French Meadows Campground, tucked along the shores of a reservoir deep in the Sierra Nevada backcountry of Placer County, has reopened ahead of Memorial Day and the start of the summer recreation season, with dozens of rebuilt campsites. Potable water is not available at the campground. The remote spot is ready to welcome visitors for the summer recreation season.
The reopening is part of a $6.8 million rehabilitation project led by the Placer County Water Agency and the U.S. Forest Service's Tahoe National Forest, marking the campground's first comprehensive modernization since it was originally built in the 1960s. In a May 19 release, PCWA said the new water system was in final commissioning, with completion expected soon. PCWA directs visitors to Recreation.gov for reservations and campground details.
Alongside the campground work, the South Shore Water Supply project includes drilling a new vertical well and laying more than 5,000 feet of distribution piping for campsites, picnic areas, and boat ramps. The agency's report on the project notes that aging infrastructure had previously threatened water reliability in the remote watershed. PCWA says it reinvests Middle Fork Project hydropower revenues in public recreation and watershed improvements, fulfilling public access and recreation commitments tied to the project's federal energy license.
What's New at the Campsites
The modernized campground now features 63 redesigned sites with flattened tent pads, paved roads, and wider parking spaces for vehicles and trailers. ADA-compliant restrooms, picnic tables and fire rings, and a new outdoor amphitheater with natural log seating round out the improvements, according to the agency's report.
French Meadows Reservoir serves both municipal water storage and hydroelectric generation for the region.
Forest Restoration in the Area
The French Meadows Forest Restoration Project is another initiative in the region.
The threat is not abstract for this stretch of the Sierra. In August, the Talbot Fire burned near Talbot Campground along the Middle Fork American River, prompting the Placer County Sheriff's Office to issue evacuation warnings for backcountry zones along French Meadows Road, as Hoodline previously reported. That fire followed years of damage from the 2022 Mosquito Fire in the same general region.
In September, the agency's board authorized a five-year agreement to identify hazardous trees along PCWA's approximately 170 miles of canals.
Fees and the Seasonal Window
Campsite reservations cost $24 per night and are handled through Recreation.gov.
Access is snow-permitting, so prospective campers should check Recreation.gov before heading up. The reopened campground offers visitors a chance to experience the reservoir during the recreation season.
