Chilcoot
Plumas National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Portola Valley, CA, CA
Price: From $34 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (57 reviews)
Season: May through October
Chilcoot Campground (5,100 feet) is located just downstream from Frenchman Lake alongside Last Chance Creek. The sound of flowing water along with shade from the surrounding pine and cottonwood forest are key features making this a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Chilcoot Campground is one of five campgrounds in the popular Frenchman Lake Recreation Area of Northeastern California’s Plumas National Forest.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/chilcoot to be notified when sites open up.
Chilcoot Campground sits alongside Last Chance Creek in a scenic pine and cottonwood forest at 5,100 feet elevation, offering water access and relaxation in Northeastern California's popular Frenchman Lake Recreation Area. The campground provides boat launch and fishing access with multiple water-based activities available.
Wildlife alert: Great Basin Rattlesnake present in area. Also watch for Mule Deer, Clark's Nutcracker, and Western Fence Lizard.
Insider tips for Chilcoot: Book early - this is a popular federal campground with high demand Bring firewood or purchase on-site as it's available for sale Self-contained RVs are suitable; no hookups available at most sites
Skip Chilcoot if: You need RV hookups - none available at most sites. You plan to visit outside May-October seasonal window. You prefer walk-up availability over advance reservations.
Best time to visit Chilcoot: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Spring Creek (BLAIRSDEN, CA), Cottonwood (Ca) (Portola Valley, CA), Crocker Campground (Beckwourth, CA), Ayers Creek Retreat (Portola, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Chilcoot
Cell signal at Chilcoot (Portola Valley, CA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Chilcoot Campground (5,100 feet) is located just downstream from Frenchman Lake alongside Last Chance Creek. The sound of flowing water along with shade from the surrounding pine and cottonwood forest are key features making this a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Chilcoot Campground is one of five campgrounds in the popular Frenchman Lake Recreation Area of Northeastern California’s Plumas National Forest.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early - this is a popular federal campground with high demand
Bring firewood or purchase on-site as it's available for sale
Self-contained RVs are suitable; no hookups available at most sites
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Reno, Nevada, travel north on Highway 395. Merge onto Highway 70 west and continue 5 miles to Chilcoot. Turn north on Highway 284 and continue 5 miles to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Plumas National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Plumas National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Chilcoot cost per night?+
What season is Chilcoot open?+
Does Chilcoot have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Chilcoot?+
How do I make reservations at Chilcoot?+
What is the cell service like at Chilcoot?+
What season is Chilcoot open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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