Download the Frenchman Lake Recreation Area publication.
Frenchman Lake Recreation Area is off Highway 70 about 8 miles north of the town of Chilcoot on California Highway 284. The drive on Cal. Hwy 284 follows Little Last Chance Creek up through a beautiful canyon. Frenchman Lake Recreation Area offers a wide variety of summer outdoor experiences including: camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, jet skiing, mountain biking, swimming and water-skiing. In the winter, ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are favored activities.
A concessionaire manages the four campgrounds on Frenchman Lake
and Chilcoot Campground on Little Last Chance Creek. Cottonwood
Springs, Chilcoot, Frenchman, Spring Creek, and Big Cove Campgrounds
have approximately 190 family sites, 19 double sites and 2 group
site. Campsites may be reserved through Reserve USA (1-877-444-6777
or on-line at www.ReserveUSA.com).
Group sites must be reserved in advance. Trailers of up to 35 feet
can be accommodated. No hookups are provided. Facilities are usually
open from late April through late October. Both Spring Creek and
Frenchman Campgrounds are available as weather permits in early
spring and late fall without fee or water.
The Little Last Chance Creek and canyon were formed as the result
of several geologic events. These started several million years
ago as volcanic eruptions flowed over granite rock of the area.
This completely blocked and filled the then existing canyons and
streams, creating a lake that was almost 200 feet deeper than today's.
As the uplift of the faulted blocks under the lake tilted to the
south, water and debris from the surrounding hills chiseled a new
streambed, carving down and creating the sharp canyon wall you see
today.
There are two boat launches at Frenchman Lake; Frenchman Boat Launch
and Lunker Point Boat Launch.
Frenchman Boat Launch has a four-lane concrete launching ramp with a floating boat dock and an accessible boat loading ramp. Lunker Point Boat Launch has a two-lane concrete ramp with a floating boat dock. Both launches have parking areas and accessible toilets.
Fishing is regulated by the California
Department of Fish and Game with a
five trout limit and tributary restrictions.
Six locations around Frenchman Lake
provide fishing opportunities; Salmon
Egg, Nightcrawler Bay, Snallygaster Point, Crystal
Point, Turkey Point and the Kiosk. Besides Rainbow
and Brown trout, Eagle Lake trout and Smallmouth
bass can also be found.
Historically, this area has been popular for hunting both deer
and waterfowl. The California
Department of Fish and Game regulates hunting seasons and permits.
Discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a campsite, across or
on a Forest road or body of water is prohibited.
Supplies can be purchased in Chilcoot, eight miles south of Frenchman Lake.
Only water from developed recreation sites is maintained for safe
drinking. Open water sources are easily contaminated by human or
animal waste. Water from springs, lakes, and streams should be properly
treated before drinking. One method is to boil the water for five
minutes or use an approved filtration system.
Beckwourth Ranger District
For more information
call:
Beckwourth Ranger District
(530) 836-2575
Recreation
Partners
A listing of local chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus,
and other recreation service partners
National
Forest Recreation Web site
National Forest recreation web site managed by the USDA Forest
Service.
ReserveUSA.com
On-line reservation site for thousands of Forest Service and
Corps of Engineer recreation sites.
Recreation.Gov
A one-stop site for information on federal lands.
Recreational
Opportunity Guides (ROG's)
A listing of all the current ROG's which give information
on recreational activities on the Plumas
OHV Forest Order Maps
Find out where you can recreate on the forest