California / Plumas County / Plumas National Forest

Big Cove

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground closed September 28, 2025 and typically reopens in late spring or early summer. Reservations available through Recreation.gov for 21 of 38 sites during operating season.

About

Big Cove Campground sits at 5,800 feet elevation along the east shore of Frenchman Lake in the Plumas National Forest of Northeastern California. The campground features 38 single and double family campsites nestled in a mixed conifer forest, with some sites offering views of the lake's blue waters and nearby meadows. Each campsite includes a paved RV parking pad, picnic table, fire ring, and grill. Twenty-one sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, while the remaining sites operate first-come, first-served. The campground's location at the interface between the wild Sierra Nevada and high desert creates a unique environment where desert scrub grows alongside pine forest. Little Last Chance Creek runs through the scenic canyon known as the Little Last Chance Scenic Area, offering streamside recreation. Frenchman Lake provides opportunities for swimming, boating, lake fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, and canoeing. A boat launch ramp and swimming beach are adjacent to the campground. Families have been returning to Big Cove for generations, drawn by the area's combination of water recreation and forest solitude. The surrounding Plumas National Forest offers extensive back roads for exploration, nature viewing, photography, hunting, and biking. The campground enforces a 14-day camping limit with a maximum of 6 people per single site and 12 for double sites.

Directions

From Reno, Nevada, take Highway 395 north for 24 miles to Hallelujah Junction. Merge onto Highway 70 west and continue for 5 miles to Chilcoot. Turn right on Highway 284 and continue north for 7-8 miles to Frenchman Lake. Cross the dam and proceed to the campground entrance on the left.

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