California / Plumas County / Plumas National Forest

Frenchman

Closed — Closed for the season. Scheduled to close October 12, 2025. Winter snow typically closes the road. Opens in spring.

About

Frenchman Campground sits at 5,700 feet elevation on a pine-covered hillside overlooking Frenchman Lake in Plumas National Forest. Located at the southeastern peninsula of the lake, the campground offers 38 single-family campsites suitable for both tent and RV camping, with 17 sites available for advance reservation and the remainder available first-come, first-served. Each campsite includes a paved parking pad, picnic table, fire ring, and grill, with pine trees providing moderate to good shade at most sites. Frenchman Lake boasts 21 miles of shoreline and sits at the interface between the Sierra Nevada mountains and high desert. The lake provides excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, and fishing. The Frenchman Lake Boat Launching Facility and day use area are located adjacent to the campground. During summer months, the campground offers access to hiking, biking, picnicking, and hunting opportunities. In winter, when snow typically closes the access road, the area becomes popular for ice fishing and snowmobiling. The campground is part of the larger Frenchman Recreation Area and provides easy access to explore the surrounding Plumas National Forest with its hundreds of alpine lakes and thousands of miles of streams.

Directions

From Reno, Nevada, take Highway 395 north to Hallelujah Junction. Head west on Highway 70 to Chilcoot, then turn north on Highway 284 and continue to Frenchman Lake. Cross the dam and proceed to the campground entrance on the left.

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