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Official

Established Camping

Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground

Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground is located near Chilcoot, CA, surrounded by forested terrain. The area experiences temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Nearby attractions include Lake Davis, offering opportunities for fishing and boating, and the scenic trails of Plumas National Forest.

Description

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

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.

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.

contact_info

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

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.

Charges & Cancellations

America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes are accepted for single family sites and not for double sites.

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Location

Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

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

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

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2 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 8, 2020

Nicely 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 😔

Reviewed Sep. 12, 2018

pretty 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.

  • Review photo of Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground by sierra F., September 12, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground?

    Camping at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground can cost between $30.00 and $38.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the elevation of Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground?

    Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground is located at 5630 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground?

    Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground allows vehicles up to 95 feet.

  • Does Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Plumas National Forest Big Cove 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 Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground?

    There are 67 campsites at Plumas National Forest Big Cove Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts