Big Cove Campground is on the southwestern shore of Frenchman Lake in the Plumas National Forest. Frenchman Lake is 11 miles north of Highway 70 and another 6 miles west of Highway 395. The 4-mile-long lake is a popular destination for fishing, hunting, boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, swimming, and mountain biking.
Big Cove Campground has 42 campsites which can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents. A few campsites overlook the lake while others have views of a sagebrush meadow dotted with pine trees that provide limited shade throughout the day. There are some double sites available. Reservations can be made for 15 of the campsites. The remainder are kept as first-come, first served sites. Big Cove has overflow camping for busy summer weekends.
| Big Cove Campground Basics | |
|---|---|
| Big Cove Campground Location: | 17 miles northwest of Highway 395 at Hallelujah Junction |
| Elevation: | 5,630 feet |
| Mileage and driving time from gateway city: | Reno- 42 miles, 51 minutes Truckee - 61 miles, 1:17 (via Hwy 89 & 49) |
| Number of Sites: | 42 |
| Camping Season: | Open April through October, depending on weather |
| Max. People per Site: | 6 (including children) |
| Vehicles per Site: | 2 (fee per night for 2nd vehicle) |
| Pets: | on leash, always attended |
| Operated by | Royal Elk Park Management for Plumas National Forest |
| Beckwourth Ranger District: | (530) 836-2575 |
| Reservations for Big Cove Campground | |
|---|---|
| Reservations available | Reservations available from late May through early September for fifteen of the campsites. Others are first-come, first-seved. For the latter part of September all campsites are first-come, first-served. |
| Maximum RV/trailer Length: | 50 feet |
| Accessible Sites: | #1, 11, 12, 16, 18 |
| Fees: | $34 per night for single site, $55 for double site |
| Reservations: | Big Cove Campground Reservations |
| Check-in, check-out: | 2:00 PM, check-out Noon |
| Big Cove Campground Amenities | |
|---|---|
| Campsites: | Picnic table, fire ring with grill; no hook-ups |
| Campground: | restrooms with flush toilets, tap water |
| Showers: | Yes |
| Dump station: | Nearby |
| Attractions near Big Cove Campground: | Boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, boat ramp near Frenchman Campground, Little Last Chance Canyon, trail to Spring Creek and Frenchman campgrounds
Trout Fishing Best Sellers |
Big Cove Campground
Located in the northern Sierra Nevada, just south of the Cascade Range, uncrowded Pumas National Forest is filled with wonderful places to visit and things to do. Campers at Big Cove Campground are not far from many of these attractions.
Check Plumas National Forest - Big Cove Campground for any campground updates.
Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Check carefully on the reservation site when you make your reservation to be sure your vehicle will fit your campsite.
Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate.
