Cottonwood Springs Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. The campground operates from mid-May through late September and closed for the season on September 28, 2025.
Plumas National Forest Camping Stay and Occupancy Limits
A Forest Closure Order with the limits for amount of time and number of people allowed when camping on the Plumas National Forest.
Winter Weather Advisory issued February 8 at 11:44AM PST until February 11 at 4:00PM PST by NWS Reno NV
* WHAT...Snow. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches above 5000 feet west of Highway 395, with 6 to 12 inches along higher peaks. 1 to 3 inches above 5000 feet east of Highway 395. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties. * WHEN...From 10 PM Monday to 4 PM PST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes, as well as the Wednesday morning commute.
About
Cottonwood Springs Campground is situated near Frenchman Lake in the Plumas National Forest of northeastern California, combining mixed conifer forest with high desert vegetation at 5,700 feet elevation. The campground is part of the popular Frenchman Lake Recreation Area and offers a total of 20 family campsites plus two group sites. Half of the family sites are available by reservation through Recreation.gov, while the other half operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The surrounding pine forest provides ample shade during summer's hot afternoons. Both group sites require reservations: Group site D accommodates up to 50 campers, while Group site B holds up to 25 campers. The campground operates seasonally and does not have bear-resistant lockers, so campers must store all food, trash, and scented items appropriately and practice bear awareness. Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire ring, with a limit of 6 people and 2 vehicles per site. A 14-day stay limit applies. The location offers easy access to Frenchman Lake for fishing, boating, and water recreation.
Directions
From Reno take Highway 395 North to Hallelujah Junction. Head West on Highway 70 to Chilcoot. Head North on Highway 284 to Frenchman Lake. Cross the dam and proceed to the campground entrance on the left.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $34 - $140 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (530) 836-2575 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
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