Established Camping
Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground
About
USDA Forest Service
Plumas National Forest
Overview
Big Cove Campground (5,700 feet) is located near the shores of Frenchman Lake in Northeastern California. Some families have been returning here for more than thirty years. Situated at the interface between the wild Sierra and the high desert, it's a perfect place to serve as hub for a wide range of recreation opportunities. Plumas National Forest has many back roads open for exploration. Take advantage of the beautiful blue waters of Frenchman Lake for boating, fishing and other water sports. Tell stories around your campfire.__
Recreation
Little Last Chance Creek offers plenty of streamside recreation including fishing, nature viewing, photography and just relaxing. Frenchman Lake provides the perfect location for swimming, boating, lake fishing, skiing, jet skiing, paddle boarding and canoeing. The entire recreation area and surrounding National Forest is available for nature viewing, photography, picnicking, hunting, biking or exploring forest roads.Dispursed camping is not allowed in the recreation area.
Facilities
The campground offers single and double family campsites for tent and RV camping. Accessible campsites are available. Fifteen of the 38 campsites can be reserved during peak season. All other campsites may be taken as 'First Come' sites. All 'First Come' sites must be occupied on the first night rented. Big Cove Campground also offers coin operated showers, accessible flush toilets, drinking water, trash bins and paved roads during peak camping season. An RV dump station is located nearby, at Cottonwood Springs Campground.
Natural Features
Just experiencing the drive into the Frenchman Lake Recreation Area is worth the trip. Little Last Chance Creek has eroded through ancient lava flows to produce this very scenic canyon known as the Little Last Chance Scenic Area. At the interface of desert and mountain climates, this area gets less precipitation than areas to the west and more precipitation than areas east. Desert scrub grows alongside pine forest. Some campsites overlook the lake's blue waters and nearby meadows.
Nearby Attractions
Little Last Chance Canyon Scenic Area. Sierra Valley - Largest valley in the Sierra Nevada. Stores and services in the towns of Chilcoot and Loyalton. Many forest roads to explore - take along a map and a full gas tank.
contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.
Charges & Cancellations
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes are accepted for single family sites and not for double sites.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Toilets
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
ScoutNicely kept dog-friendly campground
Great campground for a weekend or weekday getaway only 50 minutes from Reno, NV. Many of the spaces allow for double parking, but if you just have a car or truck you can fit 3 vehicles. 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. All the sites we looked at were very level as well and most provided ample shade throughout the day. Easy access to the lake (boat launch is in another campground), but lots of families with kids and barking dogs so don’t expect it to be quiet during the day! Reservations fill up fast, we were able to snag one of a few first-come-first-serve sites on a Thursday afternoon but saw many people disappointed on Friday and Saturday so plan ahead or for a mid-week arrival! Unfortunately I lost my phone at the campground so no pictures of our site or the lake 😔
Travelerpretty lake, pretty loud campers
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. The campground though was fairly clean. Vault toilets, but very clean and tons of spots that run right along the shore. my only issue was that 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. If you like to camp and be loud and have a good time then this is a great place big if you enjoy more solitude and nature, this may not be your cup of tea.
Location
Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground is located in California
Directions
From Reno, Nevada, take Highway 395 north for 24 miles. Merge onto State Rout 70 west and continue for 5 miles to the town of Chilcoot. Turn right on State Rout 284 and continue for 8 miles to Frenchman Lake. Cross the dam and proceed 2 miles to the campground.
Coordinates
39.9019444 N
120.1725 W