Lawrence R.
Guide
GuideWashoe Lake State Park Campground
Site 12 has great views
Ill let the photos do the talking. Electric hookup and water for 7 days.
Camping near Chilcoot, CA
253 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds in the Chilcoot area of northeastern California range from established sites to dispersed camping options in Plumas National Forest. Chilcoot Family Campground offers spacious camp spots with creek access, while nearby Frenchman Lake provides multiple camping areas including Big Cove Campground and Spring Creek Campground. The region supports both tent and RV camping, with most developed campgrounds accommodating both types of setups. Several areas feature lakefront access, particularly around Frenchman Lake, where multiple forest service campgrounds provide boat launches and swimming opportunities.
Most campgrounds in the Chilcoot region operate seasonally from spring through fall, with typical operating seasons spanning May through September. Road conditions are generally good with paved access to major campgrounds, though some forest service roads may require higher clearance vehicles. "Sites are well spaced, and fire pits/picnic tables are at each site, though may not be adjacent to your parking spot," noted one camper about Spring Creek Campground. Elevations around 4,500 feet contribute to cooler temperatures, particularly at night, even during summer months. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with most campgrounds reporting spotty coverage at best, especially for carriers other than Verizon.
Waterfront camping opportunities represent a significant draw to the region. Campers frequently mention the appeal of Frenchman Lake's shoreline sites, though they also note these tend to fill quickly during peak summer weekends. A visitor commented that Big Cove Campground has "nice big campsites" with "easy access to the lake," making it popular for families with kayaks and water toys. The developed campgrounds typically provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though hookups are limited. While most campgrounds maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, several reviews mention that weekend crowds can create noise issues, particularly at lakeside locations. For those seeking more solitude, the Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area offers free dispersed camping with basic amenities including toilets and trash service.
Best Campgrounds near Chilcoot (253)
1. Bordertown Casino RV Resort
"Short walk across the parking lot is a gas station with small convenience store, and right next to that is the Casino. Small but with a great restaurant that cooked a really good steak."
"We will be coming back as there are few places to stop when driving to and from southern Oregon."
2. Chilcoot Family Campground
"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."
"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"
from $34 / night
Check Availability3. Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area
"Absolutely wonderful campsite not too far off the Highway!!! Well maintained, quiet, peaceful."
"Two sections of campground, if first lot is full drive 1/4 mile back towards the mountains and there will be more sites. Vault pit toilets at both areas."
4. Red Rock Road Pull Out
"Nice quick pull off, more traffic driving by than expected but it did the trick."
5. Plumas National Forest Spring Creek Campground
"Spots are well spaced, and fire pits/picnic tables are at each site, though at not be adjacent to your parking spot (no bear boxes provided though)."
"The host’s face was shocked I was back so quickly 🤣) Beautiful lakefront spots, but quite crowded, and there is a lot of motorboat traffic on the lake."
from $38 / night
Check Availability6. Lookout Campground
"But most stay in other "dispersed" camping, and there aren't nearly as many vehicles as you might see, for example, in a Nevada dunes off-road park."
"First, it's quite an adventurous (read: bumpy) drive to get to it from the nearest paved road. Once you arrive, you'll be amazed at how much space there is between the sites."
from $20 - $60 / night
Check Availability7. Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground
"Nice big campsites, we went with friends and had two large tents, room for some toys (kayak, spikeball game) and to spread chairs around the fire pit."
"This is a very pretty lake. it was a little muddy along the shore but the rock area is a great swimming area. unfortunately it is a little dirty with broken glass."
from $38 - $71 / night
Check Availability8. Cottonwood Springs Campground
"Lots of trees for shade and areas for the kids to play around. Just a short drive to the boat launch too!"
from $34 - $140 / night
Check Availability9. Gold Ranch Casino & RV Resort
"Typical RV park with spaces closer together, so we picked a back-in space along the outside edge and it was perfect for our dogs. A hiking trail right outside of camp."
"Nestled against the Eastern Sierras, on the Cal/Nev. border. Restaurant in the casino temp."
10. Plumas National Forest Frenchman Campground
from $38 / night
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Drive Time
- 29 min from Reno, NV
- 53 min from Carson City, NV
- 2 hrs 32 min from Yuba City, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Chilcoot, CA
118 Photos of 253 Chilcoot Campgrounds
Tina B.
