USDA Forest Service · California
Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 67
- Hookups
- 39 no hookups
- Season
- May 23 to August 31
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,633 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BIG COVE CG (NFSR 24N46X) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Plumas National Forest
- Nearest town
- Portola
- Phone
- 530-836-2575
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Jet Skiing, Paddle Boating, Picnicking, Swimming, Swimming Site, Water Activities, Water Skiing
61 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 23° | 4° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 23° | 2° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 25° | 3° | 74° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 53° | 31° | 10° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 41° | 27° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 48° | 33° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 56° | 45° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 56° | 51° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 76° | 50° | 39° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 39° | 27° | 77° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 50° | 30° | 10° | 67° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 40° | 24° | 7° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Spring Creek · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 56 sites
- Frenchman · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 65 sites
- Cottonwood (Ca) · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 26 sites
- Chilcoot · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 40 sites
- Meadow View Family Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 9 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-08. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.