Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
Campground · 39 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Plumas National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 39
- Bookable sites
- 95 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 16
- People per site
- 29
- Accessible sites
- 5,622 ft
- Elevation
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.
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.
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.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.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.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.
Charges & Cancellations
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes are accepted for single family sites and not for double sites.The facts
- 39 bookable sites
- 67 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 29 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 95 ft
- Up to 16 people per site
- Loops: AREA BIG COVE
Site types
- 39 Standard Nonelectric
- 28 Management
Amenities
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.
67 campsites at Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 001 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 51 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 002 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 16 | ♿ |
| 002 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 003 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| 004 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ |
| 004 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 005 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ |
| 005 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 006 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ |
| 006 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 007 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| 008 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| 009 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| 010 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 010 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 011 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 012 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 014 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 015 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 016 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 018 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 43 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 019 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 019 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 020 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 95 ft | 8 | |
| 021 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 021 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 022 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 48 ft | 8 | |
| 023 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 49 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 023 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 024 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 42 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 024 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 025 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 41 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 025 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 026 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 36 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 026 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 027 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 027 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 028 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 8 | |
| 029 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 50 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 029 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 030 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 36 ft | 8 | |
| 031 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 48 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 031 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 032 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 29 ft | 16 | ♿ |
| 032 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 033 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 44 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 033 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 034 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 70 ft | 8 | |
| 035 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 38 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 035 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 036 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 43 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 036 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 037 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| 038 | AREA BIG COVE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 43 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| 038 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX | AREA BIG COVE | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 8 | |
| XXX24 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX25 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX26 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX27 | AREA BIG COVE | Management | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
39.90194, -120.17250 · 39°54'7.0"N 120°10'21.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
- Can you reserve a site at Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)?
- Yes, Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA) have?
- 67 sites in total, of which 39 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)?
- 95 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA).
Camping near Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
- Spring Creek 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Frenchman 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chilcoot 2.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cottonwood (Ca) 3.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Meadow View Family Campground 9.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crocker Campground 13.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crocker Guard Station 13.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Cove Overflow 0.3 mi · Campground
- Cottonwood Springs Campground 2.3 mi · Campground
- Frenchman Dump Station 2.3 mi · Campground
- Conklin Park Campground 14.3 mi · Campground
- Lake Davis Dump Station 15.9 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 530-836-2575
- Email james.bradeen@usda.gov
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-08.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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