Chilcoot Family Campground
Ron G.
Plumas National Forest Spring Creek Campground
sierra F.
Big Cove (plumas National Forest, Ca)
Vince N.
Red Rock Road Pull Out
Kade H.
Lookout Campground
Hope H.
Bear Valley Campground
Dani P.
Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area
Ron G.
Grasshopper Flat
Camila
Cottonwood Campground
Chelsea D.
Conklin Park Campgrounds
John C.
Moon Rocks Camp
Tom D.
Gold Ranch Casino & RV Resort
Recent Reviews near Chilcoot, CA
787 Reviews of 253 Chilcoot Campgrounds
Jason M.
TravelerSnag Lake Campground
Definitely could be worse..
Right off the road, rough to get into, in a flight path, lake is muck and stumps. But sites are free, first come first serve, water adjacent, sites spread out.
- MMagicallyChris -.Traveler
Grouse Ridge Campground
Great Spot and Hikes, Challenging Road, AWD Recommended
Place was quite busy over the weekend but we were able to secure the last campsite Saturday afternoon. The drop toilets had a little remaining toilet paper but ran out during our stay (bring your own). I wouldn’t recommend the road without 4x4 or AWD, especially if the road conditions are wet/muddy. Our RWD car made it to the site, however it's the type of road that you could easily get stuck without off roading experience and careful navigation. There are sizable rocks, ruts, and potholes to navigate through. Under carriage scrapping will be unavoidable for lower clearance vehicles. Cell service available at campground. Bear box boxes available at campground, each site had one.
Amazing hikes and trailhead near campsite.
- Lawrence R.Guide
Mount Rose Campground
50 degree mornings all summer
Love this campground. Close to lots of hiking options. Tahoe is only 20 mins away as well as Incline Village and Reno is only 30 mins away. Couple of toilets, water access, paved, well maintained, wood available to purchase, what's not to love?!
- GGadi N.
ScoutGranite Flat
the bathrooms were easily some of the cleanest we’ve ever seen at any campground, and they even smelled fresh!
Granite Flat offers a beautiful, well-maintained scenic setting right on the Truckee River. However, be prepared for traffic noise since it sits directly along Highway 89; after staying five nights at site 12, earplugs were definitely essential for a good night's sleep. What truly made our stay special was the camp host, Roos. She is outstanding, friendly, hardworking, and genuinely dedicated to keeping the campground in top shape and making campers feel welcome. Her hard work shows—the bathrooms were easily some of the cleanest we’ve ever seen at any campground, and they even smelled fresh! Thank you, Roos, for your exceptional service and dedication. We would gladly stay here again… as long as we pack our earplugs!
ross K.TravelerSpanish Creek Campground
Hot and noisy
It’s no one’s fault that at 3000 ft elevation it’s really hot here in July but that made the dry dusty conditions less pleasant. Lots of loud trains before dawn and through early morning. At site 6 nearer the road, lots of morning traffic sounds, not the best to wake to. In July 2026 the water system was positive for bacteria, signs said not dangerous but they warn you of risks anyway (?). Restrooms out of tp. I notice upon leaving, after dodging yellow jackets at meal time, a half full wasp trap hanging in my site. I’d avoid site 6.
Adam M.TravelerSilver Creek Campground
The campground is excellent. I had a great time there and it is nostalgic.
Sheila Edelen is an excellent camp host! She taught me the campers rule and that the campers rule is to always leave a place better than when you got there. I honestly believe if that was a law for every person and thing in existence, every person and thing in existence would have a better existence and life. Truly potent wisdom from a fun and cool artistic person! Remember how simple philanthropy is to continue to teach that important teaching, and that those excellent nostalgic Forest of wisdom philanthropy could be grown from one teaching idea in the form of the thought of a pine cone that had pinecones, and that was one seed from a pine cone teaching that life needs to learn and teach more.
- BBart M.Scout
Silver Creek Campground
Truckee River Nirvana! The ultimate hidden gem.
An absolute hidden gem! The camp hosts greet you like family, and the bathrooms are spotless. Our site was huge with plenty of breathing room. The best part? You can hear the Truckee River roaring just a short walk away and you're in pure paradise!
