Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA)

Photo · United States Forest Service

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

67Sites

95 ftMax rig

The place

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. Keep reading

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.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 67

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric	ADA
AREA BIG COVE	000	standard nonelectric	45 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	001	standard nonelectric	51 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	002	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	002	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	003	standard nonelectric	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	004	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	004	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	005	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	005	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	006	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	006	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	007	standard nonelectric	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	008	standard nonelectric	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	009	standard nonelectric	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	010	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	010	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	011	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	012	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	013	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	013	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	014	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	014	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	015	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	015	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	016	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	017	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	017	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	018	standard nonelectric	43 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	019	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	019	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	020	standard nonelectric	95 ft	—
AREA BIG COVE	021	standard nonelectric	—	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	021	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	022	standard nonelectric	48 ft	—
AREA BIG COVE	023	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	023	standard nonelectric	49 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	024	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	024	standard nonelectric	42 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	025	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	025	standard nonelectric	41 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	026	standard nonelectric	36 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	026	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	027	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	027	standard nonelectric	48 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	028	standard nonelectric	40 ft	—
AREA BIG COVE	029	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	029	standard nonelectric	50 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	030	standard nonelectric	36 ft	—
AREA BIG COVE	031	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	031	standard nonelectric	48 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	032	standard nonelectric	29 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	032	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	033	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	033	standard nonelectric	44 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	034	standard nonelectric	70 ft	—
AREA BIG COVE	035	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	035	standard nonelectric	38 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	036	management	—	—
AREA BIG COVE	036	standard nonelectric	43 ft	—	yes
AREA BIG COVE	037	standard nonelectric	—	—

SHOWING 60 OF 67 SITES

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in CA-03. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard