Big Cove Campground

The best-amenity campground on Frenchman Lake — coin showers, flush toilets, families returning 30+ years

Location: Chilcoot, CA, CA

Price: From $38 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (210 reviews)

Big Cove sits on the southwest shore of Frenchman Lake at 5,700 feet — a separate campground from Frenchman Campground but on the same lake. The key difference: Big Cove has coin-operated showers, accessible flush toilets, and paved roads. Families have been returning here for more than 30 years. 38 sites: 15 reservable on Recreation.gov during peak season, rest first-come. RV and tent sites, accessible sites available. No hookups, but RV dump station at nearby Cottonwood Springs Campground. Fre

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Coin Showers, Flush Toilets (accessible), Drinking Water, Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Paved Roads, Trash Service, Campground Host, Accessible Sites, Boat Access, Pet Friendly

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-cove-campground-frenchman-lake to be notified when sites open up.

Big Cove is Frenchman Lake’s best-kept secret and the superior choice for families. Same lake, same elevation, same price — but with coin showers, flush toilets, accessible sites, and paved roads. Families have been returning here for 30+ years, which tells you everything. The southwest shore gives you slightly better afternoon light on the water and the site layout is more open than Frenchman Campground.

Big Cove has the only coin-operated showers of any of the five campgrounds in the Frenchman Lake Recreation Area. On a hot July afternoon after a day of boating, that shower is worth its weight in gold. Nobody advertising Frenchman Lake mentions it prominently — most campers only discover it when they arrive. ⇒ Water: Big Cove’s protected south-facing position makes the water here 2–3°F warmer than the main lake. Walk 5 minutes north along the shore to reach an unofficial sandy swimming area used almost exclusively by Big Cove campers.

What is new at Big Cove Campground: Paved roads and parking confirmed operational. Flush toilets and showers open during peak season (typically late May through September).

Wildlife alert: Black bears regularly enter camp, including during daylight hours. No food storage lockers provided. All food, coolers, and scented items must be locked in your vehicle. Report bear activity to the camp host immediately.

Fire rules: Campfires in provided fire rings only. Host sells firewood bundles. Check current USFS fire restrictions at fs.usda.gov/plumas before arrival — restrictions frequent July–September.

Things to do near Big Cove Campground: Paddle board or kayak the southwest cove at sunrise — the cove is protected from wind and glassy at dawn. Little Last Chance Canyon on the drive in — stop at the roadside pullouts and walk the canyon rim. The accessible fishing trail within the campground — one of the only ADA-accessible fishing access points on the lake. Night sky viewing — at 5,700ft with zero light pollution from the high desert, the Milky Way is visible with naked eye.

Insider tips for Big Cove Campground: Big Cove fills before Frenchman Campground because of the showers — book your 15 reservable sites the day the 6-month window opens Bring a full roll of quarters for the coin showers — no change machine anywhere near the campground The RV dump station at Cottonwood Springs is 1.5 miles away — call ahead to confirm it’s pumped and open First-come sites on the lake’s edge fill by Friday noon in summer — arrive Thursday evening if you want one

Skip Big Cove Campground if: You want hookups. You’re in an RV over 40ft. You need reliable cell service.

Best time to visit Big Cove Campground: Jun–Aug — Showers open, host on-site, full lake activity. Best for families with young kids.. Sep–Oct — Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day. Fishing is excellent. Fall color in the aspens around the lake..

Common issues at Big Cove Campground: Coin showers require quarters and many people forget. Bring a roll of quarters from Reno. Showers are coin-operated and there’s no change machine on-site. Bears enter camp regularly. No food lockers at Big Cove. Lock everything in your car. The campground host is excellent and will brief you on bear activity at check-in. No hookups and no dump station on-site. RV dump station at Cottonwood Springs Campground 1.5 miles away. Confirm it’s open before arrival by calling (530) 836-2575.

What campers say about Big Cove Campground: "Some families have been returning here for more than thirty years" — Recreation.gov "Perfect place to serve as hub for a wide range of recreation opportunities" — Recreation.gov "The drive into the Frenchman Lake Recreation Area is worth the trip alone" — Recreation.gov

Nearby campgrounds: Frenchman Campground (Chilcoot, CA), Lightning Tree (BLAIRSDEN, CA), Grasshopper Flat (BLAIRSDEN, CA), Grizzly (BLAIRSDEN, CA).