- GGordon F.Scout
Silver Creek Campground
The standard
Good, functional layout. Campsites offer excellent spacing and privacy. Facilities are exceptionally clean, and the hosts are highly efficient. Safe, direct foot path leads to the Truckee River in under two minutes. Optimal choice for a quick escape under an hour from Reno.
Guide to Chilcoot
Dispersed camping opportunities in the Chilcoot area extend beyond the established campgrounds in Plumas National Forest. The region sits at elevations around 4,500-5,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal variations with winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Camping options range from lakeside locations with boat access to high-elevation forest sites with limited facilities.
What to do
Collect crystals at Crystal Peak: Lookout Campground provides access to Crystal Peak where visitors can hunt for quartz crystals. "The history of Crystal Peak is amazing, and the crystals are everywhere. Really nice views from atop the knoll too. Many people visit just for the day to collect crystals," notes one visitor to Lookout Campground.
Fishing at Davis Lake: Grasshopper Flat campground offers easy access to fishing opportunities. A camper at Grasshopper Flat noted seeing "a Bald Eagle dive and grab a fish...Great fishing..Not so great for swimming. Opaque, green water from tall grass."
Off-highway vehicle recreation: Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area combines free camping with trail access. "Trail riding galore. Went on all the trails and out in the sand dune area we came upon wild horses, this was quite a site to see. They were just running and being playful," reports one camper at Fort Sage.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer room to spread out. At Chilcoot Family Campground, a reviewer noted, "We have camped here many times over many years. Relatively quiet, spacious camp spots (fairly level), beautiful area with lots of trees, a lovely creek running through the back of the campground."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Chilcoot area supports diverse wildlife. A camper at Grasshopper Flat mentioned it's "AWESOME for birding - Bald Eagles, Pelicans, woodpeckers, chickadees & ravens - this is the Sierra after all."
Clean facilities: Fort Sage gets high marks for maintenance. One camper at Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area described it as having the "Cleanest pit toilets we've experienced anywhere. Great access from highway. All amenities (table, fire pit, cooker) all appear new."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating rough terrain. At Lookout Campground, a reviewer cautioned about "one of the worst roads I've ever been on...go slow" while another detailed that "75% of the road is unmaintained hill road, where you have to hug one side or another to avoid 6-inch+ ruts, loose rocks up to 5" in diameter."
Cell coverage is limited: Most areas have minimal service. At Spring Creek Campground, a visitor reported, "Cell service was very limited, 1-2 bars extended."
Seasonal considerations: Weather dictates camping seasons. A Fort Sage camper advised, "I would avoid this place in the summer, hot and with no power it would be a sweat box."
Tips for camping with families
Check noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. A visitor to Big Cove Campground observed it was "kind of a loud campground. People playing music from their boats on the water and multiple groups up late (midnight) and being loud and shouting."
Water activities: Lakes provide recreation for children. At Grasshopper Flat, a camper mentioned, "Super easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace."
Space for play: Look for sites with room to set up games. At Big Cove, a camper appreciated the "Nice big campsites, we went with friends and had two large tents, room for some toys (kayak, spikeball game) and to spread chairs around the fire pit."
Tips from RVers
Site length considerations: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. A visitor to Bordertown Casino RV Resort noted, "The internal roads are a little narrow, although not too bad, but some of the turns are rather tight. All but a couple of sites are pull-throughs."
Hookup challenges: Sewer connections can present difficulties at some locations. A Bordertown camper mentioned, "The sewer connections are slightly recessed, centered in concrete bowls; it was a challenge to get a good connection with a right-angle connector."
Level sites: Many campgrounds offer relatively level parking. At Chilcoot Family Campground, a recent visitor appreciated that "The sites are paved. They are all back in sites. There's good room between sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chilcoot, CA?
What camping is available near Chilcoot, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chilcoot, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 253 campgrounds and RV parks near Chilcoot, CA and 28 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Chilcoot, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Chilcoot, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chilcoot, CA is Bordertown Casino RV Resort with a 4.1-star rating from 13 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chilcoot, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chilcoot, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Chilcoot, CA.
What parks are near Chilcoot, CA?
What parks are near Chilcoot, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Chilcoot, CA that allow camping, notably Martis Creek Lake and Plumas National Forest.
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