U.S. Forest Service · Plumas National Forest · Blairsden, CA

Spring Creek

Spring Creek Campground (5,800 feet) is just minutes away from the clear waters of the Frenchman Lake. The landscape provides a magnificent backdrop for a variety of recreational activities. The campground offers 35 camp sites with 12 sites available for reservation.

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Spring Creek ViewSPRING CREEK CampsiteSPRING CREEKSPRING CREEK Trail
Photos courtesy of OIP · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups34
Host/management22
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 49 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

34 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
002Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
003Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
004Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
005Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
006Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
007Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
008Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
009Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes
010Back-inPavedFull8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 023 is listed accessible

The campground offers single-family campsites for tent and RV camping, including one accessible site (#23). The campground has paved roads and paved parking pads. Host, water and garbage service are provided during peak camping season. Two group campsites are available. All campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Bear resistant lockers are not provided. Campground host, paved roads Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestPlumas National Forest
BookingSites can be reserved by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.Recreation.gov
FeesCall the Beckwourth Ranger District for information. Senior and Access passes are honored for single campsites only
Rules14 day camping limit. 6 people per campsite, 12 people for double sites. 2 vehicles per campsite. OHV riding is not allowed. Store food, trash and scented items appropriately - Be Bear Aware

Plumas National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Spring Creek30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.12 inches of precipitation, 5.9 inches of snowFebruary: 1.84 inches of precipitation, 4.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.78 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowApril: 0.87 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowMay: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.18 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.27 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.39 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowOctober: 0.98 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 1.73 inches of precipitation, 2.1 inches of snowDecember: 2.48 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.3°F averageFebruary: 37.9°F averageMarch: 43.5°F averageApril: 47.6°F averageMay: 55.2°F averageJune: 62.4°F averageJuly: 69.5°F averageAugust: 68.0°F averageSeptember: 61.6°F averageOctober: 51.7°F averageNovember: 40.1°F averageDecember: 33.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Doyle 4 SSE, 7 miles from the campground at 4,390 feet, station USC00042506 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 26 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Reno, travel north on Highway 395. Turn west on Highway 70 and travel 5 miles to Chilcoot. Turn north on Highway 284, travel 8 miles to the Frenchman Lake Reservoir, turn right, cross the dam, and travel 2 miles to the Spring Creek Campground.

Nearest townBlairsden, California
Coordinates39.8958° N, 120.1764° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗28.6 mi
Outdoor gearCabela's ↗28.6 mi
RV sales & serviceReliable RV ↗42 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch Review | Big Timber MT (4K)

  • under 0.1 mi
    Spring Cr - Big Cove Connect
    0.8 mi trail
  • 0.3 mi
    Frenchman - Spring Cr Connect
    0.2 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Big Cove Enabler Trail
    0.1 mi trail
  • 0.7 mi
    Andesite Trail
    0.1 mi trail
  • 3.4 mi
    Snow Lake
    0.5 mi trail
  • 3.9 mi
    Diamond MT
    2.2 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Plumas National Forest begins about 8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

This campground is at the interface between mountains and high desert and between the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. Ancient lava that flowed across the land has been eroded by creeks forming interesting landscapes.

Recreation

During summer, the campground offers a variety of outdoor experiences including hiking, biking, picnicking and hunting. The nearby lake provides ample opportunities for swimming, boating, water skiing and jet skiing. The expansive road system in Plumas National Forest is a great location for exploration and sightseeing.

Nearby

Little Last Chance Canyon Scenic Area Sierra Valley - Largest valley in the Sierra Nevada Stores and services in the towns of Chilcoot and Loyalton

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Spring Creek?

Sites at Spring Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Sites can be reserved by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.Recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Spring Creek?

Call the Beckwourth Ranger District for information. Senior and Access passes are honored for single campsites only

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Spring Creek?

Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Spring Creek open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Spring Creek have?

56 sites, including 34 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Spring Creek?

Spring Creek is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Spring Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Spring Creek. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Spring Creek?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. 14 day camping limit.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Spring Creek?

Site 023 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Spring Creek?

During summer, the campground offers a variety of outdoor experiences including hiking, biking, picnicking and hunting. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Spring Creek?

Blairsden, California. Little Last Chance Canyon Scenic Area Sierra Valley - Largest valley in the Sierra Nevada Stores and services in the towns of Chilcoot and Loyalton

Source: Getting there

What if Spring Creek is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Big Cove (0.5 mi, partly first-come), Frenchman (0.6 mi, partly first-come), and Chilcoot (2.2 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby