Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
Plumas National Forest, California
About this campground
Big Cove Campground (5,700 feet) is located near the shores of Frenchman Lake in Northeastern California.
Big Cove Campground also offers coin operated showers, accessible flush toilets, drinking water, trash bins and paved roads during peak camping season.
Frenchman Lake provides the perfect location for swimming, boating, lake fishing, skiing, jet skiing, paddle boarding and canoeing.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.901944° N
- Longitude
- 120.172500° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- Food storage
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Firewood available
- ADA access
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Paved roads
- Pull-through sites
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 95 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming Site
- Water Sports
- Fishing
- Camping
- Boating
- Biking
- Hunting
- Paddle Boating
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Skiing
- Water Activities
- Jet Skiing
Amenities and facility features
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Wildlife-resistant food storage
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Dump station
- Firewood
- Host
- Paved Roads
- Showers (Seasonal)
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Management
28 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 0 ft
- Check-in
- 0:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 0:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Standard Non-Electric
39 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 16
- Maximum vehicles
- 4
- Maximum vehicle length
- 95 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 29 flagged accessible
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Scan And Pay
- 1
- Maximum published occupancy
- 16 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 4 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 0:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 0:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- The current official campground record does not publish a campground-specific food-storage rule. Check posted rules before leaving food, trash, toiletries, or scented items unattended.
- Fire and stove use
- Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)'s official facility record states: Tell stories around your campfire.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Sep 6, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 23, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 23, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Aug 31, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Management | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $71 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2027 – Aug 31, 2027 | Management | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2027 – Aug 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2027 – Aug 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $71 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2028 – Aug 31, 2028 | Management | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2028 – Aug 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $38 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 23, 2028 – Aug 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $71 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- America the Beautiful, Senior Passes and Access Passes are accepted for single campsites. They are not accepted for double or group campsites.
- Generally, campsites will accommodate 2 vehicles. The first vehicle is included in the site fee, the second vehicle fee will be collected onsite at the daily rate posted on the fee sign.
- Click here to learn more about the Plumas National Forest
- Before arriving for your reservation become aware of bear safety. Many black bears live in the nearby forest. They do come into the campground during the day as well as night. Bear safe food lockers are not available in the campground. Please go to the following link for more information: http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/
- Get your firewood locally. This will prevent the introduction of pests and invasive species into this area. Campground hosts have firewood for sale, you may collect firewood for your campfire in the National Forest. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- Check- In is 2:00pm and Check-Out is Noon
- Campground Map
Getting there & contact
Official 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.
Facility contact
530-836-2575