Allardyce and would have won but for the agility of Bywater.
But it was Derby who began with confidence, Pearson driving at the Bolton defence and almost scoring with a low shot in the third minute.
They deserved the goal that arrived when Tyrone Mears chipped the ball in from the right and Steve Howard chested it down before crossing low for Miller to dispatch his second goal in three games from ten yards.
Bolton responded impressively and it was no surprise when Anelka struck after a one-two with Kevin Davies that created enough space for a right-foot shot which deflected off Dean Leacock to leave Bywater wrong-footed.
Kevin Nolan twice threatened to cut through Derby but Davis made a great tackle to rob Bolton's skipper and Gary Speed was crowded out when he shaped to shoot just before half-time.
Derby were close to regaining the lead in the 48th minute when Jay McEveley crossed and Miller shot from 15 yards, only for Jussi Jaaskelainen to block with his body.
Bywater did even better 12 minutes from time when he dived to his left to claw out a 20-yard drive from sub Christian Wilhelmsson and then recovered to push the follow-up from Anelka on to the bar.
The game opened out as both sides went in search of a winner, but although Anelka looked dangerous whenever he got the ball, the teams ended the afternoon in the same position as they started it.