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.
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
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. The maximum time is 14 days in a developed campground, 14 days dispersed camping per Ranger District per year, not exceeding 30 days camping per year on the Plumas…
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 10 at 8:21AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
* WHAT...Snow. Snow accumulations up to 6 inches below 6500 feet, 6 to 12 inches above 6500 feet, and up to 24 inches above 7000 feet in eastern Sierra County. Peak winds could gust as high as 35 to 40 mph Saturday afternoon. * WHERE...Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties. * WHEN...From 2 PM Saturday to 11 PM PDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions, especially for the Saturday evening and Sunday morning commutes.
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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