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Activities

Established Camping

Chilcoot Family Campground

Chilcoot Family Campground is located in Plumas National Forest, featuring forested terrain with a mix of trees and open spaces. The area experiences temperature highs around 85°F in summer and lows near 20°F in winter. Visitors can explore nearby attractions such as the Sierra Valley and Lake Davis, offering opportunities for hiking and fishing.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Plumas National Forest

Overview

Chilcoot Campground (5,100 feet) is located just downstream from Frenchman Lake alongside Last Chance Creek. The sound of flowing water along with shade from the surrounding pine and cottonwood forest are key features making this a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Chilcoot Campground is one of five campgrounds in the popular Frenchman Lake Recreation Area of Northeastern California's Plumas National Forest. The campground is far enough away from the lake that visitors can experience the serene sense of solitude that the remote mountain setting provides.

Recreation

Frenchman Recreation Area offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Water sports including fishing, skiing, jet skiing, swimming are readily available supported by two boat launch facilities, several fishing access points and day use areas. Camping, picnicking hiking and exploring forest roads can each provide the type of adventure you are looking for. Dispersed camping (camping outside developed campgrounds) is not allowed in the recreation area. Winter activities range from snowmobiling to ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

Natural Features

This campground is situated at the southern end of Last Chance Scenic Area. The scenic area is the result of Little Last Chance Creek cutting through ancient lava flows. This is the interface of desert and mountain climates characterized by less precipitation than areas to the west and more than areas to the east. Desert scrub grows alongside pine forest. A variety of wildlife make this area home.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.

Nearby Attractions

Chilcoot Campground is one of five campgrounds in the Frenchman Recreation Area. Little Last Chance Scenic Area Frenchman Lake is less than three miles from the campground. Sierra Valley - Largest valley in the Sierra Nevada. Stores and services in the towns of Chilcoot and Loyalton.

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Location

Chilcoot Family Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Reno, Nevada, travel north on Highway 395. Merge onto Highway 70 west and continue 5 miles to Chilcoot. Turn north on Highway 284 and continue 5 miles to the campground.

Coordinates

39.8655556 N
120.1661111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Fair

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

3 Reviews

Reviewed Dec. 28, 2023

Love it. Clean. Easy access.

We live about 35 minutes away in Reno. We decided to practice camping with our new travel trailer at this campground. We have never camped even in a tent. The sites are paved. They are all back in sites. There's good room between sites. I think there's good privacy even though you can see that there are other campers around. There are tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and bear boxes. There's a shallow stream and access to it for the campsites along one side of the campground. There's a camp host by the entrance. It's hard to see the entrance to this campground because the sign is not close to the street. If you get to Frenchman Lake about 10 minutes away, you've gone too far. We've never had any cell signal with ATT at this campground. It's a very easy drive from Reno. We go there all spring and summer for quick getaways.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Genevieve R., December 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Genevieve R., December 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Genevieve R., December 28, 2023
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2018

Clean

Ccampgrounds are big, clean and quiet. It was very nice here.

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2018

Awesome little campground!

We have camped here many times over many years (in tents as well as RVs). Relatively quiet, spacious camp spots (fairly level), beautiful area with lots of trees, a lovely creek running through the back of of the campground, clean bathrooms, just 25 minutes from Reno and three miles from Frenchman's Lake. There's a wonderful general store a few miles down the road and the camp host sells firewood. No electric or water hook-ups at the sites. There are (potable) water faucets sprinkled throughout the campground but you're not allowed to use them to fill your rv water tank. Due to several years of drought and the trees getting old, many had to be cut down around the campsites. Some of the sites aren't as shady as they used to be. You may need a shade structure. Tip* camp away from the main highway. Those spots have far less shade and there is quiet a bit of road noise.

Site26
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Tina B., April 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Tina B., April 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Chilcoot Family Campground by Tina B., April 29, 2018
  • (6) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Chilcoot Family Campground?

    Camping at Chilcoot Family Campground can cost between $33.97 and $34.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Chilcoot Family Campground?

    Chilcoot Family Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Does Chilcoot Family Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Chilcoot Family Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Chilcoot Family Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is fair.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Chilcoot Family Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Chilcoot Family Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Chilcoot Family Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Chilcoot Family Campground?

    There are 41 campsites at Chilcoot Family Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts